Category: Q&A

June 28, 2019 Magazine, Q&A

Q&A: Art Stroll with Organizer Laura Saravia Bott

Laura Saravia Bott

A passionate hands-on art director and designer with over 15 years working directly with clients both large and small.

What is your background in regards to putting together the Art Stroll? Can you talk a little bit about yourself to learn more about your background, your working experience, and your business?

I have always been involved in putting on art-based events since my first ones as a teen. After attending Pratt Institute, I have gathered over 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing. In my last full-time role as Design Director / Senior Designer at Time Warner Global Media, an integrated marketing department of Time Warner Inc., I worked with leading brands to create custom marketing designs.

During those years, I started Stage 84, which was an art and music venue. After leaving Time Warner, I started Bott & Co. Productions, Inc. in 2014. With Bott & Co. I strive to help all types of businesses, from the local spot, like current clients Walter Hot Dogs and Good Shepherd Distillery to international, global brands like Citibank with a tailored approach to any budget. In late 2015, I expanded and opened the art gallery & gift store The Bott Shoppe in Mamaroneck. Recently, I created the group Westchester Handmade, as a way to unify the local creative scene starting in Southern Westchester.

 

So, what is the Art Stroll?

During the Summer months, the village residents often flee to other locations leaving the local businesses with diminished foot traffic, especially on weekends. Along with various venues throughout the village, residents and visitors alike can follow along with a printed or custom Google map to various locations hosting artists and makers, various demos and activities as well. The Art Stroll is a way to not only showcase local talent but also bringing in people to the village to increase potential customers to local businesses. 

Over 30 Westchester artists showcasing digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and print-making, metal works, wood, mixed media, ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and fashion.

On Saturday Night, we will be hosting a ticketed reception party VIP event where you can meet the artists and local business owners and will feature locally-made products, entertainment, and a raffle to win gift certificates and goods from a wider range of Mamaroneck businesses. Yet another opportunity for locals to support locals.

 

What made you decide to organize the Art Stroll?

I have seen other towns do various versions. I saw what RiverArts has been doing and have been going to Art on the Ave in Greenwich for many years. Since moving to Westchester, I have checked out ones in Katonah and Nyak and have experienced how wonderful it is to see people checking out the art and supporting local businesses

 

You have collaborated with many groups and businesses before. What are some of the projects you have worked on?

Yes, I have volunteered in many ways including providing graphic design and marketing services pro-bono to the Village of Mamaroneck Arts Council for many years. I also organized and curated the two Food Truck & Maker’s Markets in the Industrial Area, now known as the M.A.K.E.R.S. Zone. Every year, I also work with the Chamber of Commerce and Rec Department to help with the Halloween Spooktacular. Most recently, I worked with the Emelin Theatre with their event “Made In Westchester” performance series specially curated to celebrate the many talented performers in the Westchester Area with a series of art showcases. It was a great collaboration and look forward to putting on more shows there. We will also be featuring an artist in the lobby as we did with that series. And that’s really when we relaunched Westchester Handmade. They will be one of the featured locations during the Art Stroll.

 

You plan to feature some live art, can you tell us about that?

Yes, we are planning the “Live Art at the Barn” project thanks to the generous support of our Leading Sponsor Murphy Brothers Contracting, as part of the weekend’s festivities where will have two artists Dennis Dempsey and Dan Sciacca that we featured at our “Made in Westchester” series creating temporary murals at the barn. We will also be doing a communal portion where participants can help paint. In addition, artist Johnny “Skinz” that is going to live paint on sneakers during our reception party.

 

On the Event page, it notes that there are going to be family-friendly activities. What are some activities that participants can expect?

The always-delightful Chocolations will be doing “Design your own chocolate bar” bar and tasting samples or Mamaroneck Flowers, “Paint your own mini pot” and take home seeds to plant. 

Other art activities and demos at various locations including The Bott Shoppe, M.A.D.E., Pinot Palette or Bullseye Glass Resource and go check out artwork as well at local businesses like the Fine Men’s Salon of Westchester or go rock out at School of Rock of Mamaroneck for an interactive demo. We will also have Radiant Janes doing a tie dying activity as part of the  “Live Art at the Barn.” 

You should also drop by Chatsworth Antiques & Consignments for a mini version of their Market at Chatsworth with various makers selling their wares and lawn games by The Dad Shop who’s woodworking fabrication studio is also part of the Art Stroll.

 

Tell us about the artists that is going to be showcased.

As mentioned before, the main purpose of the Art Stroll is to promote local businesses but I also created the Art Stroll with a goal of featuring the creative diversity of Westchester. You don’t have to go to Brooklyn to find cool things. (Sorry Brooklyn!)

We are bringing back some of the other artists from the “Made in Westchester” series along with various artists from all over Westchester. We have tape artist Richela Fabian Morgan, as well as others from as close as Larchmont all the way to Yonkers and Tarrytown, and includes several from New Rochelle, Port Chester and Rye. All featured artists are currently living and working in Westchester.

