March 24, 2025 • 40 mins
When tragedy struck Andrea Lamarsaude's life in 2014—her family home burned to the ground, taking everything including beloved pets—she turned to art as therapy. What began as painting at her dining room table transformed into a journey that would eventually lead her to create Art on Main, a thriving community space in Dallas housing 22 artists with regular exhibitions.
"Don't be overwhelmed by marketing your art," Andrea advises creatives who feel frozen by the business side. "You are the one in control. Take baby steps—maybe just open an Instagram account and share your process." This practical wisdom comes from someone who understands both worlds, having transitioned from corporate marketing to creative entrepreneurship after personal tragedy reshaped her path.
Andrea's story embodies the perfect balance between solitude and community that successful creatives need. At Art on Main, artists close their curtains when they need to work alone, then emerge to connect with others when ready. This philosophy has created a thriving hub that filled up immediately and maintains a waiting list of artists seeking affordable studio space. As board president of the East Dallas Arts District, she continues expanding opportunities for local artists.
The most powerful takeaway might be Andrea's phoenix-like resilience. From devastating loss came renewed purpose, creativity, and community-building that benefits countless others. Her journey reminds us that creative success rarely follows a straight line—it unfolds when we remain open to unexpected opportunities, nurture community connections, and persistently pursue our vision one small step at a time. Whether you're creating in isolation or seeking your tribe, Andrea's path offers inspiration and practical guidance for navigating your own creative journey.
Andrea's Profile
Art on Main Gallery
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
you know.
I would say, if you're acreative and you're you know
you've been creating, but let'ssay you haven't really gone out
there and sold anything or triedto sell anything or do any
marketing, but you want to, youdon't be overwhelmed by it, don
you want to?
You know, don't be overwhelmedby it.
Don't try to do everything atonce.
Don't think that, oh, I have tohave a website, I have to be on
(00:31):
Instagram, I have to go to thenetworking events, I have to go
approach galleries.
Those are all tools that are outthere for you, but you are the
one in control.
You are the one who decideswhat you're going to do and and
take it step by step.
You know, a baby step open upan Instagram account, start
putting your, put your picturesof you working on your process,
(00:52):
or just just that baby step andthat's what I think that's
what's important is to not getso overwhelmed that you're just
like you're frozen.
You know, a deer in theheadlights, I can't, I can't do
any of this.
And then you go back into yourhole and you just, you know you
create wonderful art, but we'renot seeing it.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So You're listening to the the Love of Creatives
podcast.
I'm Maddox.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
And I'm Dwight.
We're the Connections andCommunity Guys, and today we're
joined by our featured guest,andrea.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
I like to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Thank you, it's so wonderful to have you here.
I'm sorry I spoke over you.
What were?
Speaker 1 (01:40):
you saying?
I was just saying I'm veryhappy to be here, I'm excited
for the conversation and pleasetell us how to pronounce your
last name.
Yes, so it's a French name.
My husband is French.
There's a whole story about howwe met, but so there's a trick.
If you divide it into threeparts, the first part is like a
lamb, and then in the middle iser, and then the last part is
(02:01):
like the past tense of sewing.
So lammer, sewed is how youpronounce it.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That makes it easy.
Yes, I'm so glad I tried topronounce that People get
tripped.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
on the last part.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, I get suede or soddy, but it's sewed like the
past tense of sewing, lammer,sewed.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I would have said lammer sawed.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yes, we get that too.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yes, close, but not accurate, and I wanted to be
accurate, Thank you.
So, andrea, tell us a littlebit about I mean, we know a
little bit about you, but tellus who you are and what you do.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Sure, sure.
So name is Andrea Lamersaud,you got that all good.
So I'm the owner of Art on Main, which is in Dallas, and we are
in Old East Dallas.
So Art on Main is it's hard toclassify.
I can't say it's just a gallery, I can't say it's just artist
studios, it's an artistcommunity.
So we have 6,500 square feetand we're on Main Street, close
(03:00):
to right where it turns intoColumbia, and we have 22
creatives who make their home,their creative home, at Art on
Main, and then we have galleryspace as well.
So it's all kind ofintermingled together and we
have ongoing exhibits, soloexhibits, group exhibits, but
from the artists that havestudio space there and also
(03:23):
artists who are in Dallas.
I focus primarily on Dallasartists because I'm a native
Dallasite.
So it was always my dream andmy passion to open up a space
that would pay tribute to allthe wonderful talent that we
have in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's very unique.
Thank you, I haven't seenanything else like it, so when
did you open?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
that.
So we opened in 2022.
In December, we opened up thestudios to the artist and then
in January, we had our firstexhibition in the gallery.
So now we're going on our thirdyear.
We're just coming into ourthird year, which is, to me,
just fantastic.
You know, when you start abusiness, you're on pins and
needles, you know, is it goingto work?
Just fantastic.
You know, when you start abusiness, you're on pins and
needles.
You know, is it going to work?
Are we going to?
(04:07):
Will people come?
And boy, have people come.
It's just been amazing.
I, like I said, it's been adream of mine for a long, long
time to build this community andopen this community and,
through a set of circumstances,it all worked out and now it's
just I can't wait, wait to get,wake up in the morning and go to
work.
It's, it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, congratulations .
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Thank you.
Yes, what an achievement I'mI'm, I gotta say I'm at that I'm
a little shocked, you know, Ijust it.
We've been in there multipletimes and it's so established
that I was expecting you to say,oh, we opened in 2000, or you
know, it's very, it's full.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yes, yes, and every time I mean occasionally we have
an artist that moves or goes toanother place and literally
within a week I've filled thespace.
It's a much needed space forthe community because, as you
both probably know, artiststudio space is scarce in Dallas
and you know, people areconstantly looking for it.
(05:08):
I wish I had a whole otherbuilding because I would fill it
.
So it's nice to be able toprovide as much as I can to the
artist in the area.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And what space is available is usually just out of
sight, expensive, out of sight,yeah it's crazy, it's just
crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And the owner of the building his name, is Tom Ross.
He's an artist as well.
That was an integral part ofwhy we were able to do what
we've done is he was verypassionate about making it a
space that was easy for artiststo get to.
So the rent that he charges meis a fair rent and I, in turn,
can charge, you know, a fairrent to the artist.
(05:44):
It's not an exorbitant amountof money.
So that was a huge part of howwe're succeeding.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
What a beautiful arrangement.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Wow, how fortunate for everybody concerned.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Yes, yes, and so right now, my schedule is full
for the rest of 2025.
We have at least one usuallytwo exhibits per month through
the end of December scheduledalready, so it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I just got an email letting me know that you've got
something happening thisSaturday evening.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
That's true, it's a watercolor exhibit, yes, and
we're worried about the weather,but it seems like it's going to
be sunny on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
We would be there, but we already have plans that
evening.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, don't worry, we've got lots, lots more coming
.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yes, absolutely.
So I thought we would lead offwith something that I'm hoping
will be fun.
Sure, what is your favoritestory about community and how it
impacted your creative journey?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
story about community .
Wow, that's a good one.
I, I would have to say I have alot of favorites, but I'll
focus on this and you can gointo some detail here.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Just elaborate on this.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, so prior to opening Art on Main, I was at
the Mixed Creative Space, whichis a space in the basement of a
church on the other side ofWhite Rock Lake.
It's in the middle of aneighborhood and I was managing
a creative space there, workingwith the church.
So we had artists and artiststudios and we had a place to
(07:26):
have a gallery space in themiddle of the church Well, not
the church itself, but in thelower level of the church.
But long story short, we werejust getting started and COVID
hit and so we had to really shutdown everything.
