This Is the Most Me I've Ever Been | Stephanie Kluk | Future Ink Graphics

What does it look like when someone stops performing a version of themselves and fully becomes who they always were?

Stephanie Kluk is the founder of Future Ink Graphics (FIG) — a silkscreen printmaking studio, community gallery, and creative incubator based in Cleveland, Ohio. She has spent over 20 years working in the arts, and FIG is her most personal work yet. Built not because the city asked for it, but because she needed it. And then realized everyone else did too.

In this episode of The Creative Odyssey Podcast, host Sheran Ranasinghe sits down with Stephanie Kluk at Future Ink Graphics for one of the most honest conversations the show has had about what it actually looks like to build a creative life that is completely, unapologetically yours.

They talk about:

• Growing up as the only artist in her family — and what that loneliness taught her
• Failing a printmaking class in college — and now running a print shop
• How Covid revealed what artists were really missing from each other
• Building FIG as a truly inclusive creative space in Cleveland
• The Immortality of Grief — the gallery show she made after losing her father
• Why people of all ages are afraid to make art and what to do about it
• The Ann Kibbe Residency, the FIG Foundation, and the future of the organization
• What it means to build something that is the most true version of yourself

This episode is for the creative who feels stuck. For the person who stopped making art and misses it. For the small business owner grinding through the unglamorous parts and wondering if it's worth it. For anyone who has ever wondered what it would feel like to stop shrinking and just build the thing that is completely, fully them.

Stephanie Kluk's answer — lived out loud for over two decades — is that the most creative and courageous thing any of us can do is simply become who we actually are.

Recorded on location at Future Ink Graphics, Cleveland, Ohio.

—

The Creative Odyssey Podcast is hosted by Sheran Ranasinghe and produced by Odyssey House Media. New episodes explore the creative journey — why people create, how creativity shapes identity, and why we all should create.

🎙️ Host: Sheran Ranasinghe 🎨 Guest: Stephanie Kluk, Founder of Future Ink Graphics (FIG) 📍 Recorded at: Future Ink Graphics, Cleveland, Ohio 🌐 Learn more about FIG: futureinkcleveland.com 📩 Contact: thecreativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @thecreativeodysseypodcast | @sheranstories

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Big is the most real I've ever been of myself. Like it's the most me I've ever been. I knew I wanted to be an artist. I just didn't think I would be so community-based and want an organization that supported so many other artists, but that seems to have just been the path that I took and really fell in love with it. People are afraid to make art sometimes. Um I think it's like a muscle you gotta, you know, keep using and keep creating because that builds on it. And if you've never really opened that door or you haven't for a long time, I think people are a little intimidated by that. So I created this space and I can do all me in it. I know it sounds a little selfish, but I think as artists, we're looking for a space to be our authentic self, right? Well, a poor dream, but no, it's the difficult. It's like, yeah, it is. It's it's what I wanted for a really long time. And it's it's a hustle and it's a lot to keep going, but it's it's lovely to know I'm coming to work and I'm doing something that I want to do, and it's me. And Vanessa said, our individuality is celebrated at fake. And I like, I'm gonna cry because I was like, that's that is exactly what I want. Exactly. Said I always tell her like life is short, but it's actually kind of long.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

Hi, welcome to the Creative Odyssey Podcast. My name is Sharan, and this is a podcast where we talk about the creative journey, why people create, and why we all should create. Uh, today we are here at uh Future Inc. Graphics in Cleveland, Ohio, and I have the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Clark Cloak. Oh, I got it right. Yeah, um, who's the owner and founder of Fig.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 1:43

First of all, thank you for letting us shoot here. You have an amazing place here. Um, very creative. I've talked to your creative people that are involved here. Congratulations, you've done a fantastic job.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

Oh, thank you. Done.

SPEAKER_03 1:58

All right, Stephanie, how do you define yourself as a creative?

SPEAKER_01 2:03

How do I define myself as a creative?

SPEAKER_03 2:05

That was a loaded question. How do you define yourself?

SPEAKER_01 2:08

How do I define myself in general as a creative person? Um as an artist, as an arts administrator, as a connector, as a yeah, as a community bringing together artists, I don't know, whatever that word would be.

SPEAKER_03 2:24

Is that what drives you?

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Strangely, it does. Like I think I'm still surprised that I went this route. Like I knew I wanted to be an artist. I just didn't think I would be so community-based and want an organization that supported so many other artists. Um, but that seems to just been the path that I took and really fell in love with it.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

Right. Okay. So you are an artist.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 2:49

Yes, artist. Thank you. So how did you become an artist? How what what has led for you to become this?

SPEAKER_01 2:59

So I've always been interested in art. I would say, like, we want to get real down to like being like eight years old. And like I used to draw, I actually loved fashion, okay, surprisingly, but I liked fashion, so I used to make fashion magazines. Like I would draw all of the fashion magazine, you know, all of the clothes and all of those things. And I just drew all the time. And I just was wanted to make things like um, and I'm the only person in my family that is, quote, an artist. So no one really understood what was going on with me, but I had very supportive parents that were like, okay, well, this is who she is, and she's a little weird, but we're gonna go with it. So um, so they've always supported me in that. So that just kind of helped me grow into it. And then once I was in high school, I knew that I wanted to go into art. So um, starting in like sophomore year, I started actually putting together a portfolio to go to art school. Had to convince my dad that I could do that. Um, but that's really like where my journey kind of started. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 3:55

So, what is uh what mediums do you do?

SPEAKER_01 3:58

So I actually went into school. When I went to college, I went to go be a painter. Okay. Um, but then I fell in love with photography. It's funny because I was horrible at photography in high school and it became something I love. And a little side note, I did really bad in printmaking in college. I actually failed a printmaking class and I've never failed another class before. So it's just kind of funny that I run a print shop now and got into printmaking. But originally it was like painting and drawing, and then I really love photography. So that was what my major was was fine art photography. Wow. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

So do you do still do photography?

