The need for space and the means to create

I’ve always thought of my mother as quite creative. Growing up, she was always redecorating and painting the house, making it look better every time—no doubt. I come from a family of night owls and she is a seasoned seamstress. I have many memories of the faint humming of her machine from across the house at two in the morning.

She also enjoyed making stained glass. She had this beautiful rainbow & waterfall stained piece that she created. Most of the time, she kept it carefully tucked away (five children running amuck) But, she would bring it out on occasion and I loved to admire it.

Shiny things attract me, no doubt. They still do. 😅 I’ve been an avid rock collector since I was a child, constantly picking up and pocketing stones where ever we’d go...always asking for polished rocks at any gift shop we found them in. When I was a child, as a gift from my parents, I received a small rock tumbler so I could polish my own rocks at home. I still have it to this day!

In high school I took an art elective that allowed students to freely focus on various creative pursuits of their choosing. Student were allowed to pick their projects with the teacher offering feedback and direction. I took this opportunity to try my hand at stained glass, due to my mother’s influence. And, through working with various types of glass I found that I also really enjoyed glass fusing. I also did a bit of sewing, painting, and digital photography. It’s often been difficult for me to pick just one creative interest and I know I am not alone in that!

Back in 2014, I purchased a small home in Northeast Minneapolis for my, at the time three-year-old, daughter and myself. Over the years, we’ve had a number of close friends come to live with us and we’ve very much enjoyed the communal living environment it has created. However, through this sharing of space in my little home, we haven’t had much extra space to store art or tools! Hardly any space at all, in fact.

I feel this lack of space has often, unfortunately, led to a lack of creating. When I don’t have the proper space to get all up and crafty, it can be hard to get started.

I’ve also desperately wanted to get back into glass fusing ever since I completed two courses at Normandale Community College in 2011/2012. However, I haven’t had affordable access to the proper space or tools. (I’ve roped in my old glass fusing instructor on this arts commune project 😉) I did look into installing a glass fusing kiln in my home and it was terribly expensive to set up and run.

There is a need within the community for affordable access to space, equipment, tools, and supplies. The Northeast Arts Commune is the solution.

-Jordyn Kromminga, founder of The Northeast Arts Commune