But I kept communicating withpeople, because we got some
(07:46):
artists in and then we had tostop and the church shut down.
And so I kept communicating.
We did a lot of things visually,we did some Zoom meetings, we
did some education things onZoom.
We started to build thiscommunity kind of virtually and
also with the people that werethere, and then, when COVID
finally went away, we were ableto open our doors again.
(08:07):
It was wonderful because we'dalready built that community
virtually and you know the onesthat were there and then we were
able to kind of open it live.
Well, we'd already establishedconnections, we'd already kind
of you know, bonded with eachother.
And then the people who wantedto come in, who couldn't came in
, and it was just this wonderfulexperience to see everything be
able to bloom.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That does sound like wow, you pivoted, you know you
were throwing a curveball withand you pivoted and made it work
.
What was it that enabled you todo that?
Because not everybody would beable to pivot that easily.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Well, I'm a very once I get an idea, I'm kind of a
I'm bull.
I just keep going and I want tomake it happen.
And we were just getting thisstarted and there was just no
way I was going to shut down.
We could have, we could havejust said, well, we'll wait till
it's all over and then we'llsee what happens.
But I'm like, you know, zoomwas there, which was we talked
(09:14):
about it earlier is just agodsend and we were able to see
each other and talk to eachother.
But, you know, be safe.
So I just kept going and andand worked with other artists.
That was the thing.
Some of the artists that werethere were very community driven
as well, and we came up withsome.
A lot of the artists were likeokay, how do we market online?
(09:34):
You know we can't go to anexhibit right now.
How do we?
How do we market our work outthere in in the virtual world?
So we came up with, you know,educational events for that.
You know, here's how you coulddo this and that, and do it all
virtually.
So you just keep going, youkeep taking it day by day, and
and you don't give up.
That's always been my motto andthat that's kind of what I
(09:55):
think led to the success of Arton Main.
Is I just I keep going and ifit's a passion for me and I
really want to happen, then Ifind a way to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I'm going to pick your brain for a little bit of
wisdom here.
Okay, we talk to a lot ofcreative people just out and
about when we're going in andout of galleries, and we talk to
a fairly significant percentageof people that say that they
create in isolation.
You know, sure.
(10:29):
And yet in every episode thatwe have recorded of this podcast
thus far, the creative that hascome in as the featured guest
has talked about the varyingcommunities that they're part of
and what an important part ithas been in their journey.
(10:52):
Sure, you seem to have pulledthat off, and I'm wondering for
all those people that don'tunderstand the value of
community.
They're siloed, they're workingin, you know, solitude, sure.
How do we as in Dwight and I,but you as well, or any other
(11:19):
person that is community-driventhe way we are how do we
communicate effectively to themso they really start to
understand how valuablecommunity can be to their
process?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Sure, well, I think it's a lead by example.
I think you need to figure outa way to show them you know, you
can talk to them about it allyou want, but, you know, show
them what it's like to have thatcommunity.
And that's why I'm alwaysinviting artists in.
We have artist talks andstudies and things like that at
Art on Main, and a lot of peoplecome and we just kind of let
(11:57):
them see how it works.
And I think you know, learningfrom, from seeing, I'm a very
visual person.
Um, everybody that I've talkedto that said, oh, you know, I
normally work alone Well, noteverybody, but a lot of them say
, well, but I really do see howthis community could be, could
be something that could help me.
(12:18):
And we have artists at Art onMain who are very they're very
isolationist in their approachto their work.
You know they go in theirstudio and and you leave them
alone, and then when they comeout, you know, then then yeah,
if, if you know they want to becollaborative with the community
, then they, then they come inthere and they're a part of it.
But we respect their, theircreative process.
(12:41):
For example, myself I'm anartist and when I'm making my
art.
I don't want anybody in mystudio.
We have drapes, we kind of havean open concept.
So I close my drapes and I'm inthere and I'm just in my little
cocoon and people know, youknow they can knock or whatever,
but they try to.
You know, let me have my zone,and so I think it's just a
(13:02):
combination of it's like Nemothe clownfish, you know how that
scene where he was kind ofgoing in and out of the plant,
he would go out and look and goback in and go out and look.
That's kind of the way I see it.
You know, you go in your littleplant and you make your art,
but then come on out there andbe a part of the community and
you'll see that wonderful,colorful, amazing world that's
(13:24):
out there waiting to support youand help you.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
I really want to call out that what you're saying
here is it's not an either orit's an and Definitely Because
there are some people thatreally need that quiet solitude
so they can focus.
But then there's all the restof your creative process.
That isn't about writing ormaking art.
(13:48):
It's all the things that goalong with it that operates your
business and gets your art outinto the world.
I love the and concept and youjust really clearly pointed that
out.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah, it's definitely not a black and white.
It's definitely a gray.
There's time when you want tobe with your community and learn
from them, and then there'stime when you just want to be by
yourself and do your thing.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, yeah, I think we can all appreciate how we
have different seasons.
There's different, differentmodes that we need to go in to
fully, to fully express and toactually allow ideas to
germinate.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Very much so I like that analogy of the seasons
Definitely.
So I'm really curious about howit was that you of my thing and
I love to read I was a voraciousreader, and then I did love
(15:02):
just to create visual art, didthat, you know, through high
school, and I also played theflute, so I was in the marching
band in high school, so there'salways been some type of
creativity around me.
When I got to college, Idecided to go more the business
route.
I went to SMU and got a degreein business and, specializing in
(15:22):
marketing, went into thecorporate world for a long time
worked at TI, texas Instruments,and I worked for a
telecommunications company.
That's how I met my husband.
We were both working for thesame company.
At the time he was living inCalifornia and I was living in
France, so that was a littleswitcheroo that we did.
But but the I?
What happened with me?
(15:44):
How I got to where I am todayand not in the corporate world.
And now where I am is in 2014,and this is a pretty heavy story
, but I do want to tell itbecause it's a part of my part
of my life and part of my story.
So we had taken our daughter,who's now 23, but at the time
she was about to go into thateighth grade um to the one
(16:04):
direction concert.
They were in town and it wassunday night.
She's supposed to start herschool the next day, like start
at eighth grade the next day,and um, when we got home, it was
about 11 o'clock, our streetwas blocked off.
We I don't know why I jumpedout of the car because we
couldn't get anywhere.
My husband was the car, mydaughter and I just ran and I
(16:26):
rounded the corner.
Our house was in a circle andour house was just in flames,
just totally in flames, like tothe point where now the fire.
There were six fire trucks thatI could count and they had the
water arcing down into themiddle of the house.
So we lost our home, we lostour pets.
We had three dogs and two catsand a turtle, and they all
(16:46):
perished.
It was a devastating experience.
And so you know it's at thatpoint you're, you're in shock,
you're numb, you're just tryingto, you know, figure out what
you're going to do.
So, little by little, westarted to figure that out.
But one thing that I neededcause my daughter took it the
(17:07):
hardest.
She had a lot of issuesmentally after that.
Um had to had to do some in andout, patient um to deal with
everything, and I needed I wastrying to help her.
I stopped working for a whileand just helping her.
But I needed an outlet and Ineeded something to do that
would help me heal, in additionto be able to help her.
(17:28):
And so I started painting.
I started making art just on mydining room table at our
apartment that we got.
We went to a high rise downtownbecause we didn't want to live
in a home, in a house structureanymore, but I kept doing it.
I kept doing it and at the timethe Continental Gin was still
there.
It was a big I don't know ifyou guys know the Continental
(17:49):
Gin big two-story structure withartists in it size of a
football field.
A good friend of mine, walterHoffhines, he's a lawyer but
he's also an artist.
We've been friends since 1994.