 

And how will that impact the small and local businesses that are participating in the Art Stroll?

Besides the exhibition, businesses have the chance to directly engage with their customers and showcase their businesses. They can provide demos and provide discounts for instance.

 

Can you tell us more about the reception party on Saturday Night?

We will be celebrating the participating businesses at Good Shepherd Distillery which will feature their recently-released Sound Shore Whiskey. We will also have Mamaroneck resident, owner of Diner Brew Co. pouring beer and hard cider as well as samples from Chocolations and other locally made goods to be announced. Anyone can attend as purchase various ticket options, but we also wanted to make sure that everyone can join so we have suggested donation for entry.

 

How has your experience in putting this event on?

It has been so great to see everyone rallying together to get this done. I provided the branding, curation, and promotions so it’s been a great challenge but it’s been really rewarding so far. In the past years, I have developed good relationships with local business owners and I have collaborated with many groups and I so appreciate how we can come together to make great things happen.

 

October 8, 2018 Q&A

Q&A: Richela Fabian Morgan

Richela Fabian Morgan

Duct tape artist and fine crafter specializing in paper, adhesives, and found materials. To date, Ms. Morgan has written seven books and is also a contributing writer for two books.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

At first, I wanted to be a dancer! But I never had the chance to take dance lessons. And then I wanted to be a writer.

 

What sparked your initial interest in art?

I was always a crafty kid, but I never considered myself artistic until I was in my early twenties. At some point in college, I thought that I wanted to be a writer. So after graduating from NYU with a history degree,  I landed a job as an assistant in the production/design department of Knopf Publishing Group. But instead of learning the ins and out of editorial, I learned about color and design from the people that worked there. I also learned about photography and art from the artists that were getting their work published. Everyone was happy to answer questions and let you look over his or her shoulder.  Because of that work environment, I began investigating my intuitive, creative side.

 

How has moving to the suburbs changed the way that you pursue your craft?

The move to the suburbs from Brooklyn made me drive more. I’m lucky that I have a car, though. If I didn’t, then it would be incredibly different to network.

 

What experiences have inspired you recently?

I was recently in LA for 3 weeks. I spent a lot of time in Venice Beach, especially the skate park with my teen daughter. We watched the skateboarders for hours, and the sunsets were otherworldly. The mix of people, both onlookers and skateboarders, plus the location--I’m still sorting through the emotions and memories.

 

What would you say has been one the most defining moments of your artistic journey?

It was the decision to go back to school to study art. I was 42 going on 43 when I applied to Hunter College. I had success as a crafter, but I wanted to be in a structured environment while investigating my artistic abilities. I wanted to know if I could translate my skills as a crafter into fine art. Most of all, I wanted to know if there was a difference between craft and art.

 

What have been the some of the challenges of running your own business?

It’s hard to do the administrative stuff when all I want to do is the creative stuff. That’s the biggest challenge. Also, the creative side of me will sometimes come up with some crazy ideas, and the administrative side has to talk some sense into me.

 

What was the best advice you have received? (or a bit of advice for the reader)

The best advice I received is to never give up on something you truly believe in. Just keep working on it. Rejection is a big part of life, and you can’t take it personally.

 

What made you decide to focus on Duct Tape?

When my kids were little, I often took them to our local hardware store. You have to understand that our local hardware store sells a lot of things other than hammers and nails to stay in business. They have quite a variety of candy for sale at the check-out counter--which was the big draw for my kids. But the idea of going to the hardware store simply for the candy...it felt a little wrong. So we always pretended to shop for something other than the candy. It was during one of these sojourns that we discovered a rack of colored duct tape: red, blue, yellow, green, white, and black. All three of us were drawn to it and that day we bought one roll of each color...plus 4 packs of Hi-Chews (yum). When we got home, we covered tin cans with it. Weeks later, I was still playing around with it. And over a decade later, I’m still playing around with it.

 

You’ve written several books. How is the process of writing, creating and selling your own craft book?

I am constantly coming up with ideas for craft books, and not all of them are winners. I thankfully have a literary agent who can advise me when I have a crap idea. She also tells me when I have a golden one. When I have a solid premise, I usually have 15 projects already made and photographed. So then I will put together an outline and write a sample chapter. I’ll run it by my agent, and then put together a full book proposal that contains the outline, sample chapter, and photos of the finished projects. She then sends it out to various publishers.

When I do have a newly published book, I work with a publicist for the bigger things like public appearances and interviews. I hate the sound of my voice and am awkward on camera, so I’m grateful when it’s a written Q&A (like this). The stuff that I do on my own is more social media-related. I’ll make little how-to videos on YouTube (just my hands!) and post photos from the book. I’ll do a give-away contest.

 

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years?

I’d love to write children’s books. That’s been a dream of mine. I would also like to have a barn where I can make art, teach art/craft, and host parties for all of my artsy and not-so-artsy friends.