SPEAKER_01 4:34

I do, I a little bit, but mostly now it's in screen print. So I'll take photographs and then I screen print them. Whoa. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

Interesting. Okay, cool, cool. So what does creating mean to you? Like you've been creating for a long time, and what has that like how does how how has that evolved over time?

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Um, I would say just growing in confidence in my creativity. So, like, you know, there's always artists that are like, oh, I'm not really an artist, and sometimes I even feel that about myself. Right. But I think creativity is kind of like the whole thing. So it's like my artistic ability and what I see, but also our like the creativity in the programming and the work that we do and the partners that we have. So I get creativity on both sides. Um, so that's kind of how I see that is the question.

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Oh, it did. Okay. Because it's at the end of the day, how do you see that's that's yeah, there's no right or wrong.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

So growing in my confidence as an artist too has been, and as a creative person and understanding that my creativity, like I can accomplish things with it and like move forward, um, and then share that, and then share my confidence of creativity with other people.

SPEAKER_03 5:45

What kind of things or topics like drew your interest or curiosity in like the last couple of years as you evolved?

SPEAKER_01 5:55

Um, well, COVID had a big impact on artists, so that was really the impetus for starting Fig. Um, but what have I been drawn to? A lot of it is like these conversations because they don't happen very often. So when you came to me, it was like, this is great because a lot of what I see is very surface. You know, we're very into like Instagram and what our branding is and what are what do we look like to the outside, but like going deeper and talking and having these conversations is lovely.

SPEAKER_03 6:21

So, as like a business owner now, how do you create?

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Through a lot through programming. Okay. Um, I love to come up with ideas. Um, sometimes they come out in grants, sometimes I have a lot of ideas, so sometimes they don't come to fruition. But um, but a lot of it is through um, I've been making artwork for very specific purposes. So I'm not like at home like making work. It's something I would love to eventually do when I'm not having a business, but that also zaps a lot of my energy and creativity through the business. But um uh ask me that question again. Um, the things I've been into lately. So yeah, so I would say more of these um personal conversations, more of this like, how are we growing as artists, how are we communicating with each other? Um, I think like what you said earlier about um artists coming to events, but not really addressing what's going on with the artist internally and how like it's kind of a little bit about that confidence is like you have a lot of artists that come in and they're phenomenal artists, but they don't know it.

SPEAKER_02 7:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Um, or you have some that are like, you know, they're good, but they really think they're great. Um, so really kind of having those conversations and and learning, I love very much like one-on-one conversations and and learning about the different artists. And we work with so many artists with in different experiences and age range, and so that's been really exciting for me too. How do you define how do you define an artist? I guess someone who creates, I guess. I don't know, that's a great question. Someone who creates, someone who's kind of uh contributing creativity to something that could be a larger kind of thing, or it could be something very small in their own house, where I have artists that are doing murals in their living rooms, or they're putting up really cool, insane decorations or something for holidays, but they're really creative and um kind of inspiring.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

Um do you feel like you do a real job?

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Um I feel like I work all the time. Uh and I do feel like it's a real job because I pay bills and I have to like pay rent and do all of the unfortunate kind of business things that go along with it. So I say that's probably like the hard part and the parts you don't really love. Um, but yeah, so I do feel like I have a job. Um whether I feel super successful at the job, I don't know. It depends on the day that you ask me.

SPEAKER_03 8:49

So you work with a lot of creative people. That's gotta be hard.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

It's it's hard and easy. Depends.

SPEAKER_03 9:01

Explain.

SPEAKER_01 9:02

I mean, artists are very unique, right? So um you have a variety of like the fact that I love working with a variety of artists just means also you get a variety of artists that are great and they're on time and they're getting their projects done and they're communicating. And then you have some that an hour before they're supposed to be here say they can't be here. So um it's a it's a you know, I think a lot of what I do is juggle a lot of things at one time, and you have to know that like today, there's probably 17 things going on, and something's gonna go off a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 9:34

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Um, and so there's, you know, a lot of troubleshooting and stuff at the job. Yeah. But um, anyways, I keep going off of your question.

SPEAKER_03 9:43

No, it's okay. Please don't have to come back to my question. It's it's not you, I'm not grading your answer.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

No, I'll just keep going off though in a stream of consciousness.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

That's fine. I want you to, because that helps the conversation.

unknown 9:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 9:56

Um at any point in your like now career, right, have you ever looked at a creative person like, this is stupid? Like, you don't, you're crazy.

SPEAKER_01 10:06

Like never about their artwork. Like, so if you're making, that's great. If you're someone though that just isn't is more into the idea of being an artist, which there are some people that like that kind of persona of like, I'm this creative person, but they're not necessarily actually making work um or contributing. So there's that. You must I I have a feeling you may have known some a few people like that.

SPEAKER_02 10:30

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

Um yeah, so no, I've never been like absolutely not, but um, I've definitely been like, I don't know. Sometimes too, artists can be too sensitive. So there's a hard part of like as an artist, you have to, you know, you're putting yourself out there to people. And so if you can't take any criticism of any kind, even constructive criticism, you're gonna have a really hard time as an artist in displaying your work. Um, and so that is sometimes when I find it's more so like that, yeah. That I see like, okay, this is gonna be rough for you if you can't even take a little bit of like, hey, or even suggestions. Like, there are some, and that's just a personality trait sometimes.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

So have you noticed like the people uh creatives who are more receptive to criticism, um, are like my actively creating artists versus not? Have you seen a difference or any correlation?

SPEAKER_01 11:23

I haven't really seen a difference, but um, most of the artists that are doing pretty well are self-motivated. Like, I mean, as artists and creatives, you have to be self-motivated if you want to do this as a job and make a living off of it. This whole thing right here. The whole Monday day, yes. So um, yeah, so if someone is very like self-motivated and really is trying to grow as an artist, like like you said, like being an artist is like it's a you as a person, it's your creativity. So being open to growing as a person as also means growing as an artist. Yeah, I think that's really important for artists to be open to. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:59

Why is it so important for you to do all these other extra like that's a great question. What do you can you tell me all the things Fig does, please like list it out so you can understand my frustration?