He said you know, get off yourdining room table, come over
here he's got a studio space, orhad a studio space there and
make some art.
You know, we've got a bigstudio space, come.
(18:10):
So I'm like, okay, so I did,and I kept making art, kept
making art, and then I startedselling a little bit of it and
I'm like, oh well, this is kindof cool.
So it just sort of just startto snowball and I had a solo
show.
A good friend of mine owns arestaurant on McKinney and
(18:33):
Avanti restaurant had a soloshow there, sold most of the
work, and so I kind of juststarted being an artist and I
went back to work I was workingfor a marketing agency, so I was
still doing that, but the artwas there and so little by
little, I started thinking, well, how can I?
How can I?
Because I like the corporateworld.
(18:54):
But I was just kind of likewhat can I do here?
So I thought, well, maybe Icould help other artists with
their marketing.
So that's what I did.
I was painting.
And then I started helping someartists with social media.
I learned how to build awebsite, my own website in
Squarespace.
So I started helping otherartists build websites.
And little by little I didn'treally need to do the corporate
(19:16):
marketing anymore.
So I stopped and then I justkind of did my art and the
marketing for artists.
And then that's when I um, Ihad we left the Continental Gen
because they closed and I I gotan artist studio space.
Um, after several other spacesthere's more story there, but I
(19:37):
don't want to take too much timeI got an artist studio space at
the mix and then they said well, with your marketing background
, maybe you could help us.
And that's how I started to domanaging that space and those
studio spaces and havingexhibitions there.
So that's kind of a shortenedversion of how I kind of got to
where I am.
(19:57):
And then in the early part of2022, I was working at the Mix
and I got a phone call.
First I got an email from acommercial real estate broker.
Her name is Hayden Sage and shesaid hey, I found you through
Google.
I have a client who is Tom Ross, the owner of the building that
we're in now, who has thisspace and the space, the
(20:19):
building that we're in now, whohas this space and the space.
The building was built in 62.
The second floor has been apool hall, it's been a bar, it's
been a dance club, it's been avenue space.
You don't want to do any of thatanymore.
It wants to turn into an artspace.
She said would you come overand look at it?
I said, well, yeah, sure, I'llcome over and get it.
She said he wants to getsomeone in the art world's
(20:39):
opinion about whether it couldbe an art space.
I'm like sure.
So I go and I get there and Iclimb up the stairs to to this
big kind of open space and all Ican see was this big bag of
windows with light and downtownDallas staring right at me and I
went.
I could I barely even gotten upthe stairs.
I'm like, yes, this could be anart space.
(21:01):
So that's kind of where theconversation got got started and
we talked a little more andthen they kind of both looked at
me and said, well, would youconsider making it an art space?
I was like, whoa, okay, well, Idon't know, but that's where
the conversation got started andI thought about it.
We said, well, yes, I would ifthis is what we did.
(21:24):
And I told them my dream whichis the way it is right now,
basically of artist studio space, of gallery space, of a
community for artists and acommunity for people to come and
meet those artists and seetheir work and to really to
really support the east dallasarts community.
He's like, okay, let's do it.
(21:45):
And so that's kind of where wewent.
And in the middle of that, um,I was.
I had been selected for anartist residency in france, but
covid came and so I had to bepushed off to 2022.
And my residency was going tobe in the middle of when we were
doing the build out of Art onMain, and I was like, oh God,
I'm gonna have to cancel again.
(22:06):
And my husband's like, no,you're not, I'll work, I'll help
, we'll make it happen.
You go to the residency.
So I went in September for thismonthlong residency and so I
was oh, did I freeze?
Oh, let's see.
Oh, there I am and did a lot ofZooming and calling and all
that while I was there.
(22:26):
But still that was the thing.
That's that part of me.
Like I told you earlier, if Iwant something, I'm going to
make it happen.
Even if it's a thousand milesaway, it's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Oh, that is so incredible.
I love the way that you had toovercome such a dark, deep
valley.
I mean, that was a trial.
I can't imagine the weight ofthe loss and having to deal with
trying to pull your daughter tothe other side of it as well.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yes, and today I'm so proud of her.
She's come so far, she got herdegree.
She's living in Ketchikan,alaska, with her boyfriend,
who's in the Coast Guard.
I'm going to go see her nextweek.
You know she's, she's.
She came out on the other side,which is nice to see.
We all did.
But, but you're right, it was avery traumatic, horrible
experience.
And but you know, you, you, youcome out of that experience
(23:30):
stronger and, and I think, moredetermined and and more stubborn
about making your life the wayyou want it to be.
And that's what we did, that'swhat we all did.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Andrea, I want to take a moment to celebrate.
You know, everything you'vejust shared really demonstrates
all the things that it takes tobe a true creative.
It takes strength and courageand determination and it takes
audacity and it takes resilience, and you demonstrate every
(24:08):
ounce of that.
What an inspiration you are,and I knew there was a reason.
I didn't know any of this, butI knew there was a reason that I
wanted you to come onto thepodcast and here it is right.
Here you demonstrate so much ofwhat is needed if somebody is
going to be successful as acreative.
It's not an easy road to hoe.
(24:30):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
But it's possible.
It is possible and I think it'sthe passion that you have and
the drive that keeps you going.
You know, and I know all theartists I know are very
passionate about what they doand that's, that's the I don't
know the steel rod that you haveto have, I think, to make it,
to make it work.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And there's something else I want to call out, and
that is we talked to so manypeople and I hear this all the
time young creatives, or justeven not creatives, just young
people.
They don't want to startanything until they've got it
all planned out.
And your story doesn't reallytalk about a plan.
I mean, life just got messy andgot in the way, yeah, and it
(25:16):
unfolded in the way and itunfolded.
It was like life brought it toyou rather than you having this
plan.
That were.
You know the old saying life iswhat happens.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
When you're making other plans.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Yes, yes, very true, yes, yes.
I's very true, yes, yes, I cantotally attest to that.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
I mean, we wouldn't be where we are right now, doing
what we're doing, if we hadn'tjust opened ourselves up to be
led.
We thought we wanted to do onething and we're doing something
very different now, and it'sbecause we didn't cling to our
plan.
It's okay to have a plan, butwhen you cling to it, you
(26:04):
suffocate all of the creativitythat the universe has for you.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, sometimes you just have to punt, you know and
hope that the ball lands whereyou want it to land, and if it
doesn't, then you just go get itand you punt again.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Exactly yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Well, I I love the way that you drew upon all of
the communities that you hadsupporting you.
I mean from the the mostintimate your husband being that
support for you and, uh, beingable to make the most of the
connections that you had.
I mean, if we're talking aboutwith Avanti, or eventually being
(26:46):
connected with the owner ofthat space.
I mean it is all just amazingand a testament to what it is to
just show up and be fully human.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah, and when those doors open, you know it's
sometimes hard to peek throughthem and go.
But you know what we got onelife, as far as we know.
So go, you know, go out thereand do it.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
I hope that you regularly take a moment to
celebrate yourself for allyou've done.
Thank you, I appreciate thatyou know, we as humans, we often
fail to do that.
We do just absolutelymiraculous things and we fail to
stop and really take it all in,breathe it in and just
(27:35):
celebrate everything that wehave collaborated on the
universe with.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
I agree.
I think everybody shouldcelebrate.
You know it makes you feel goodabout yourself and that's okay.
You need to feel good aboutyourself.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Well, you've talked about successes and you've
talked about challenges, andwhat would you say are some of
the most valuable life lessonsyou've learned, those wisdom
moments you can share withcreatives that are earlier on
their journey?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Sure, you know you've been creating, but let's say
you haven't really gone outthere and sold anything or tried
to sell anything or do anymarketing.
But you want to.
