Creative Minds travels to London today to meet Rebecca, one of the founding members of Bezalel, a creative community that supports and encourages artists to share their skills with others and leaves space in the fast- paced London life for people to make something by hand, learn a new craft and take the time to enjoy the process of it. Read on to discover more about this amazing project and how it came to life!

• Hello, Becky! So excited to have you on our Creative Minds Series for this interview. Can you tell us something about yourself and your background?

I’m Becky, I’m twenty-five and live in Peckham, London. I’m married to Dom, who I helped found the vision of Bezalel with. We got married in 2012, the summer I graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art, where I did a BA in the History of Art. I’ve always loved the arts, I have always been intrigued by the artists themselves, the way they think and live. I loved reading about the way people changed history and documented history through art, as well as the communities who came together to transform or challenge the established modes and ideas that often become so entrenched in art establishments. Artists often seem to see the world pass by as if they are bystanders, which means they often see things others don’t see. That’s part of the reason I love being married to Dom! He’s a painter, leather worker, carpenter … an all-round craftsman, who  has so many ideas and so much vision. He keeps me on my toes!

• Bezalel is right now an exciting reality that brings together artists from all disciplines, to share their skills others, shaping an expanding community of creatives. Can you tell us how it all started?

When me and Dom got married one of the main things we were both passionate about was the creative arts, the way it brings freedom and life. However, we were finding that a lot of our creative friends were feeling quite isolated and unsupported in their disciplines. I think it’s fair to say that many artists feel a bit different in ‘normal’ society. They live differently, they don’t go to a 9am-5pm job every day, they don’t make lots of money, it takes time to find their place and their ‘thing’. It’s also a very vulnerable thing putting art work, or something you have made into the world, you are putting something of great value to yourself on show, with no assurance anyone will like it. If you’re doing this in a community which supports and loves you, who are there to encourage you and also challenge you, this becomes a lot less scary and much more life-giving!

• You are currently offering many different types of workshops, from drawing and weaving to calligraphy and flower arranging, what should we be expecting from you in the future?

Definitely more of the same, we want to keep offering classes, as well as other paths and avenues into creativity. We want to carry on pushing forward the message that we’re all creative. That might not mean we were all born to be successful artists, but we all make – everyday. Whether that’s dinner, a spreadsheet or solving a problem at work. We want to make time and space for people to do something practical, spend time on themselves and learn a new mode of expression.

 

 

• In the frenetic rhythms of our lives nowadays, do you think that there is an increasing need of taking one’s’ time and just creating something by hand?

For sure. For me that doesn’t mean every night I sit down and carve a spoon or paint… that might not even happen every week… or month! What it does mean is getting to know what I value, what I enjoy doing, what makes me come alive, what helps me relax. I think for a lot of people that looks like doing something creative. In London, we seem to really like extreme lifestyles, that might be working every hour of the day or no sugar/gluten/dairy diets. I think as a community we have found that living in the tension, the in-betweens, is what helps you find a rhythm. Taking time out, but not beating yourself up if you can’t. Having yearly goals not monthly goals. Being ok about the process of figuring out your rhythm, because that journey is as important as your rhythm itself.

• A few months ago you have completed a Kickstarter campaign to fund your project. A lot of small companies or growing brands are interested in using funding platforms like this. What was your experience with Kickstarter? Do you have any tips to give our readers?

We LOVED Kickstarter. We got some advice from a very wise friend that Kickstarter wasn’t just about getting money, it was the start of growing a community of people who would follow you and be part of your vision/dream. This has been so true. We met so many amazing people in our workshops who were part of the Kickstarter and helped us reach our goal. Our advice would be, make spreadsheets! Make sure costs are covered, that you are getting good profit margins on your rewards but that you’re also being generous with your rewards!

• You have the commitment of paying the artists and makers that contribute to your workshops. Do you think it’s hard for the artists to get paid for their time and work nowadays?

Yes, definitely. This is due to many, many factors. However, I think one of the biggest is that beautiful things take time to be made. Our modern concept of ‘worth’ or ‘value’, in relation to money is often fairly distorted or non-committal, we spend so easily! We often use our money so erratically that we forget its value. When we give someone our money we’re saying, I see X amount of value in the product you are trading with me. We need to change our idea of what the worth of creativity and making is. When we look at what an artist has made, we need to look at the process, how it’s been made, the time taken to make it, we’re not just buying the spoon, we’re telling that artist that what he’s made is valuable.

• What is your vision for the future of Bezalel?

Part of the joy of Bezalel is that it’s a vision carried by a group of people. People are transient, growing and ever-changing, therefore it’s hard to plan its future. We’re ok with that. Bezalel will be what it needs to be to bless artists and stay true to its vision of encouraging one another and creating excellent work.

• Where can our readers follow you and book a workshop?

We’re on instagram: @bezalelworkshops. We also have a website www.bezalel.org.uk – head to the workshops page to find out more about workshops, and to our shop to book tickets!