SPEAKER_01 12:14

Um, okay. Or confusing, but no, it's not.

SPEAKER_03 12:17

Not frustrating, confusing.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

Um, okay, so there's many parts of what we do. One some of it is that we are a small business and we are hustling. So um there's different ways that we bring in revenue. Um, and there's more fun ways than others. Some of our basic revenue that we have just to keep the studio open is like rentals. Like so, but we have really cool rentals sometimes. Like we'll have book signings, we've had a singing group, we've had, you know, just the gamut of different things that are here. Um, so we rent out the space, and that means we're gonna market those events even if they're open to the public. That's cool. So you'll see some of our marketing might be a book signing, and you're like, what the stuff are you doing? It's not our event. Yeah, but we will promote it as we're like hosting these um different venues, these different organizations and businesses. Um, and then we have uh the studio space itself. So we have a studio that's that you're in right now for Silk Screen and then digital art. Silk Screen is our primary um, like what primarily people want to do and work with. Um, and so we have that as a space where we're educational space, people can come in. We don't really offer classes, like individual classes, um, but we have opportunities for people to take one-on-ones or work directly with an artist on their projects. So um, for example, one time we had a poet come in and he was like, I want to make broadsides um posters to give out at my book signing. So he worked with an artist, he was like, I'm not a visual artist. We brought in an artist with him and they they created together what this would look like, and then they screen printed them. So that's one thing. Um, and then we have programs like with education. So we work with Metro Health. Uh, we do their SAFE program, which works with about 500 CMSC students each year, which is really awesome and rewarding. Um, so that is we provide the visual arts portion. Uh-huh. So the program offers students in a couple of CMSD schools um like dance, theater, music, and visual arts. So we're the visual arts competitor.

SPEAKER_03 14:11

Tell me what CMSD means?

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Cleveland Municipal School District. Okay. So this Cleveland Schools, yeah, public schools. Um, and so that's been a really awesome and rewarding program. It's intense. It's all usually like within a month of the, you know, out of the year, two months out of the year. Um, but it's a really great and rewarding program. And then we meet really cool kids, which some of them come and intern. I will say, high school kids are awesome right now. Um and I've had more high school interns that have been awesome and totally eager to learn. Um, and we've got some just because we go into the schools and they're like, hey, and we're like, you can come and do this. Like, I probably invite more people than I should to figure, but I'm like, come and work here, come and do stuff. So um, so we do that program with um schools. We do that with multiple schools, though. Like we can get a call from a school, they want to do an anti-bullying campaign. So we work with the kids on that, and then we screen printed posters with them that they created. So there's lots of different stuff we do with education, summer camps we do. Um, so that's one part of it. Um, and then we have a relationship like with the rock all. So there's different organizations that I've just tried to build relationships with so that we could offer opportunities and exposure to more artists. Um, so we work with them usually three to five times a year. They'll commission us to bring in an artist, a different artist. You can see some of the posters, um, and we have them design it and then they can come and live print it. So then the artist is also promoted through the rock haul. They get to experience it. They also get to learn the process of deadlines and getting your images and following the directions and stuff like that. So um, so that's one another program we have. Um, and then even though we're a for-profit, I ran nonprofits for about 20 years. Um, so in my soul, I'm a nonprofit girl. I'm trying to get better, but um it's a long journey. Um, no, so I also write grants. So we have um four grant-funded programs. One is a program for women, so it's called the Ann Kibbe Residency Program for Women. So every year um women apply, and then we have a jury that selects one and they get three months of like studio space, so they get a key to come in here, they get 20 hours of one-on-one instruction with an artist. Um, and they're featured in our exhibition. We also have a gallery, community gallery. Um, and so community gallery. Yes. So um it's here in the pivot center, but it's accessible whenever the building's open, which is really nice. Um, and then we have a program, we have a grant-funded program for adults with disabilities. That's a professional development residency program. We have programming for senior citizens, which is one of my favorites.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Um, and then we have uh Creative Incubator, which is a program we have where we support artists in their in their projects. So they're all in different areas, and you know, they may just be starting, they may be a little more established but need support and maybe some guidance. So we have kind of a little crew, a committee of people from different organizations, like SCORE, which is a mentoring organization, or um what is the Cleveland Legal Aid Society that will come in, or like um Hispanic Business Center will send somebody like for marketing. I see. Um, so it's basically whatever those artists that year, usually we have three a year, that we just like help them complete their project. And a lot of that too is just me connecting them to different resources. Right. Too.

SPEAKER_03 17:24

So I see what you meant by using your creativity in your business. My gosh, that's really creative.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

And then we have our gallery. Right. So we have our gallery, which is awesome, and then we have an in the internship program. Right. And you that's right. So we have two that are directly like through a school where they actually send their students here, and we have a like a an actual like layout of their program of how they lead a project and lead their class into creating a t-shirt design and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 17:49

I see.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

Um, and so we do two of those each year, Mayfield High School and then Hathaway Brown. Um, and then we have an open internship program too. So every you can apply spring, winter, fall, and then we usually take one year. I did have one summer, I had six interns, and I promised the staff I wouldn't do. So normally we have like two at a time. But now we have the two. We had I didn't even promote it because both of them wanted to stay on from their last. So I was like, that's fine. We'll do a summer internship call then. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 18:19

So okay. So you you your life is just creative people pretty much all the time.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 18:27

Except unless you're sending grant uh grant writing grants.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

Yes, but even that I feel very creative. So that is something I like literally made up a project I wanted to do and wrote a grant for it, and I'm like, we'll see what happens. I don't know if I'll get it or not, but if I get it, that's great.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

Hi, I hate to interrupt, and I hope you're enjoying this conversation, but we had something really exciting to share with you. We have recently started a new company called Odyssey House Media.