You know, don't be overwhelmedby it.
Don't try to do everything atonce.
Don't think that, oh, I have tohave a website, I have to be on
Instagram, I have to go to thenetworking events, I have to go
(28:34):
approach galleries.
Those are all tools that areout there for you, but you are
the one in control.
You are the one who decideswhat you're going to do and and
take it step-by-step.
You know, a baby step open upan Instagram account, start
putting your, put your picturesof you working on your process,
or just just that baby step.
(28:54):
And that's what I think that's.
What's important is to not getso overwhelmed that you're just
like you're frozen.
You know a deer in theheadlights.
I can't.
I can't do any of this.
And then you go back into yourhole and you just, you know you
create wonderful art, but we'renot seeing it.
So, and then, don't be afraidto ask for help, don't be afraid
to reach out.
(29:15):
There's so much support outthere.
There's a lot of free supportout there, lots of tools that
you can video YouTube videos andnetwork.
You know there's a lot of artorganizations in the Dallas area
that you could join and be apart of their group.
There's the Plano ArtAssociation, allen, Louisville
(29:36):
all the cultural centers youknow.
Get yourself out to those,start meeting other artists,
start talking to gallery owners.
Don't immediately approach them, you know, and say here's my
art.
Just just go to gallery showsand go to openings and just get
to know the community.
It's a step by step process and, again, don't get overwhelmed
by it.
If you find yourself gettingoverwhelmed, then just step back
(29:58):
, go create something, take aweek, get away from it and then
come back to it.
That's the key.
It's just step by step, momentby moment, and not getting
overwhelmed and asking for help.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
And everything you're saying is something that is
most likely going to be readilyavailable in any sizable city in
the US or around the globe.
Absolutely yes.
There are artists everywhere,on every part of the globe,
practically, and I mean whatyou're really saying is leverage
(30:32):
community.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Yes, absolutely, and one of the leverages we have is
we have great.
The Dallas Office of Arts andCulture is a great resource, you
know.
They have grants, they have adirectory of artists that I'm
actually on that directory.
They have programs where youcan get hired through them to do
work as an artist.
(30:53):
You know they're a greatresource.
And in East Dallas we justrecently opened up the East
Dallas Arts District.
It's a nonprofit and I'm theboard president of that and our
mission is to support theartists in East Dallas and Old
East Dallas and we just recentlyhad our first art walk.
So you know, seek out thosetypes of things and those types
(31:17):
of groups to help you lovely.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
Dwight, you got anything no, I'm, I am really
just amazed at your story.
I mean, like Maddox saidearlier, we we just assumed that
you were established and inthat space for many years back
and had no idea.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Yes, it's very well established.
So, this begs the question andI could just ask the question,
but I think I'm going to lead alittle bit, because you said
something a few minutes ago thatgave me pause.
You know you said as soon as aspace empties, we fill it
immediately.
I could, I could fill all kindsof space if I had it Is.
(32:10):
Is that next steps?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
I don't know, maybe yes.
I mean, if somebody approachedme with it Tom unfortunately
doesn't have any other otherbuildings I wish I said you need
to go buy some more buildings.
He's like no, no, but you know,if the opportunity presented
itself, sure, because there'ssuch a need.
There's such a need, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I wonder what would happen with all of your contacts
and all the art people that youknow in the city if you started
to put feelers out to fill thespace before you even find it or
rent it.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
That's a thought.
Yeah, that's true when?
Speaker 2 (32:46):
you can go to a person who owns a building and
say I have people that are bonafide interested here with this
long list of who they are andhow much space they would want
within that space.
I bet you could make thathappen.
In fact, I don't bet I know youcould make that happen Based
fact.
I don't bet I know you couldmake that happen Based on
(33:08):
everything you have told me.
I know and I completely seethat for you Well, thank you,
thank you, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah, you never know.
Like I said, I didn't know thisdoor would open with Art on
Main and it did.
So you just have to look forthose opportunities and they
come along.
They really do.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yep, Take that baby step you're talking about.
Act as if, and then let theuniverse support you in the way
that it has so beautifully.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
There you go.
That's true.
The universe has supported me,definitely, but I'm going to
shout out to my husband and mydaughter, because without them,
none of this would be possible.
They're my, they're my life.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
You know, the universe can only support us
when we allow it to.
Though you know you've done abeautiful job of demonstrating
that.
You've just turned it over.
At times, you didn't know whereit was going or what it was
going to look like, and yet youjust moved forward and said you
know, I'm going, I'm going toallow myself to be laid on Yep.
Absolutely moved forward andsaid you know.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I'm going to allow myself to be laid on Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Absolutely.
How wonderful, what adelightful story.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
I'm just enchanted.
Well, thank you guys so much.
I appreciate all your, your,your, I'm, I'm, I'm excited for
y'all's journey too.
I'm so glad that you're doingwhat you're doing and you know,
providing a framework for allthe creative voices out there to
you know, to tell their story.
It's a wonderful thing.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
We love what?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
we're doing and we're very excited and I love your
authentic behind you that's.
I love that a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
Thank you.
I get so many positive commentson that.
It's been up there for probablyfive years now, if not longer,
and I get so every Zoom.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
somebody will comment on it Be authentic.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Be authentic.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Just be you.
It draws all the right peopleto us Right.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
And, as you know, that is our dream.
This is the part where we'reallowing ourselves to be led
Sure.
That is our, our dream.
This is the part where we'reallowing ourselves to be led
sure, because when we startedthis whole community idea, it
wasn't about creatives.
The universe just showed up oneday and said oh no, it needs to
be about creatives.
And we were like right yeah,universe good move we yeah, we
(35:21):
didn't see it.
And and that is our dream tobring creatives together in a
deep and meaningful way andconnect them in a way that just
isn't happening elsewhere.
Right and we've got some veryvery specific ideas about what
we think that can look like.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
I'm excited to see what's next.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Well, before we wrap, at the end of each episode we
do rapid fire questions oh, okay, or rapid fire questions oh
okay, or rapid fire answers.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Okay, question number one what is your favorite food
combination that is uniquelyyours?
Speaker 1 (36:03):
That's a good one.
Hmm, well, I would say, man,that's tough.
My husband could be a chef, soanytime I can eat something that
(36:23):
he's prepared some of his pastarecipes are extraordinary I
would say that that would benumber one.
He's about to make a Frenchcake called a galette de bois,
which is a king's cake, and it'snot like the New Orleans king
cake where it's got all thesugar stuff on it.
It's a more of a pastry cake.
I would say anything that he'smade that is unique and tastes
delicious and is French,definitely that.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Man, if I were in the house with somebody like that,
it would be difficult.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
I am so lucky.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Okay, question number two what is a creative project
that you have always wanted todo but haven't started yet?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Well, the one that I would love to do is we um, we
have a lot of walls, um, in theback of our building.
Uh, I would love to have somemurals created on those, or just
big blank walls, and if I couldfind the resources to do it, I
would love to do that.
So that's something that thatit I'm going to talk to Tom
(37:23):
about.
Haven't talked to him about ityet, but that's a big project I
would love to do.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
We might could help you with that.
We know two people that aremuralists and they collaborate.
They're separate artists butthey collaborate a lot and
everything that we've seen thatthey do is just amazing Okay all
right.
We would talk to Tom and, ifyou get approval, reach out to
(37:48):
us and we'll connect you withthem, okay.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
Okay, it may take a grant.
I don't know if he has funds todo it, but I, you know we could
.
We could look for grants too,yeah, but that's that's a big
vision of mine, is?
I just keep looking at thosewhite walls every time I drive
past them.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
That would be cool because it would really draw a
lot more attention to AbsolutelyValerie.
