Editor’s Note: This article was written by an intern, with support and additional writing by our editor, De La Vaca, based on a recorded interview. 

Jessie Mathew, left, and Jenny Wright. All images by Kenneth Wajda for Yellow Scene Magazine

COVID may have hit everyone hard, but check out how these two Boulder born women flipped this tragic pandemic to a safe space for people to express themselves in their community. Two (kinda) former hairdressers, Jenny Wright and Jessie Matthews are co-founders and co-owners – as well as partners – of the hottest new art and production studio in the North Boulder Arts District, New Magik. 

New Magik was created after Matthews and Wright’s jobs were impacted by COVID. They were brainstorming about what some of their passions were and what they could do to put these passions out and create a community. They wanted to create a space for people to come together to work on what they love and make new connections, to be a bridge and a conduit for creativity in their community. They wanted to provide something that is COVID safe and reliable to lean on while the world is forced to be online and distanced. 

New Magik is a space that is working to bring the local BOCO art community together to share skill sets and create new connections amongst hopeful collaborators in a very special – and intentional – way. This business has as inspiration and motivation the incorporation of social justice, activism, and empowerment for women, people of color, aspiring artists, and entrepreneurs. By using these inspirations they are creating a space to not only bring people together but to have people learn new things from each other. 

This is a place where you can go to either connect and do collaborations with other people in the community or have the opportunity and space to do your own thing. “The space itself isn’t bound by limitation,” they tell Yellow Scene in an interview, masks on, beers available, in their beautifully decorated space. It was a cool interview because the community was evident, as neighboring artists specializing in pottery stopped in to say hi and celebrate their opening and family popped in for the same reason. 

The idea to create this space with a foundation of social justice, activism, and empowerment for women was something that was brought to them from their origins. Growing up in Colorado, for example, means there isn’t a large number of black people or people of color in general. Looking at Boulder county specifically, non-white people only account for 12.81 percent of the population. Of a population that continues to grow and is currently at nearly 108,000, it’s important to realize there aren’t many POC here to identify and build with; many that are in BOCO live in East County, as well, where properties are affordable and more rental units exist.

Matthews has used this space and this year to connect with her black roots and “the rising power of women,” telling us that, “We are surrounded by badass women who have their own sense of magik”. These are the type of people that she wants to work with and empower. She grew up in a divorced household with a black father and white mother. Her entire life, she points out candidly, she was surrounded by mostly white people, in a very white community, which led to identity issues. She found herself not wanting to identify as white or black and wasn’t feeling accepted by either community, a common experience of mixed race people. The rapper Logic, a black and white mixed rapper, said on the song Everybody:

But he was born with the white privilege!

Man, what the fu*k is that?

White people told me as a child, as a little boy, playin’ with his toys

I should be ashamed to be black

And some black people look ashamed when I rap

Like my great granddaddy didn’t take a whip to the back

Not accepted by the black or the white

I don’t give a fu*k, praise God, I could see the light

Everybody talkin’ ’bout race this, race that

I wish I could erase that, face facts

I’m reminded of the song as she talks, telling me how she used this year to connect with her roots and start truly claiming herself as a Black woman, and now a Black business owner, and all the #BlackGirlMagik that goes with it. Her overall hope is to discover what “Black joy” is for herself and to embrace it. 

As for Wright, she grew up in a white household wanting to be an alley in any way that she could, since she was born white; she wanted to use her privilege as a tool. Wright is clear that she “grew up with privilege” in the middle class, which used to be Boulder’s “norm”. This has changed over the years as Boulder becomes a much wealthier, exclusive, and higher class area. The only renters Boulder wants are students at CU on the Hill. 

Zillow points out that in 2020 “the typical home value of homes in Boulder [was] $781,082.” Neighborhoodscout put the median home value in Boulder at $846,748. Currently, median home prices in Boulder approached their 2020 high in August at $1,124,253. Times, they are a changin’.

During her 20’s, Wright went through a bout with addiction and experienced discrimination based on that – ableism – with attendant  judgment and criticism. This was a transition period having to go from being a privileged person to being seen negatively by society. She learned to work through her own issues in a safe space, and wanted to create this same safe feeling for other people. 

Overall the both of them come from humble roots. Even though they grew up with a comfortable lifestyle they both still had to work very hard to get where they are, no matter what the privilege was that they grew up with. “Using our privilege for the better” is how it was put to us.

They see themselves, rightly, as the “daughters of the old hippies” and they want to bring the soul back to people in the Boulder community… so they are bringing us New Magik. 

So… what exactly is New Magik?

New Magik is a space that offers several tools, designed in a way so that they are easy to move around the space to be used in the way you want or need. Everything that is inside the New Magik studio is designed to be mobile so that many different platforms can be used for whatever people need to use them for. There is a greenscreen, a darkroom in the bathroom, and other amenities. This space is meant to be used and rearranged, and the unfinished floor leaves areas that can get messy; “all you have to do is roll back the rugs that cover the ground”.

The space is both comfy and industrial, pulling both of their styles together and referencing their hairdressing aesthetic. They have shelves built by local friends, chic adornments, and a banging sound system with a record player. 