SPEAKER_03 18:51

It's essentially a production company to help people tell their stories in a way that actually highlights their story so that people can actually believe in what they're doing.

SPEAKER_00 19:01

So after traveling around Sri Lanka and coming back to the States, we noticed that there's a lot of incredible people doing some really great, meaningful work, but they don't quite always know how to tell their story or have the confidence in doing so. So after working with some other organizations and partnering with them to share their stories, we realized we need to help people share their stories.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

The Auditor House Media has been the one that's been sponsoring this podcast lots within tears.

SPEAKER_00 19:25

So if you've ever wondered, you have a story and you're not sure how to share it, we'd love to talk to you, have a conversation. Uh, you can check out more about us and our work that we've done in the past in the link below. All right, let's get back to that conversation. Yeah.

unknown 19:37

All right.

SPEAKER_01 19:38

Sometimes it's weird because I'm not like, yay, grant writing. But sometimes it's nice to sit and like not, you know, I'm a very community-based person, so I'm around people all the time. But I also can be very much an introvert and an artist that just needs to be solo. Right. So sometimes I can sit for eight hours and be like, oh, I'm getting into this idea and what I want to do and like develop it. Yeah. That also excites me and I like doing that.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

I'm curious. You pretty much work with all ages, right? People who are all ages. What is like so common to everybody when it comes to creativity or what you're learning from these uh programs you're doing?

SPEAKER_01 20:16

Um, that people are afraid to make art sometimes. Um, I get that more than anything. Like if people come in here, especially like our senior program, um, it's like, well, I'm not an artist. And I'm like, well, you don't have to be. Like, we're experimenting. Today is experimental day or whatever. So I do find a lot of people are intimidated by the art making process. So that sometimes surprises me because I'm like, you know, as you are as well.

SPEAKER_03 20:39

Have you asked them like what other things are?

SPEAKER_01 20:41

I think again, it's that confidence in being a creative or whether, you know what I mean? I think there's a lack of people, people are like, I don't know how to draw. And I'm like, okay, well, you don't need to know how to draw to do this. I don't really draw very well either. So it's fine. So I think people are just if you're also not open and tapped into your creativity pretty often, I think it's like a muscle you gotta, you know, keep using and keep creating because that builds on it. And if you've never really opened that door or you haven't for a long time, I think people are a little intimidated by that. So interesting. That's that's the only thing I could I've really I've never really sat down and asked somebody like, why don't you want to do this? I just um but I've noticed that that's a thing. There's a reason why I run it I do.

SPEAKER_03 21:20

There's a reason why I run upon it.

SPEAKER_01 21:23

I'm gonna call you and I'll be like, I have a class, and half of them are scared of draw. I'm gonna call you in to start talking to them. Little mini sessions, I think it would be good. Help open people up.

SPEAKER_03 21:34

I ask questions. That's all I do, literally. I feel like as an adult, I feel like that's all I do.

SPEAKER_01 21:39

I feel like I want to also like ask you questions next. So you're on your own podcast.

SPEAKER_03 21:45

Trust me, I'm horrible at answering these questions off camera. She's done that. We've done episodes where Lizzie's interviewing me.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:57

And I my answers are horrible. Like so short and like. Like it needs a lot of like work for me to get interested in my that's all right.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Your creative skill is your question. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:08

Yeah. That's thank God. Should we do the wrong thing if that wasn't the case? Okay. So you work with all these people and you get all these different kinds of people who are drawn to what you're doing here. Like that's why I came here, right? Why is that?

SPEAKER_01 22:31

What are we looking for? I think there's a lot of people that want a space where they can be themselves. I think that's a lot of like we're all kind of that's why I talk again about the confidence in your creativity, like confidence in yourself as an artist or someone who creates, and that like you know you do this. And this is more also about like your own identity. So like when I started Fig, I always say like Fig is the most real I've ever been of myself. Like it's the most me I've ever been. So I created this space and I can do all me in it. I know it sounds a little selfish, but I think as artists, we're looking for a space to be our own authentic self.

SPEAKER_03 23:10

You're living the dream.

SPEAKER_01 23:11

Well, a poor dream, but no, it's a different dream. Yeah, it is. It's it's what I've wanted for a really long time. And it's it's a hustle and it's a lot to keep going, but it's it's lovely to know I'm coming to work and I'm doing something that I want to do, and it's it's me.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

And you have found people who found that they're you're you're running on this passion. Like we see the vision, so that's why we're here. Yeah, cool. Okay. Um what I feel like I'm forgetting something that I was gonna ask you.

SPEAKER_01 23:40

Um, I want to say, can I say one other thing too? Because Vanessa had brought it up, and I was like, so we were in a like a meeting for something, and I was like so happy. Like I was like joyous that she said this. Because I was like, I had a group from Case come in and they're doing like helping us evaluate like this is the business part, right? Like, how do we communicate as a team? And because we're such a small team, and things like that. And Vanessa said, our individual individuality is celebrated at fig. And I like, I'm gonna cry because I was like, that's that is exactly what I want fig to be. Exactly. And I love people that are different and unique. Yeah. So I feel like there is that kind of like you're right. If people can, I hope can feel that, like, then they're drawn to the space because I'm not gonna, there's no judgment. Right. It's like just be you. I mean, unless you're like a serial killer, but like, you know, it's like there's no judgment, like come and be you. And I like really think you're like the uniqueness of people is like what makes them so special.

SPEAKER_03 24:39

Other than like places like this, where can creatives go to find community?