Yes, okay, final question, ifyou could sum up your entire
creative journey.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
In one word, what would it be?
Oh well, I'll take two wordsamazing and wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
You can have two words.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
I love that.
I have been totally blessed,really yeah.
And I'm looking forward to more.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
And what an inspiration I mean it's.
I love hearing your story.
I secretly had one word as Iheard the question, and it would
be Phoenix, but it encapsulatesthose amazing and wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Because, you did actually rise from the ashes.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
Thank you, I appreciate that, wow Good call
Dwight.
Yes, dwight wins.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Andrea, it's been wonderful, thank you so much my
pleasure.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
Thank you both.
This has been a wonderfulconversation.
you know.
I would say, if you're acreative and you're you know
you've been creating, but let'ssay you haven't really gone out
there and sold anything or triedto sell anything or do any
marketing, but you want to, youdon't be overwhelmed by it, don
you want to?
You know, don't be overwhelmedby it.
Don't try to do everything atonce.
Don't think that, oh, I have tohave a website, I have to be on
(00:31):
Instagram, I have to go to thenetworking events, I have to go
approach galleries.
Those are all tools that are outthere for you, but you are the
one in control.
You are the one who decideswhat you're going to do and and
take it step by step.
You know, a baby step open upan Instagram account, start
putting your, put your picturesof you working on your process,
(00:52):
or just just that baby step andthat's what I think that's
what's important is to not getso overwhelmed that you're just
like you're frozen.
You know, a deer in theheadlights, I can't, I can't do
any of this.
And then you go back into yourhole and you just, you know you
create wonderful art, but we'renot seeing it.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So You're listening to the the Love of Creatives
podcast.
I'm Maddox.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
And I'm Dwight.
We're the Connections andCommunity Guys, and today we're
joined by our featured guest,andrea.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
I like to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Thank you, it's so wonderful to have you here.
I'm sorry I spoke over you.
What were?
Speaker 1 (01:40):
you saying?
I was just saying I'm veryhappy to be here, I'm excited
for the conversation and pleasetell us how to pronounce your
last name.
Yes, so it's a French name.
My husband is French.
There's a whole story about howwe met, but so there's a trick.
If you divide it into threeparts, the first part is like a
lamb, and then in the middle iser, and then the last part is
(02:01):
like the past tense of sewing.
So lammer, sewed is how youpronounce it.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That makes it easy.
Yes, I'm so glad I tried topronounce that People get
tripped.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
on the last part.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, I get suede or soddy, but it's sewed like the
past tense of sewing, lammer,sewed.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I would have said lammer sawed.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yes, we get that too.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yes, close, but not accurate, and I wanted to be
accurate, Thank you.
So, andrea, tell us a littlebit about I mean, we know a
little bit about you, but tellus who you are and what you do.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Sure, sure.
So name is Andrea Lamersaud,you got that all good.
So I'm the owner of Art on Main, which is in Dallas, and we are
in Old East Dallas.
So Art on Main is it's hard toclassify.
I can't say it's just a gallery, I can't say it's just artist
studios, it's an artistcommunity.
So we have 6,500 square feetand we're on Main Street, close
(03:00):
to right where it turns intoColumbia, and we have 22
creatives who make their home,their creative home, at Art on
Main, and then we have galleryspace as well.
So it's all kind ofintermingled together and we
have ongoing exhibits, soloexhibits, group exhibits, but
from the artists that havestudio space there and also
(03:23):
artists who are in Dallas.
I focus primarily on Dallasartists because I'm a native
Dallasite.
So it was always my dream andmy passion to open up a space
that would pay tribute to allthe wonderful talent that we
have in Dallas.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's very unique.
Thank you, I haven't seenanything else like it, so when
did you open?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
that.
So we opened in 2022.
In December, we opened up thestudios to the artist and then
in January, we had our firstexhibition in the gallery.
So now we're going on our thirdyear.
We're just coming into ourthird year, which is, to me,
just fantastic.
You know, when you start abusiness, you're on pins and
needles, you know, is it goingto work?
Just fantastic.
You know, when you start abusiness, you're on pins and
needles.
You know, is it going to work?
Are we going to?
(04:07):
Will people come?
And boy, have people come.
It's just been amazing.
I, like I said, it's been adream of mine for a long, long
time to build this community andopen this community and,
through a set of circumstances,it all worked out and now it's
just I can't wait, wait to get,wake up in the morning and go to
work.
It's, it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, congratulations .
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Thank you.
Yes, what an achievement I'mI'm, I gotta say I'm at that I'm
a little shocked, you know, Ijust it.
We've been in there multipletimes and it's so established
that I was expecting you to say,oh, we opened in 2000, or you
know, it's very, it's full.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yes, yes, and every time I mean occasionally we have
an artist that moves or goes toanother place and literally
within a week I've filled thespace.
It's a much needed space forthe community because, as you
both probably know, artiststudio space is scarce in Dallas
and you know, people areconstantly looking for it.
(05:08):
I wish I had a whole otherbuilding because I would fill it
.
So it's nice to be able toprovide as much as I can to the
artist in the area.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And what space is available is usually just out of
sight, expensive, out of sight,yeah it's crazy, it's just
crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
And the owner of the building his name, is Tom Ross.
He's an artist as well.
That was an integral part ofwhy we were able to do what
we've done is he was verypassionate about making it a
space that was easy for artiststo get to.
So the rent that he charges meis a fair rent and I, in turn,
can charge, you know, a fairrent to the artist.
(05:44):
It's not an exorbitant amountof money.
So that was a huge part of howwe're succeeding.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
What a beautiful arrangement.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Wow, how fortunate for everybody concerned.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Yes, yes, and so right now, my schedule is full
for the rest of 2025.
We have at least one usuallytwo exhibits per month through
the end of December scheduledalready, so it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I just got an email letting me know that you've got
something happening thisSaturday evening.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
That's true, it's a watercolor exhibit, yes, and
we're worried about the weather,but it seems like it's going to
be sunny on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
We would be there, but we already have plans that
evening.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Well, don't worry, we've got lots, lots more coming
.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yes, absolutely.
So I thought we would lead offwith something that I'm hoping
will be fun.
Sure, what is your favoritestory about community and how it
impacted your creative journey?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
story about community .
Wow, that's a good one.
I, I would have to say I have alot of favorites, but I'll
focus on this and you can gointo some detail here.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Just elaborate on this.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, so prior to opening Art on Main, I was at
the Mixed Creative Space, whichis a space in the basement of a
church on the other side ofWhite Rock Lake.
It's in the middle of aneighborhood and I was managing
a creative space there, workingwith the church.
So we had artists and artiststudios and we had a place to
(07:26):
have a gallery space in themiddle of the church Well, not
the church itself, but in thelower level of the church.
But long story short, we werejust getting started and COVID
hit and so we had to really shutdown everything.
But I kept communicating withpeople, because we got some
(07:46):
artists in and then we had tostop and the church shut down.
And so I kept communicating.
We did a lot of things visually,we did some Zoom meetings, we
did some education things onZoom.
We started to build thiscommunity kind of virtually and
also with the people that werethere, and then, when COVID
finally went away, we were ableto open our doors again.
(08:07):
It was wonderful because we'dalready built that community
virtually and you know the onesthat were there and then we were
able to kind of open it live.
Well, we'd already establishedconnections, we'd already kind
of you know, bonded with eachother.
And then the people who wantedto come in, who couldn't came in
, and it was just this wonderfulexperience to see everything be
able to bloom.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That does sound like wow, you pivoted, you know you
were throwing a curveball withand you pivoted and made it work
.
What was it that enabled you todo that?
