BIPOCA – Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Artists. A gallery in Fort Wayne bears this name with the hopes of providing a space to uplift artists whose work has been historically excluded.
Nestled inside the Art & Awakening Center, a joint effort of
BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery Founder Cydia Early and DNA Awakening, School, Books and Gifts Founder Danielle Andersen, the gallery showcases work from a variety of artists and mediums and offers an incubation program, which gives artists a chance to learn about the art business, helping them develop their artistic careers. The Art & Awakening Center is also home to DrieM World Tattoo & Art Gallery, run by Seddric Lorick (Seddy DrieM).
To learn more about BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery, Input Fort Wayne sat down with Cydia Early to explore its mission, its new location, and community connections.
IFW: Tell us about BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery.
CE: BIPOCA is a space and place focused on uplifting and promoting black, indigenous and people of color whose artistic/creative work has been historically excluded, unseen, overlooked and or exploited. We do that with creatives in our local community, and from wherever else they may come.
Rachel Von Art LLCOwner of BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery Clydia Early straightens an "Owl Embroidery Jacket" by Ely Minnick.IFW: What is the goal of BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery, and what are you doing to accomplish that goal?
CE: BIPOCA has many goals, but one of our main goals is to create a space for BIPOC artists to exhibit, sell, commune and perform their work, while also uplifting and engaging them to reach higher. To accomplish these goals, BIPOCA, of course, has a new space for exhibits and selling, but we have also developed a year-long incubation process for artists to participate in if they choose, and we are always working on funding to help artists with greatly needed resources.
IFW: Why is it important to have something like BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery here in Fort Wayne?
CE: It’s important, in my opinion, to have a space like BIPOCA in Fort Wayne because although there are many galleries in Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne is rich with art, none of the galleries, to my knowledge, work specifically with BIPOC artists or incubate artists. What I mean by incubate is to develop and grow artists that can contribute to the art world in a meaningful way that resonates with them and achieve the success they are capable of. This work is important to me because I started BIPOCA out of my love for art and community, but also because I saw that there was a lack of spaces available for BIPOC artists and creatives to be represented, included, seen and heard in our community on a consistent basis. I’ve always been community-oriented and wanted to open a gallery for BIPOC artists for some time and I took a giant leap of faith.
Rachel Von Art LLCClydia Early, owner of the BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery, works on hanging a piece from Wasentha Young.IFW: The incubation program is a yearlong process. What does that entail?
CE: For the first four months, we try to help them establish a strong foundation – put their portfolio together, give them an online presence, get photo shoots, you know, create visibility through marketing. We have a meet and greet where the artists and the community, and their friends and family, can come in and meet them. We do networking, where artists come in and have workshops just for the artist.
If they choose to stay in the next part of our program, which is selling and marketing integration, I focus on monetization and market access. How do we hook them to sales opportunities? How do we help the artists understand you know business? How do we talk to them about pricing? What are the other opportunities besides just putting your art on the wall?
The last part is our sustainability and growth longevity. How we teach artists to stay in business? I try to teach them about multiple streams of income, meaning merchandising, digital sales, licensing, blogging, classes, and workshops. I want to help them with long-term opportunities through other galleries, not just BIPOCA. The year-long programs gives us the opportunity to do that, and we get funding to help us with that. The first four months are no cost; the last eight months, I will be asking artists if they will contribute an amount. I will continue to write grants to supplement to help them, but in my opinion, if you don't have something in it, then it's not worth it to you.
Rachel Von Art LLCThe library area at BIPOCA Incubator and GalleryIFW: Have you had any difficulties along the way as you get the incubator and gallery up and running?
CE: I would definitely say that BIPOCA has had some difficulties. At the end of last year, around August, I had to move from the space that I had been in for the past two years, and it kind of devastated me. But in the end, it ended up being a great thing that happened for me because I moved to a new space, bigger and closer to downtown. Sometimes things start off negatively, but they end up being the right thing for you.
Rachel Von Art LLCClydia Early, owner of the BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery, talks about the "Encaustic Panel" by Nancy Fritz.IFW: Why do you think there has been a lack of representation of BIPOC artists in Fort Wayne galleries?
CE: They don't see anything that looks like them, or they feel intimidated, and so they will not even go into the gallery. They don't think there's anything there for them. There are so many artists that are not BIPOC, but galleries don't necessarily have to go after a certain niche or a certain group of artists, just let people know that they are open to all kinds of artists. Also, make a point to show different types of artists’ work. They could encourage BIPOC artists to come in and participate by showing art by artists who are BIPOC. By having workshops that are performed by BIPOC artists, and letting the community know that those workshops are being done by BIPOC artists.
IFW: Do you have any artists who regularly show at BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery who you are really excited about?
CE: For sure! I work a lot with local artist, like Lyndy Bazile (aka AfroPlump), who has Studio Vwzan, and she is super talented. From murals to lifestyle pieces created from her art, I always have some piece or pieces of her art in the gallery. I also work with an artist, Seddy DrieM (Seddrick Lorick), whom I cold-called and asked if he would work with me, and his work is phenomenal!
Rachel Von Art LLCPieces by: Lyndy Bazile (AfroPlump) at BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery.CE: What has the community's response to BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery been so far?
IFW: The community has been only supportive of BIPOCA. At our grand opening in July, we had over 200 people show up.
IFW: Do you have any upcoming events, workshops, programs, or meet-ups that you'd like to share with us?
CE: We do have some things coming up. We will be participating in Open Streets this year on Sunday, August 17, on Calhoun St., from noon to 4 p.m., featuring rock art, face painting, henna, and more. In September, we are planning a special culinary tasting event with an artist working with BIPOCA. In October, we have a Meet-the-Artists event, where friends, family and the community have an opportunity to meet the artists that BIPOCA is currently working with and view and purchase their pieces. We are working on a Song Writing Workshop for the community in October and a Homeless Photography Exhibition in November – so many things to keep an eye out for.
Rachel Von Art LLCClydia Early, owner of the BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery, works on framing a piece.IFW: Are there open calls where artists can submit work?
CE: BIPOC Artists can always contact us through my email:
[email protected], call (260)348-0267, or stop by BIPOCA 1619 S. Calhoun St.
IFW: Is there anything else you want readers to know?
CE: Just to support artists and to buy art!
BIPOCA Incubator and Gallery is located at 1619 S. Calhoun St., inside the new Art and Awakening Center, Wednesday-Saturdays from Noon until 6:00 p.m.