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Cleveland has an awesome art scene. I think people don't realize how big Cleveland's art scene is. I mean, it's small, but it's it's pretty big and it's very well supported. So I think Ohio, I could be wrong, don't quote me on this, but Ohio is second to California and most funding for the arts. Um, Cleveland is one of the most philanthropic cities. Um, and so we have a lot of arts organizations in this community that are looking like assembly for the arts. Yeah. If you want to go there, that's gonna be, they can be your fiscal sponsor, so you can write a grant for yourself as an individual artist. Um, they have workshops, they have their own grant opportunities. So um there's definitely resources out there. We have Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, um, which is another one that's it's a county-based, but it's gives out funding and it works with the arts and gives to a lot of nonprofits. Uh, and then just a lot of arts organizations, spaces, Zygote. I was the director there for a while, um, Art House, Julio de Burgos. Like there's so many really cool practices. I could keep going brick. Um, but yeah, there's just so many cool organizations. So you can find your, you know, niche here. You can find your space that you feel like works for you and your medium. So, you know, some of them obviously we're silk screen in digital art. We do a lot of other stuff too. But um if you're, you know, a fiber artist, you can go to praxis. Or if you're a ceramic artist, you can go to brick. So there's definitely spaces where you can go and explore also other mediums that you might want to try.

SPEAKER_03 26:09

That's cool. I had no idea. I mean, I had some idea of some of those organizations, but one thing I did realize is that like Cleveland, I don't know why, but especially the creative people, they're every single silos. Yes. And like I feel like I'm like discovering all these people. I'm like, why don't we all know each other?

SPEAKER_01 26:30

I and I experienced so I lived in Chicago for about six years. Okay, cool. And I worked for a nonprofit there, and I did very similar work where I was, I was like calling up, you know, the contemporary art museum and places and being like, hey, can we collaborate and have an event there? And they're like, absolutely, sure. I came to Cleveland and I this was back in, okay, when did I come back? 2008. And I'm just like, I started an organization, think the same thing. I'm picking up the phone and they're like, well, you can run our space, but then you also need to have a security guard. And I was like, oh, okay. So they were much more, it's definitely opened up over the last, you know, however many years it's been now. Almost, I got almost 20 years. Cut that out. Um but it's definitely gotten better. But like I noticed Cleveland is a little bit more, you know, I think when you're in a major city too, like there's a lot of turnover. It's not only just like there's a lot of jobs and opportunities, but people are constantly moving. Here, I think people keep their jobs a lot longer. It's kind of like you got into your spot and this is a good one, and I'm gonna keep it. Yeah, I think so. So um, so yeah, I do find, and I think just the way our city is kind of built, like it's not really nothing's, you know, it's so spread out. You have like university circle all the way over there, and then the east side-west side divide. That's one that's that's that one bat, like, you know, really bottles my mind.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

Let's just say that.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

I mean, I have most of my family's on the east side, and I live on the west side, and they're like, oh my gosh, you should just go back to Chicago. It's hard. And I'm like, you can cross over the river, it's not that hard.

SPEAKER_03 28:00

Chicago is six hours away, bro.

SPEAKER_01 28:02

Like, what the hell? Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 28:04

Yeah, it is interesting. I I as an outsider who lived in Cleveland for like almost eight, nine years now, I have noticed, and I just can't like I I just at least as creatives we need to get over it. Like, yes, yes, I I don't I don't care about changing the culture in Cleveland, but I care about the creatives because I we're getting like like messed up in all the other nonsense when we should be the ones together, like the kind of thing. I totally agree, yeah, you know, and so that's why I'm so grateful you said yes. Like, I when I first thought about the idea, like this is crazy to go and ask somebody to do a shoot somewhere because I don't want to pay a uh a studio, you know what I mean? Yeah, but then I'm like we are helping each other, highlighting like this is the best thing we can do for you. Yep. So collaboration is fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 28:50

Um But not everybody feels that way. I think there's like collaboration, like I'm the one that's like spread the wealth, man. I'll tell you how I got my grants, I'll tell you where I got my grants. But there are people that are like, well, if I give you this information, then I'm not gonna get the grant, and then you're gonna get it. So I think there's a little bit of that going on in Cleveland where there's more of this like protective of the information that you have. And so it's not as open. But I'm the opposite. I'm like, the more that we could, I just feel like you open that up. Like, yes, sometimes you get burned, sometimes somebody's crappy to you, but overall, you can't, I'm not gonna change my personality based on that and what I want to do. So that does happen, but overall, I feel like it opens it up for people to come into the space. Like when they feel so like starting fig was a lot about creating an inclusive space. Because a lot of the other organizations, they talk about it a lot, but it wasn't really happening. Um, and so starting fig, I was like from the get-go, I want this to be a space that's accessible and inclusive, and people feel comfortable and at home here.

SPEAKER_03 29:52

So have you ever had uh situations where like somebody who's new to creating um could be coming to like say a class or something, so it's not the first time, and you haven't seen them actually enjoying their process.

SPEAKER_01 30:08

That's a good question. Um, sometimes in the high schools, um, it's more so that they they'll like it once they start doing it. Um so there's a lot of hesitation into starting it. Um, but I haven't seen anybody, I oh no, I'll take this back. I had one intern, which I always say your internship is not just like, cool, I want to do silk screen. It's like, do I want to do silk screen? Like, so you're the whole thing is you're coming in here to see if this is something you might want to do. So I had a kid who was just like, I was like, here's a screen, just practice printing. I was like, you're gonna, you may even break the screen, but you're gonna mess up a bunch of prints. It's not gonna look nice. I said, so just accept that as you, this is how you start to learn. And he for two hours, this poor kid was like, I hate, I mean, he didn't even stop talking. He was like, I hate this. This is I'm horrible at this and this. And I was like, so we literally sat down and I was like, maybe that's what this was. You now know that this is not what you want to do, and that's okay.