Because not everybody would beable to pivot that easily.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Well, I'm a very once I get an idea, I'm kind of a
I'm bull.
I just keep going and I want tomake it happen.
And we were just getting thisstarted and there was just no
way I was going to shut down.
We could have, we could havejust said, well, we'll wait till
it's all over and then we'llsee what happens.
But I'm like, you know, zoomwas there, which was we talked
(09:14):
about it earlier is just agodsend and we were able to see
each other and talk to eachother.
But, you know, be safe.
So I just kept going and andand worked with other artists.
That was the thing.
Some of the artists that werethere were very community driven
as well, and we came up withsome.
A lot of the artists were likeokay, how do we market online?
(09:34):
You know we can't go to anexhibit right now.
How do we?
How do we market our work outthere in in the virtual world?
So we came up with, you know,educational events for that.
You know, here's how you coulddo this and that, and do it all
virtually.
So you just keep going, youkeep taking it day by day, and
and you don't give up.
That's always been my motto andthat that's kind of what I
(09:55):
think led to the success of Arton Main.
Is I just I keep going and ifit's a passion for me and I
really want to happen, then Ifind a way to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I'm going to pick your brain for a little bit of
wisdom here.
Okay, we talk to a lot ofcreative people just out and
about when we're going in andout of galleries, and we talk to
a fairly significant percentageof people that say that they
create in isolation.
You know, sure.
(10:29):
And yet in every episode thatwe have recorded of this podcast
thus far, the creative that hascome in as the featured guest
has talked about the varyingcommunities that they're part of
and what an important part ithas been in their journey.
(10:52):
Sure, you seem to have pulledthat off, and I'm wondering for
all those people that don'tunderstand the value of
community.
They're siloed, they're workingin, you know, solitude, sure.
How do we as in Dwight and I,but you as well, or any other
(11:19):
person that is community-driventhe way we are how do we
communicate effectively to themso they really start to
understand how valuablecommunity can be to their
process?
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Sure, well, I think it's a lead by example.
I think you need to figure outa way to show them you know, you
can talk to them about it allyou want, but, you know, show
them what it's like to have thatcommunity.
And that's why I'm alwaysinviting artists in.
We have artist talks andstudies and things like that at
Art on Main, and a lot of peoplecome and we just kind of let
(11:57):
them see how it works.
And I think you know, learningfrom, from seeing, I'm a very
visual person.
Um, everybody that I've talkedto that said, oh, you know, I
normally work alone Well, noteverybody, but a lot of them say
, well, but I really do see howthis community could be, could
be something that could help me.
(12:18):
And we have artists at Art onMain who are very they're very
isolationist in their approachto their work.
You know they go in theirstudio and and you leave them
alone, and then when they comeout, you know, then then yeah,
if, if you know they want to becollaborative with the community
, then they, then they come inthere and they're a part of it.
But we respect their, theircreative process.
(12:41):
For example, myself I'm anartist and when I'm making my
art.
I don't want anybody in mystudio.
We have drapes, we kind of havean open concept.
So I close my drapes and I'm inthere and I'm just in my little
cocoon and people know, youknow they can knock or whatever,
but they try to.
You know, let me have my zone,and so I think it's just a
(13:02):
combination of it's like Nemothe clownfish, you know how that
scene where he was kind ofgoing in and out of the plant,
he would go out and look and goback in and go out and look.
That's kind of the way I see it.
You know, you go in your littleplant and you make your art,
but then come on out there andbe a part of the community and
you'll see that wonderful,colorful, amazing world that's
(13:24):
out there waiting to support youand help you.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
I really want to call out that what you're saying
here is it's not an either orit's an and Definitely Because
there are some people thatreally need that quiet solitude
so they can focus.
But then there's all the restof your creative process.
That isn't about writing ormaking art.
(13:48):
It's all the things that goalong with it that operates your
business and gets your art outinto the world.
I love the and concept and youjust really clearly pointed that
out.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah, it's definitely not a black and white.
It's definitely a gray.
There's time when you want tobe with your community and learn
from them, and then there'stime when you just want to be by
yourself and do your thing.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, yeah, I think we can all appreciate how we
have different seasons.
There's different, differentmodes that we need to go in to
fully, to fully express and toactually allow ideas to
germinate.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Very much so I like that analogy of the seasons
Definitely.
So I'm really curious about howit was that you of my thing and
I love to read I was a voraciousreader, and then I did love
(15:02):
just to create visual art, didthat, you know, through high
school, and I also played theflute, so I was in the marching
band in high school, so there'salways been some type of
creativity around me.
When I got to college, Idecided to go more the business
route.
I went to SMU and got a degreein business and, specializing in
(15:22):
marketing, went into thecorporate world for a long time
worked at TI, texas Instruments,and I worked for a
telecommunications company.
That's how I met my husband.
We were both working for thesame company.
At the time he was living inCalifornia and I was living in
France, so that was a littleswitcheroo that we did.
But but the I?
What happened with me?
(15:44):
How I got to where I am todayand not in the corporate world.
And now where I am is in 2014,and this is a pretty heavy story
, but I do want to tell itbecause it's a part of my part
of my life and part of my story.
So we had taken our daughter,who's now 23, but at the time
she was about to go into thateighth grade um to the one
(16:04):
direction concert.
They were in town and it wassunday night.
She's supposed to start herschool the next day, like start
at eighth grade the next day,and um, when we got home, it was
about 11 o'clock, our streetwas blocked off.
We I don't know why I jumpedout of the car because we
couldn't get anywhere.
My husband was the car, mydaughter and I just ran and I
(16:26):
rounded the corner.
Our house was in a circle andour house was just in flames,
just totally in flames, like tothe point where now the fire.
There were six fire trucks thatI could count and they had the
water arcing down into themiddle of the house.
So we lost our home, we lostour pets.
We had three dogs and two catsand a turtle, and they all
(16:46):
perished.
It was a devastating experience.
And so you know it's at thatpoint you're, you're in shock,
you're numb, you're just tryingto, you know, figure out what
you're going to do.
So, little by little, westarted to figure that out.
But one thing that I neededcause my daughter took it the
(17:07):
hardest.
She had a lot of issuesmentally after that.
Um had to had to do some in andout, patient um to deal with
everything, and I needed I wastrying to help her.
I stopped working for a whileand just helping her.
But I needed an outlet and Ineeded something to do that
would help me heal, in additionto be able to help her.
(17:28):
And so I started painting.
I started making art just on mydining room table at our
apartment that we got.
We went to a high rise downtownbecause we didn't want to live
in a home, in a house structureanymore, but I kept doing it.
I kept doing it and at the timethe Continental Gin was still
there.
It was a big I don't know ifyou guys know the Continental
(17:49):
Gin big two-story structure withartists in it size of a
football field.
A good friend of mine, walterHoffhines, he's a lawyer but
he's also an artist.
We've been friends since 1994.
He said you know, get off yourdining room table, come over
here he's got a studio space, orhad a studio space there and
make some art.
You know, we've got a bigstudio space, come.
(18:10):
So I'm like, okay, so I did,and I kept making art, kept
making art, and then I startedselling a little bit of it and
I'm like, oh well, this is kindof cool.
So it just sort of just startto snowball and I had a solo
show.
A good friend of mine owns arestaurant on McKinney and
(18:33):
Avanti restaurant had a soloshow there, sold most of the
work, and so I kind of juststarted being an artist and I
went back to work I was workingfor a marketing agency, so I was
still doing that, but the artwas there and so little by
little, I started thinking, well, how can I?
How can I?
Because I like the corporateworld.
(18:54):
But I was just kind of likewhat can I do here?
So I thought, well, maybe Icould help other artists with
their marketing.
