Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Jackson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kerry. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
As a visual/performance artist myself, I have found that most people involved in the creative arts have experienced common struggles when it comes to their art. I know I have had feelings of isolation. No matter where I’ve lived, there hasn’t been a real strong artistic network in my area.
Most of my loved ones can’t relate to my passion. Or, I spend so much time inside of my own head that I forget how to talk to other people. Whatever the reason, all artists feel alone from time to time.
Our most profound conversations often occur within our own mind. Think about it. We’ve all been there. There is nothing more isolating than stumbling upon the most important thought of your life and having no one to share it with. It highlights our need for a receptive audience already engaged with the same ideas. That receptive audience is the community.
As far as we might be able to make it on our own, being part of a like-minded community of peers helps us to reach so much further. They are a sounding board… critical but never negative. They can be a motivating source of accountability. They can be collaborators, partners, mentors, teachers, and students… or simply just friends. We can talk to them, share with them, and sympathize with them in a way that we simply can’t with those who aren’t facing similar challenges every day.
More than a few of us creative types are perfectly happy being the quiet wallflower. And probably at least one of us would flee from all human contact if it were feasible. But none of us would be where we are today had we not put ourselves out there. We’ve connected with others experiencing similar struggles. We’ve learned to ask for help when we need it, while also extending a hand to those who need help from us.
We support one another artistically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have often longed to be part of a creative community where I can be inspired, challenged, critiqued, rewarded, supported, and even prayed for. I have been fortunate to be part of such communities in the past. I know how helpful it was. That’s why I’ve started New Creation Arts in Marietta, Georgia.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a program of a non-profit, New Creation Arts relies on the financial support of our patrons. Raising financial support has always been a challenge for me.
Please tell us about New Creation Arts.
Our mission: New Creation Arts exists to provide a community of artists that fosters creativity and promotes well-being by supporting artistic growth, provides opportunities for self-expression through the arts and establishes a collective voice promoting community outreach, inspiration, and artistic expression.
New Creation Arts is a community of artists. Our members are visual artists, designers, writers, photographers, videographers, dancers, actors, storytellers, and musicians who have a passion for the arts!
We provide working studio spaces, a shared art gallery where participating artists rotate as “Featured Artist of the Month,” and space for performing arts such as dance, music, and spoken word. A small license fee is required for each studio space, but we are able to offer studios at an affordable rate due to the generosity of our non-profit ministry partners. All studio license fees go into our general budget to help with the cost of our events.
Participating visual artists are encouraged to volunteer their time towards running the gallery and complete a “call for entries” application. 100% of all gallery sales go directly to the artist. No commission is taken by New Creation Arts. It is the responsibility of each artist to report and submit all appropriate sales tax.
New Creation Arts partners with other art organizations to provide art marketing/business seminars to help us all be more successful artists. In a nutshell, New Creation Arts is a “home” for artists to work, display, collaborate and encourage one another in our love for creativity.
I’m most proud of providing a place for emerging artists to get their “feet wet” in hosting their first gallery show, promoting and pricing their work, and helping them out financially by not taking a commission from their sales. I think that sets us apart from others.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I could have a do-over, I would try to raise more support in order to be closer to Marietta Square.
Even though we’re only a half mile away from the Square, we do not get the foot traffic we would like. We have determined that we need to be event-driven to get people in the gallery.
Contact Info:
- Address: 595 Roswell Street, Suite E, Marietta, GA 30060
- Website: newcreationarts.net
- Phone: 678-223-4979
- Email: contact@newcreationarts.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newcreationartsDTTR/?eid=ARDOPwwX_br5OLvS3CM9C3sgtExCuqksM4JPwkmjNagoQobhZqSmfdQfwqH3ffQMgRsQVmddOqCriXSc
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