SPEAKER_02 31:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:07

Um, but I would say he's probably the only one that I can remember off the top of my head that wasn't enjoying working in the arts or working in this environment. Because once I even get them working, and even if they're a little nervous about it, usually people open up and are like, oh, okay, you know, all you gotta do is go over there and be like, that's awesome. And then they're like, oh, and usually it is, and I'm not lying. Like, I really think a lot of this stuff is awesome. So that's the other part is I genuinely enjoy people's work and I love to watch them grow as artists. So so working here and working in the arts means that I make art kind of sporadically. So as I was saying, like it has to be project-based. Um, and so the first work I really made in a long time was last year. I curated a show about my dad who had passed away at the end of December or end of 2020, December of 2023. Um, and it was really a profound experience for me. Like it's really has changed a lot of my perception of just life in general. Um, and so I was like, I need to make art about this, but I haven't made art in a long time. And I want to have a show because I also, through the process of my dad being sick, he was sick pretty much all of 2023, I met so many people, mostly artists, but like so many people who were going through a loss or taking care of someone like a caregiver that was just like you love, but it's so draining and it's heavy, and you need those like support systems. So um, since I had so many people, like you kind of just when you go through something like that, you have people that run from you as far as they can and as fast as they can, and then you have others that kind of you flock together where you're like, this is an experience that you you once you experience it, you're in that unfortunate club, right? But so I created a show called The Immortality of Grief, which is a little deep in itself with the title. Um, but I made work about my dad.

SPEAKER_03 32:53

Immortality of grief. Can you explain to me?

SPEAKER_01 32:57

Well, that was a collective naming.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 32:59

Um, but it was basically about the fact that you will grieve. It changes, your grief will change, but I'm assuming I will grieve my dad the rest of my life. So um it was about like the extent of grief.

SPEAKER_02 33:13

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

Yeah. So um, and just how it changes and morphs and yeah, hopefully just keeps getting easier, but still becomes a more lovely memory than crying. But either way, so I started to make work and I was like, I don't know what I'm gonna do. Like I haven't made anything in a long time. Um, and I knew I had one photograph of me and my dad. Um, and it just started to be I'm a cancer, so I'm a water sign. So I love water. And so I was finding all of these old photographs of him and I like fishing in Canada and on the water. And so, and I during the time that I was grieving him, I was so drawn. I'm always drawn to the water, but like that became like my, you know, mental health drive every day was going to the lake. Um, and so when I found all these photographs, I was like, okay, well, what do I do with these? So I tried a process, a CMYK process, and it came out horrible. It just wasn't, I was like, nothing was working. Um, and so I just started experimenting and I just went through like it was really difficult because it was more about the process. One, I was like looking at pictures of me and my dad together every day, like all day I'm printing these. Um, but I knew what I wanted it to look like, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to, because I just haven't been doing my practice that like that much. So I was out of practice with it. Um, and so I ended up with like I don't know, a hundred images on like uh, what is it called? Uh newsprint. So like they're just test prints. Um, and actually my art director, who's been my friend for 10 years, she was like, This is your show. And I was like, what? And she was like, All this work is your show. And I was like, huh. So then she was like, you should just hang up all this work. And I was like, well, let me see. So I ended up hanging up like a huge, it was like wallpapered of all these prints. And it was just became like exactly what I wanted because it basically took over the whole pivot lobby. And so you couldn't walk into the lobby and not see my dad. And so it was like this lovely, you know, and then I was like, I kind of want to keep this up forever, but um, it was just a lovely like way for me to just kind of process, you know, going through the process of losing him. I couldn't do it until 2025, though. Like it did take me a while to even think about making work about him. So um, but that was the most personal and really healing thing for me as making and making art most recently.

SPEAKER_03 35:32

So wow. So that two-year period since he passed away to 2025, yeah. How did you process that grief?

SPEAKER_01 35:42

Um, not well. Um, no, it was a lot, it was definitely a lot, and he was very much um someone that I talked to about how I was gonna start FIG. And like he helped me, you know, when the build out was going crazy, I was like, Dad, I need your help. Like, what do I do? So, like that, just losing someone like that in general was really difficult. Um, and actually, like 2024 was one of my most like best financial years. Like, it was just really weird where I was like, oh God, I'm having good luck, and that's like, you know, I'm one of those yin and yang people.

SPEAKER_02 36:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:14

Um, but like really, it was really difficult to run a business because like I went through the process of like just not even being able to communicate or not wanting to like deal with anything. Like, you just can't actually deal with anyone else's problems, and I have to deal with everyone's problems because I'm a business owner and I have staff and I have people that I work with. Um, so it was a challenge. But I also um I have a wonderful husband, I have great kids, my mom, I've been taking care of my mom. So, like my family also then really is comes together. Even my cousins were coming in here, like helping me doing stuff. So um, really, it was like as much as I love to come like be a community and help other artists, I also need that in return. And and you know, find those people and a lot of that is family, and my staff was just amazing, you know. I'd have my moments where I'd go like, um, I gotta go in the office, and my art director would be like, Oh, she's crying, and she would make me tea. So, um, so there was it was a lot though. It was a difficult time to get through. Um, but we're still here.

SPEAKER_03 37:14

Wow. How does your children process you as an artist?

SPEAKER_01 37:19

That's a great question. I don't know. I used to be a good idea. Have they seen?

SPEAKER_03 37:23

Okay, have they seen you create, like at least this a work of art? How did they process that?

SPEAKER_01 37:28

Um, I don't know. My son did cry a little bit when he saw it. I think more so because it's my dad, and he it was something in your face, right? Um, and so I don't know. My kids had their own processing of losing my dad, which was which is almost like harder as a parent than anything else. Um, but my daughter can be very artistic. She's definitely still thinks I'm cool. Well, we're getting there. She's gonna keep putting these 16 forward. It's all about like she comes and helps me at events, she'll like work at the rock hall with me. It's slowly where I'm like, are you coming? And then she's like, sure, mom. And I'm like, I think like she went to bright winter with me. And I was like, I don't think she actually wanted to come, but she was like, I'll do it, mom. My son was cool until about eighth grade. Because I always brought art projects into their class every single year. Ah, okay. And so then I was like, Can I come? And he was like, No way. And then he did work here a little bit, but then he was like, I don't want to work. He's my son's the oldest and he's doing his thing. So um, but they know. I mean, I did at a point was like when my like had lost my dad, I was like, maybe I just need to be done with fig because I just can't even process doing, I didn't even want to be creative. Like it just was you just kind of burn out everywhere. Um, and so they I forgot my train of thought on that one, but um, but anyways, they are they're here, they know that I have this going on. And um, I did find once though my son was taking a entrepreneurship class, and I went to, he was like a sophomore or something, and I went to the school like the night, you know, the parents go, but the kids aren't there. And so I went in the class and they had to pick like four businesses that they were gonna like work on or whatever for this entrepreneurship. And Fig was one of them. Oh, wow. And I was like, I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry. And I'm like, I'm not saying anything to them when I get back because I can't.