So that's what I did.
I was painting.
And then I started helping someartists with social media.
I learned how to build awebsite, my own website in
Squarespace.
So I started helping otherartists build websites.
And little by little I didn'treally need to do the corporate
(19:16):
marketing anymore.
So I stopped and then I justkind of did my art and the
marketing for artists.
And then that's when I um, Ihad we left the Continental Gen
because they closed and I I gotan artist studio space.
Um, after several other spacesthere's more story there, but I
(19:37):
don't want to take too much timeI got an artist studio space at
the mix and then they said well, with your marketing background
, maybe you could help us.
And that's how I started to domanaging that space and those
studio spaces and havingexhibitions there.
So that's kind of a shortenedversion of how I kind of got to
where I am.
(19:57):
And then in the early part of2022, I was working at the Mix
and I got a phone call.
First I got an email from acommercial real estate broker.
Her name is Hayden Sage and shesaid hey, I found you through
Google.
I have a client who is Tom Ross, the owner of the building that
we're in now, who has thisspace and the space, the
(20:19):
building that we're in now, whohas this space and the space.
The building was built in 62.
The second floor has been apool hall, it's been a bar, it's
been a dance club, it's been avenue space.
You don't want to do any of thatanymore.
It wants to turn into an artspace.
She said would you come overand look at it?
I said, well, yeah, sure, I'llcome over and get it.
She said he wants to getsomeone in the art world's
(20:39):
opinion about whether it couldbe an art space.
I'm like sure.
So I go and I get there and Iclimb up the stairs to to this
big kind of open space and all Ican see was this big bag of
windows with light and downtownDallas staring right at me and I
went.
I could I barely even gotten upthe stairs.
I'm like, yes, this could be anart space.
(21:01):
So that's kind of where theconversation got got started and
we talked a little more andthen they kind of both looked at
me and said, well, would youconsider making it an art space?
I was like, whoa, okay, well, Idon't know, but that's where
the conversation got started andI thought about it.
We said, well, yes, I would ifthis is what we did.
(21:24):
And I told them my dream whichis the way it is right now,
basically of artist studio space, of gallery space, of a
community for artists and acommunity for people to come and
meet those artists and seetheir work and to really to
really support the east dallasarts community.
He's like, okay, let's do it.
(21:45):
And so that's kind of where wewent.
And in the middle of that, um,I was.
I had been selected for anartist residency in france, but
covid came and so I had to bepushed off to 2022.
And my residency was going tobe in the middle of when we were
doing the build out of Art onMain, and I was like, oh God,
I'm gonna have to cancel again.
(22:06):
And my husband's like, no,you're not, I'll work, I'll help
, we'll make it happen.
You go to the residency.
So I went in September for thismonthlong residency and so I
was oh, did I freeze?
Oh, let's see.
Oh, there I am and did a lot ofZooming and calling and all
that while I was there.
(22:26):
But still that was the thing.
That's that part of me.
Like I told you earlier, if Iwant something, I'm going to
make it happen.
Even if it's a thousand milesaway, it's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Oh, that is so incredible.
I love the way that you had toovercome such a dark, deep
valley.
I mean, that was a trial.
I can't imagine the weight ofthe loss and having to deal with
trying to pull your daughter tothe other side of it as well.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yes, and today I'm so proud of her.
She's come so far, she got herdegree.
She's living in Ketchikan,alaska, with her boyfriend,
who's in the Coast Guard.
I'm going to go see her nextweek.
You know she's, she's.
She came out on the other side,which is nice to see.
We all did.
But, but you're right, it was avery traumatic, horrible
experience.
And but you know, you, you, youcome out of that experience
(23:30):
stronger and, and I think, moredetermined and and more stubborn
about making your life the wayyou want it to be.
And that's what we did, that'swhat we all did.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Andrea, I want to take a moment to celebrate.
You know, everything you'vejust shared really demonstrates
all the things that it takes tobe a true creative.
It takes strength and courageand determination and it takes
audacity and it takes resilience, and you demonstrate every
(24:08):
ounce of that.
What an inspiration you are,and I knew there was a reason.
I didn't know any of this, butI knew there was a reason that I
wanted you to come onto thepodcast and here it is right.
Here you demonstrate so much ofwhat is needed if somebody is
going to be successful as acreative.
It's not an easy road to hoe.
(24:30):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
But it's possible.
It is possible and I think it'sthe passion that you have and
the drive that keeps you going.
You know, and I know all theartists I know are very
passionate about what they doand that's, that's the I don't
know the steel rod that you haveto have, I think, to make it,
to make it work.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And there's something else I want to call out, and
that is we talked to so manypeople and I hear this all the
time young creatives, or justeven not creatives, just young
people.
They don't want to startanything until they've got it
all planned out.
And your story doesn't reallytalk about a plan.
I mean, life just got messy andgot in the way, yeah, and it
(25:16):
unfolded in the way and itunfolded.
It was like life brought it toyou rather than you having this
plan.
That were.
You know the old saying life iswhat happens.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
When you're making other plans.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Yes, yes, very true, yes, yes.
I's very true, yes, yes, I cantotally attest to that.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
I mean, we wouldn't be where we are right now, doing
what we're doing, if we hadn'tjust opened ourselves up to be
led.
We thought we wanted to do onething and we're doing something
very different now, and it'sbecause we didn't cling to our
plan.
It's okay to have a plan, butwhen you cling to it, you
(26:04):
suffocate all of the creativitythat the universe has for you.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, sometimes you just have to punt, you know and
hope that the ball lands whereyou want it to land, and if it
doesn't, then you just go get itand you punt again.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Exactly yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Well, I I love the way that you drew upon all of
the communities that you hadsupporting you.
I mean from the the mostintimate your husband being that
support for you and, uh, beingable to make the most of the
connections that you had.
I mean, if we're talking aboutwith Avanti, or eventually being
(26:46):
connected with the owner ofthat space.
I mean it is all just amazingand a testament to what it is to
just show up and be fully human.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah, and when those doors open, you know it's
sometimes hard to peek throughthem and go.
But you know what we got onelife, as far as we know.
So go, you know, go out thereand do it.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
I hope that you regularly take a moment to
celebrate yourself for allyou've done.
Thank you, I appreciate thatyou know, we as humans, we often
fail to do that.
We do just absolutelymiraculous things and we fail to
stop and really take it all in,breathe it in and just
(27:35):
celebrate everything that wehave collaborated on the
universe with.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
I agree.
I think everybody shouldcelebrate.
You know it makes you feel goodabout yourself and that's okay.
You need to feel good aboutyourself.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Well, you've talked about successes and you've
talked about challenges, andwhat would you say are some of
the most valuable life lessonsyou've learned, those wisdom
moments you can share withcreatives that are earlier on
their journey?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Sure, you know you've been creating, but let's say
you haven't really gone outthere and sold anything or tried
to sell anything or do anymarketing.
But you want to.
You know, don't be overwhelmedby it.
Don't try to do everything atonce.
Don't think that, oh, I have tohave a website, I have to be on
Instagram, I have to go to thenetworking events, I have to go
(28:34):
approach galleries.
Those are all tools that areout there for you, but you are
the one in control.
You are the one who decideswhat you're going to do and and
take it step-by-step.
You know, a baby step open upan Instagram account, start
putting your, put your picturesof you working on your process,
or just just that baby step.
(28:54):
And that's what I think that's.
What's important is to not getso overwhelmed that you're just
like you're frozen.
You know a deer in theheadlights.
I can't.
I can't do any of this.
And then you go back into yourhole and you just, you know you
create wonderful art, but we'renot seeing it.
So, and then, don't be afraidto ask for help, don't be afraid
to reach out.
