Hi Friend 👋🏾

How’ve you been? Well I’ve been busy and blessed (teehee). Each day spent at SpaceCraft is a joyful reminder that collective imagination has the power to build worlds. SpaceCraft is expanding every month. It’s been a blast to meet new members, experience new events, and brainstorm dope evolutions to the space.

In the midst of this, I find more ease and play reconnecting with more analog forms of media from this newsletter to print media. I hope you make space for yourself to explore and wonder because the world is cwazy (yes, cwazy) right now. And, community is the only way we can support each other through this. 💛

Best,

✨ Jaleria Rivera, Founder

🗞️ News ↓

🎨 Sneak peek into SpaceJunk — Art supply thrift store 🎨

Eee! We’re excited to be evolving SpaceCraft to include a retail store of pre-loved art supplies for artists called SpaceJunk. After speaking at the Dogwood House & Garden show, the team felt deeply inspired to bringing our brewing ideas to life. SpaceJunk is a needed resource for Knoxville artists—can you believe there isn’t a creative reuse center in the city?!

There are fabulous spaces, who specialize in specific materials; and SpaceJunk can fulfill the gap for art supplies. Now, this is a teaser to a larger announcement we intend to make next month, but if you’re interested in getting involved:

• Email me (Jaleria) to volunteer in supporting SpaceJunk

• Or, donate any shelving, bins, or trays to the space

I look forward to debuting SpaceJunk formally. Stay tuned!

🎉 Happenings ↓

View the calendar below to learn more about events, classes, and shows happening at SpaceCraft. Feel free to subscribe to our calendar because it’s ever-evolving as we add more programming.

Cozy Game Night 👾 Thursday, 2/27 👾 6P - 9P 👾 $15

​Level up your Thursday night at SpaceCraft's Artists Playground: Cozy Game Night edition! Join us on February 27th from 6 PM to 9 PM for an evening of gaming, art, and good vibes.

​Bring your fav console (and board games) and dive into a world of fun with fellow gamers and local artists. Whether you're a Mario Kart master or a Stardew Valley savant, there's a cozy corner waiting for you to chill and play.

​Located at the vibrant 119 Jennings Ave Gallery in Knoxville, this is the perfect spot to unwind and connect with like-minded folks. For just $15, you can enjoy a night filled with laughter, creativity, and maybe even a new high score.

So grab your controllers, bring your A-game, and let's make it a night to remember!

Artists Playground 🎨 Every Tuesday 🎨 6P - 9P 🎨 $15

You’re dismissed! Enjoy an open art-making session with other Artists in your neighborhood. ​Take a break from the stresses of daily life and get back to the child-like wonders of being an Artist. ​You’re welcome to do whatever your creative mind desires, whether that’s to rest, craft, tinker, make, or shake!

Figure Drawing ✏️ Every Wednesday ✏️ 6P-8P ✏️ $15 Door

Our open figure drawing sessions provide a dedicated space for artists of all levels to practice and refine their skills. Every Wednesday from 6-8 PM, we host undraped model sessions that offer a range of poses, from quick gestures to up to 20 minute poses. Our goal is to maintain an approachable atmosphere for new artists practicing, as well as a high quality set.

🖼️ Throwbacks ↓

🧶 Ditch YouTube. Ask your friends to teach you. 🧶

Some define me as a platform junkie, hobby hoarder, craft crazy (alright I made that last one up, but you get the jist lol) because I fid pleasure in being an amateur. Learning a new skill and experiencing that wide eyed eureka feeling gives me a rush like no other!

Over the last few weeks, a dear friend, Laura, offered to teach me to crochet. I always admired her handmade crocheted mushroom bags and was curious how I could merge the pleasures of sewing and beaded embroidery with crochet. And, I’m happy to report that I’m in love with crochet! I adore the texture of the yarn, the variety of stitches, and most importantly, I love that’s it’s mess free.

I mention this story because I’ve noticed that many younger artists are comfortable teaching themselves. They reginize the importance of being self-sufficient and have the fortitude to hustle through the uncomfortable hurdles of learnigng something new. However, what’s missing with virtual learning is the one-to-one connection and the joys to connecting with a teacher in real time.

Learning in person with a friend, teacher, or mentor can unlock more opportunities and pathways unseen by teaching yourself. If you’re curious to meet other Artists or skill share your talents, come to an Artists Playground. Attending the playgrounds every week has been instrumental in holding me accountable to making art consistently and enjoying the creation process.

🎨 Ways to support ↓

SpaceCraft is open to all mediums, no matter if you craft, make, design, tinker, or shake! Our intention is to become a beacon for all artists seeking a space to make art uninhibited.

Become a paying subscriber of Premium Membership to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • Exclusive, free entry to SpaceCraft gatherings
• • Priority access to SpaceCraft open calls
• • Unlock discounted entry to SpaceCraft coop events
• • Exclusive discount on all SpaceCraft retail and merchandise
• • Added to the SpaceCraft member directory
• • Unlock members-only posts