SPEAKER_03 39:15

Like, gotta play cool.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Like, those are like the little mom moments where you're like, because like you could come in here and be like, wow, you do all this creative stuff. And I go home and I have two teenagers that are like, like, you're whatever. So it's a rough one. But no, I have great kids, so I'm lucky in that sense. But they're they're their own people. And my husband works in restaurants, so he is not into the creative field. But when I come here and I'm like, can you fix my door? or like I need to move this stuff around. He's here to do all that. So it's cool.

SPEAKER_03 39:43

Okay. So what is the future for Fig?

SPEAKER_01 39:48

Well, I just recently started the Fig Foundation. So I have Fig as an LLC as a small business. And then I started the Fig Foundation, which is a 501c3. Um, I had been using a fiscal sponsor, which is just another organization's 501c3 status in order to write grants.

SPEAKER_02 40:05

Right.

SPEAKER_01 40:05

Um, but it limits how much I can write. And so after last year, so 2025 was the worst year I've had since I've opened Fig. Um, I've heard this from a lot of small businesses, just economically, what's going on in the world has just, it was like an immediate, like, you know, nonprofits weren't spending money anymore. They weren't sure education was like, are we gonna have a department of education? We don't even know what's gonna happen. Um, and so it was a really financially difficult year. But also I realized like they're cutting all of these programs. So, like programs that would have hired us, I'm like, that means that people are also not getting the other parts of their programs. So I was like, the need for us to actually write more grants so that we can stay open and we can offer these things like and make them accessible. So if you don't have the money to take the workshop, we can offer them for free or subsidize. So um, so the goal is, and now we have a small board, um, which is good, and it's a board, it's another thing to manage. I'm a little bit crazy. Um, and so it's a lot of work, but I think it's gonna in the long run, it'll be really good for what we can offer to artists. So the hope is that we just keep growing. Um, like I said, 2025, we took a hit and kind of had to step back a little bit. Um, but I'm hoping that it gets better this year. And then with the foundation, we can secure more funds. Um, because sometimes too, it's just like I want to employ my artists that work for me more. Right. You know, like what can I do to generate more income so that they can get paid as well?

SPEAKER_03 41:29

So looking at your life and like what you have accomplished and like everything that you've gone through, what are like two or three things you can tell any creative at any age, maybe they feel stuck, they don't know how to get out, maybe they're doing something that they know that doesn't feel like them, right? And yeah, what do you have to say to them?

SPEAKER_01 41:53

Um, like what I say to my kids is like, if it doesn't feel right, then it's probably not. Like find your find those support systems, find those organizations or those people that are gonna support you in your growth. Um, because if you're stuck or not, or whatever, you need positive people around you. You can very easily surround yourself with people that are gonna say, like, you shouldn't be an artist, or you shouldn't do this, or you know, take a math class. Like, why are you even trying to be creative? Um, and so I think finding those people that support you as an artist or just as your growth of creativity, or even if you're not making yet and you're scared, be around creative people because that's gonna start opening you up to wanting to do that. Um work really hard. Like, I think sometimes people think like the flaky artist, or like whatever. And of course I run across some of those, but most of the artists that I work with, they are busting their butt. And I mean, they're working every single day.

SPEAKER_03 42:45

Physical work, not just like they're physically working.

SPEAKER_01 42:48

They're I mean, they're like just keep going. Like that was the other thing. And then my last one, I guess I would say would be just expect you're gonna get no's. Like, I just anticipate if I write 10 grants or I reach out to 10 organizations, if I get two of them, we're golden. Like I just expect that as like it's not a negative, it's just part of the process. And so, um, so like don't give up, like keep going in. Just somebody says something horrible about your artwork, just take it in, learn from the experience, learn how to actually like respond to that in a positive or informative way.

SPEAKER_03 43:23

Um like I'm trying to understand what that's what you're trying to say.

SPEAKER_01 43:27

Right, right. Or sometimes people are just negative to be negative. Right. And so it's like, how do you take that in and say, like, okay, how do I as a person respond to something like that? That's something even in you know, my 40s, I'm still doing is like, okay, how do I not respond to certain things when they can be really triggering? So, but I think hard work, be around creative people. Um, and then I don't even know what my last one was. No, um, be able to take some criticism, like be able to understand that it's not gonna be roses, you're not gonna be like, and you're not gonna walk out of out of school. Or wherever you're coming, whatever you're doing, and just be like, I'm making a ton of money as an artist. Like it takes a long time to build your reputation, to build your skill, um, and just know that that's part of the journey. Like, be excited that that's your journey, not like I gotta get to this endpoint. Just know that, like, enjoy the ride there. So, um, like Vanessa said, I always tell her, like, life is short, but it's actually kind of long. So, like, you don't have to like, I know so many young people that are so obsessed with like having to know what they're gonna do. This has been weird for me because like I didn't leave school. I mean, I knew I wanted to be an artist and like better energy is different, man. But I'm like, even my kids are like, we have to know. And I'm like, you're 16. Like, how you know? I know people in their 50s and they don't even know what they're doing yet. So it's like, just know that this is like that's my advice.

SPEAKER_03 44:46

You know, I this is completely off topic since you brought that up. What is like I feel I thought like millennials did a good job of like stopping that that from going into the younger generation? No, how did that get how did that go down there?