(29:15):
There's so much support outthere.
There's a lot of free supportout there, lots of tools that
you can video YouTube videos andnetwork.
You know there's a lot of artorganizations in the Dallas area
that you could join and be apart of their group.
There's the Plano ArtAssociation, allen, Louisville
(29:36):
all the cultural centers youknow.
Get yourself out to those,start meeting other artists,
start talking to gallery owners.
Don't immediately approach them, you know, and say here's my
art.
Just just go to gallery showsand go to openings and just get
to know the community.
It's a step by step process and, again, don't get overwhelmed
by it.
If you find yourself gettingoverwhelmed, then just step back
(29:58):
, go create something, take aweek, get away from it and then
come back to it.
That's the key.
It's just step by step, momentby moment, and not getting
overwhelmed and asking for help.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
And everything you're saying is something that is
most likely going to be readilyavailable in any sizable city in
the US or around the globe.
Absolutely yes.
There are artists everywhere,on every part of the globe,
practically, and I mean whatyou're really saying is leverage
(30:32):
community.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Yes, absolutely, and one of the leverages we have is
we have great.
The Dallas Office of Arts andCulture is a great resource, you
know.
They have grants, they have adirectory of artists that I'm
actually on that directory.
They have programs where youcan get hired through them to do
work as an artist.
(30:53):
You know they're a greatresource.
And in East Dallas we justrecently opened up the East
Dallas Arts District.
It's a nonprofit and I'm theboard president of that and our
mission is to support theartists in East Dallas and Old
East Dallas and we just recentlyhad our first art walk.
So you know, seek out thosetypes of things and those types
(31:17):
of groups to help you lovely.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
Dwight, you got anything no, I'm, I am really
just amazed at your story.
I mean, like Maddox saidearlier, we we just assumed that
you were established and inthat space for many years back
and had no idea.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Yes, it's very well established.
So, this begs the question andI could just ask the question,
but I think I'm going to lead alittle bit, because you said
something a few minutes ago thatgave me pause.
You know you said as soon as aspace empties, we fill it
immediately.
I could, I could fill all kindsof space if I had it Is.
(32:10):
Is that next steps?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
I don't know, maybe yes.
I mean, if somebody approachedme with it Tom unfortunately
doesn't have any other otherbuildings I wish I said you need
to go buy some more buildings.
He's like no, no, but you know,if the opportunity presented
itself, sure, because there'ssuch a need.
There's such a need, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I wonder what would happen with all of your contacts
and all the art people that youknow in the city if you started
to put feelers out to fill thespace before you even find it or
rent it.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
That's a thought.
Yeah, that's true when?
Speaker 2 (32:46):
you can go to a person who owns a building and
say I have people that are bonafide interested here with this
long list of who they are andhow much space they would want
within that space.
I bet you could make thathappen.
In fact, I don't bet I know youcould make that happen Based
fact.
I don't bet I know you couldmake that happen Based on
(33:08):
everything you have told me.
I know and I completely seethat for you Well, thank you,
thank you, I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah, you never know.
Like I said, I didn't know thisdoor would open with Art on
Main and it did.
So you just have to look forthose opportunities and they
come along.
They really do.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yep, Take that baby step you're talking about.
Act as if, and then let theuniverse support you in the way
that it has so beautifully.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
There you go.
That's true.
The universe has supported me,definitely, but I'm going to
shout out to my husband and mydaughter, because without them,
none of this would be possible.
They're my, they're my life.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
You know, the universe can only support us
when we allow it to.
Though you know you've done abeautiful job of demonstrating
that.
You've just turned it over.
At times, you didn't know whereit was going or what it was
going to look like, and yet youjust moved forward and said you
know, I'm going, I'm going toallow myself to be laid on Yep.
Absolutely moved forward andsaid you know.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I'm going to allow myself to be laid on Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
Absolutely.
How wonderful, what adelightful story.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
I'm just enchanted.
Well, thank you guys so much.
I appreciate all your, your,your, I'm, I'm, I'm excited for
y'all's journey too.
I'm so glad that you're doingwhat you're doing and you know,
providing a framework for allthe creative voices out there to
you know, to tell their story.
It's a wonderful thing.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
We love what?
Speaker 1 (34:35):
we're doing and we're very excited and I love your
authentic behind you that's.
I love that a lot.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
Thank you.
I get so many positive commentson that.
It's been up there for probablyfive years now, if not longer,
and I get so every Zoom.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
somebody will comment on it Be authentic.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
Be authentic.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Just be you.
It draws all the right peopleto us Right.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
And, as you know, that is our dream.
This is the part where we'reallowing ourselves to be led
Sure.
That is our, our dream.
This is the part where we'reallowing ourselves to be led
sure, because when we startedthis whole community idea, it
wasn't about creatives.
The universe just showed up oneday and said oh no, it needs to
be about creatives.
And we were like right yeah,universe good move we yeah, we
(35:21):
didn't see it.
And and that is our dream tobring creatives together in a
deep and meaningful way andconnect them in a way that just
isn't happening elsewhere.
Right and we've got some veryvery specific ideas about what
we think that can look like.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
I'm excited to see what's next.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Well, before we wrap, at the end of each episode we
do rapid fire questions oh, okay, or rapid fire questions oh
okay, or rapid fire answers.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Okay, question number one what is your favorite food
combination that is uniquelyyours?
Speaker 1 (36:03):
That's a good one.
Hmm, well, I would say, man,that's tough.
My husband could be a chef, soanytime I can eat something that
(36:23):
he's prepared some of his pastarecipes are extraordinary I
would say that that would benumber one.
He's about to make a Frenchcake called a galette de bois,
which is a king's cake, and it'snot like the New Orleans king
cake where it's got all thesugar stuff on it.
It's a more of a pastry cake.
I would say anything that he'smade that is unique and tastes
delicious and is French,definitely that.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Man, if I were in the house with somebody like that,
it would be difficult.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
I am so lucky.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
Okay, question number two what is a creative project
that you have always wanted todo but haven't started yet?
Speaker 1 (37:02):
Well, the one that I would love to do is we um, we
have a lot of walls, um, in theback of our building.
Uh, I would love to have somemurals created on those, or just
big blank walls, and if I couldfind the resources to do it, I
would love to do that.
So that's something that thatit I'm going to talk to Tom
(37:23):
about.
Haven't talked to him about ityet, but that's a big project I
would love to do.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
We might could help you with that.
We know two people that aremuralists and they collaborate.
They're separate artists butthey collaborate a lot and
everything that we've seen thatthey do is just amazing Okay all
right.
We would talk to Tom and, ifyou get approval, reach out to
(37:48):
us and we'll connect you withthem, okay.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
Okay, it may take a grant.
I don't know if he has funds todo it, but I, you know we could
.
We could look for grants too,yeah, but that's that's a big
vision of mine, is?
I just keep looking at thosewhite walls every time I drive
past them.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
That would be cool because it would really draw a
lot more attention to AbsolutelyValerie.
Yes, okay, final question, ifyou could sum up your entire
creative journey.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
In one word, what would it be?
Oh well, I'll take two wordsamazing and wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
You can have two words.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
I love that.
I have been totally blessed,really yeah.
And I'm looking forward to more.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
And what an inspiration I mean it's.
I love hearing your story.
I secretly had one word as Iheard the question, and it would
be Phoenix, but it encapsulatesthose amazing and wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Because, you did actually rise from the ashes.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
Thank you, I appreciate that, wow Good call
Dwight.
Yes, dwight wins.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
Andrea, it's been wonderful, thank you so much my
pleasure.
Speaker 1 (39:17):
Thank you both.
This has been a wonderfulconversation.
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