Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Alexander.
Celeste, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I became an Interior Designer in 1992 and at the time I only knew of one other black designer in my area San Diego CA. I moved to the Atlanta area and began to meet other designers who look like me. I always heard the same complaint from designers and the community that they never see black designers in the shelter magazines or publications except, an occasional article in Essence. I have always tried to create a network with black designers in the local community and nationally, so I would make sure I introduced myself to other black designers, decorators, architects, stagers and creative at any design events I attended.
In 2017 I got mad about not see the beautiful work of BID’s and I threw out dozens of mainstream magazines out of anger and vowed not to read another one. I prayed about this anger so much God blessed my mind with a simple formula to start Curated Quarters Magazine. I woke up around 2 am and told my husband I’m going to create a magazine! He rolled over and said “Okay Baby”. I began to research and strategize how I was going to do this in real life. With many meetings and disappointments from a closed industry, a lot of folks told me just go digital, nobody buys magazines anymore, there is not enough of us and so many negative sentiments I just had to push through. I had to struggle and navigate through a world I had no knowledge about except from a consumer standpoint. I invested my own money to move full speed ahead and I believed if I built it the community would come. Well, they did not all come running! Here we are on our 5th issue and growing, like selling CD’s out the trunk of the car we are a grassroots grove. Curated Quarters is not the first magazine that has tried to capture the beauty and creativity of African Americans.
But we are the first in the social media age where we find new designers every week to get to know, follow and feature. We have amazing volunteers who love the movement to tell the visual stories of the black creative community.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
1. Finding advertisers because interior design is not marketed to the African American community.
2. Because the designers know me they may feel it’s not a viable platform.
3. We are to the consumer who has not been messaged enough to appreciate black design because all they ever see is a white interior design and HGTV.
Please tell us about your business.
We print the only shelter magazine dedicated to diversity in design, art, architecture and creativity. We are proud that we have published designers who have never been in a magazine despite being in the industry over 20 years or give a cover to a deserving designer who never had that opportunity. We are proud we do not have to deny anyone access to the press, whether they are high-end designers or the do it yourself designers. Beauty is not a cost but creativity.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Amanda Chapman has been with me from day one and is our graphic designer. The following ladies have been contributors, supporters, advocates and cheerleaders:
Jamala Wallace
Monica Vaughn
Tarsha McCra
Elle Gibbson
Pricing:
- a sbscription is 39.99 a sigle copy 14.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curatedquartersmag.com
- Phone: 7703107793
- Email: curatedquarters1@gmail.com
- Instagram: @curatedquartersmagazine
- Facebook: curated quarters magazine
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