SPEAKER_01 45:01

I don't know because um my kids said it came from school, like from high school. Like, because I was like, I told my daughter, like, calm down. Like you can just like take a breather. And she's like, mom, this is how school is. They want you to be like ready to go. Like they're pushing a lot of like trade schools, which is great because we need trades. That's good. Um, but I think that means you have to know what trade you want to go into when you're 17 years old.

SPEAKER_03 45:22

It's not any different than going to college for a major, trying to decide at 17 years old. You gotta give people at least 21 years old to decide something. Right, right. No idea.

SPEAKER_01 45:31

Yes, and that's why sometimes I'm like, just go and take some classes and like kind of see what you like and what you don't. But um, but I've noticed that among, and that's why I say these high school kids are kind of like amazing because they come in here and I had one kid who was like, I just want to do this, he's like 17. I just want to do this internship because I just really want to like be around and like kind of absorb the creativity and just kind of experience things. And I was like, who are you? Like, that's awesome. That's exactly what you should do. So I was like, can you talk to some of the older artists we have? Like, um, so yeah, so there's definitely um, I've enjoyed working with a lot of the high school kids. Like, that's been a that's been really cool for me. And they they're still like innocent and lovely humans. Um, and so that's been really cool. But there is this very much this like, I have to know what I'm doing tomorrow. And I'm like, I don't know why you think that. Right.

SPEAKER_03 46:22

So that is true, yeah. Like my stories, like my parents encouraged me to do anything, but because of school and culture, I was like, I'm a creative, they don't accept me out there, man. I don't care how you guys accept me, but I know that they don't accept me, accept me. Right, right. And so I tried to be something that society will accept me to be. Yep. And it's so sad because my parents were trying to encourage me all the time. Nothing ever happened. Like it's like society is. Yeah, I can't even blame my parents. Like, because they were just amazing, and um yeah, anyways, uh, that's that's cool. Well, it's cool and it's yeah, so many nuanced.

SPEAKER_01 47:00

Well, hopefully they'll figure it out. Yeah, I yeah, that's the other thing is sometimes it's hard to as I get older when I watch like younger people and I'm like, I could tell you this, but I was just like you, and I'm gonna do the same thing till I learn the hard way, or you know, I can give you advice and that's where you're gonna take it.

SPEAKER_03 47:16

I think our lesson is to not give advice. Oh, interesting. I think that's what we're supposed to do.

SPEAKER_01 47:22

Not give any advice?

SPEAKER_03 47:23

Yeah, like let them figure it out the way we figure it out. Because it's like it's like it's if you tell younger people the wisdom, you're you're you're stealing that opportunity for them to learn themselves.

SPEAKER_01 47:35

Oh, that's true, but you're also blocking some crap that you were like, you really don't want to experience this. I think there's a good mix. I think there's a good mix, but I do think they're not listening to the thing. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 47:50

And I think I'm realizing as we get older, the trick is to be shut up as much as you can. Only only talk when asked or whatever. Listen more. Listen more, yes. Right? Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_01 48:03

That's hard for a lot of people to and especially in our society where it's like, you know, you're on it's everything is sharing your own stuff constantly. Um, that's just I'm from a different generation, too. So it's hard for me to be out there and put Stephanie's stuff out there. So um, but it's I think there's this idea of like, you know, anyway. Yes, I agree. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 48:24

You're talking to a podcast host who talked to ask questions and then have to tell his own opinions and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 48:29

I think it's great. I like it.

SPEAKER_03 48:31

But I then I I I struggle that I like I talk to a bunch of my own podcasts.

SPEAKER_01 48:36

Well, that's why you have the perfect job. So, right? But right, like, I mean, I feel like it's kind of you must be kind of in a similar situation where, like, don't you do you feel maybe I'm assuming this, that this is your natural self and who you're supposed to be. So, like, that is like if I could help other artists get to that place, like, how rewarding is that as a human being, like in your soul? Like that you're getting up and like, there's jobs I've had before where I would just like I worked at a hotel for a long time, like when Chicago, and I was just like, this was cool, but like, you know, it's interesting, but it just was like zapping my soul. Like I was like, I I could say the speech like, Welcome to the Hampton and Suites, downtown Chicago. You know, I could go through it in the middle of the night. I'm like sleeping and saying it out loud. Um, and so, but it felt so wrong. And so, yeah, it's like finding that spot where you're like, oh, this is who I am, and then I can actually make a living off of it.

unknown 49:25

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 49:26

That I think is like the biggest. That's that's a hard goal is making a living off of something you really like to do. But I think that's the ultimate goal.

SPEAKER_03 49:35

Right. I but the thing that I learned from you is even in that part, you can't leave creativity out of that part. No, you have to bring you you're a creative for a reason. You have to apply for every single aspect of your life. Yep. And I think that's what I learned from you as far as far as like the business thing. Oh, how you run this. Um on that note, Stephanie. Um, wow. I'm so grateful.

SPEAKER_01 49:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 49:59

It's been what how many hours? Like seven, eight hours.

SPEAKER_01 50:02

It's been a while.

SPEAKER_03 50:03

Eight hours.

SPEAKER_01 50:04

I don't know if you drink wine, but if you do, I think I might. No, you should start this evening.

SPEAKER_03 50:11

Um, all I gotta say is um thank you for what you're doing. Um, because it's so cool to see an artist understanding other artists and then going out of your way, so out of your way. To provide opportunities for artists and other people to experience creativity. And especially having us here.

SPEAKER_01 50:33

Yeah, thank you. You guys are awesome too. And hosting this and like, you know, artists and learning about them and getting it out there about different artists and people, I think is great. And you have like rich content, like this is real. It's like we're having a conversation. Like I said, most of the other stuff is so surface. This is so lovely that you are doing this because it's rare to get these these days.

SPEAKER_03 50:54

On that note, all I gotta say is keep dreaming, keep creating, and keep going on your own creative Odyssey. Until next time, see you later.