On top of the creative space, they also have acupuncture, meditation, reiki, massage, divination/tarot readings, counseling/therapy sessions, sound healings, yoga, and many more options. The opportunities at New Magik are endless and open to whatever your mind can think of. Mediums go from drawing and painting to photography and videography. The New Magik space is an intersection and fusion of all things that they both love. They are looking to explore both old and new mediums and everything in between. 

Another option that New Magik offers is for the space to be rented out, either for your solo purposes or to be safe and COVID friendly, with a limit of two socially-distanced people who are wearing masks, with another person to share studio time with. 

Mathews and Wright like to call the New Magik space a ‘creative incubator’ for people to become inspired and explore opportunities, and they are currently accepting new members who want to join in this special little creative endeavor. They are also accepting donations from anyone interested in being a part of building up New Magik and helping financially with expansions. 

Due to the way COVID is hitting everyone and changing the way people interact with each other, the main goal of New Magik is to have an online creativity-sharing platform. They want to give people the opportunity and safe feeling of having this platform available virtually on an ongoing basis. Through this online platform, you will be able to take classes that will be offered, or participate in the limited in person capacity. 

New Magik wants to bring back and indulge in the old Boulder, a scarce recalled world of hippie magic and solidarity, creativity, and community. They say that it’s hard to exist in the Boulder of today if you’re not wealthy, which is something that has developed over the years as developers and politicians have worked to insulate Boulder from expansion, driving up housing prices even as Colorado has seen a surge of in-migration. At New Magik, they worked very hard to build everything themselves without any help, a reflection of their roots, the values they were raised with, and the goal to honor the past while creating today.

We expect that New Magik will be something that no one forgets. These two women bring their personalities, passions, and profundities right into the business. Stop in, where you will be greeted by the good vibes emanating from this new space, a space that could be your workspace, and be greeted by women that fill this area with love and hope. Come see what you can get involved in and meet the people of this new community. This could be just the place for you. This could be just what you need to get rid of those pandemic scary’s, the doldrums, and bring the new you out for the world to see. 

The post NOBO has New Magik: A Safe Art Space for Everyone appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

New government restrictions are on the way due to COVID surges across the region. This has impacted everyone, including our local art scene, in serious ways. Firehouse Art Center is here to bring some ease to this global pandemic by presenting COVID safe events for our community. Are you ready to step foot into another gallery? Miss being surrounded by the fresh smell of canvases and paints? Don’t worry, art lover, Firehouse Art Center has found a way to safely open with their new restrictions. There are many different heartwarming events that Firehouse Art Center will be holding the rest of this year. Now, if you are ready, brace your eyes for their newest upcoming events.

Starting November 13th, they are opening to the public for walk-ins available Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm.  If those days don’t fit into your busy schedule you can make an appointment, 24 hours in advance, to come on Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. 

With new restrictions come new guidelines, including a limit on patrons allowed in the gallery. Right now, the gallery is operating at fifty percent occupancy. So, if you and your friends are expecting a fancy night at the Firehouse Art Center, you should call ahead. A six foot distance is also required between gallery patrons. Masks will be mandatory and, upon entering the building, you will be asked to use sanitizer.  

On Saturday, November 28 Firehouse Art Center will also be participating in Small Business Saturday. The following day, Sunday, November 29 will be Artist Sunday. Between 12 pm and 5 pm on the 28h and 29 artists, artisans, and craft makers will be showcased in the gallery. Buying these pieces could make great holiday gifts and help support local artists. 

Along with these events, the Firehouse Art Center is also dedicating an area to the Front Range Community College Student Show, which will be judged and awarded by cross recruited Denver art critic, writer and curator Michael Paglia. These are pieces that students have made during these tough pandemic times. You can find these pieces in the gallery. 

With Boulder County beginning a level red lock down, more virtual options are being offered. Starting from the moment you are reading this to December 9 you can purchase one of Firehouse’s sweater making kits. These kits will come with felt appliques, pom poms, bells, glue, glitter glue, and other spunky holiday items. You can choose to buy your decorations with a sweater for $35, or if you already have your favorite sweater and just want the design elements this will be $15. For families they will be offering discounts when you purchase multiple kits. If you are stuck and having a hard time coming up with your own christmas sweater design, then you can join the Firehouse Executive Director, Miss Elaine, for some help. She will be holding a free Facebook livestream on December 10 where she will also be creating her own DIY sweater. 

If you thought making your own christmas sweater wasn’t cool enough, there will also be a fashion show fundraiser held on December 17, but make sure you enter by the 15. If you purchased a kit, it includes the $5 entry fee for the fashion show. The show will consist of pictures of everyone’s holiday sweaters entered in the contest. You can vote on Best Design, Ugliest Design, Most Colorful, Best Family Picture, and many more, $1 = 1 vote. To enter into this contest it is $5 per photo entry, unless you purchased a kit. You can enter with either your own sweater or the sweater from the kit. For the winner there will be prizes. For more information on this check out their event website.

On this same night the Firehouse Art Center will be holding a live zoom session. During this session you can expect to learn about how the Firehouse has been connecting the community to art and culture over the past 35 years. 

This coming Spring of 2021, Firehouse will be having a collaboration with BMoCA, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, for the new Studio Project Internship. This project is to reach and engage with a larger range of high schoolers online. To apply for this opportunity, submit an application by Friday, December 11 at 5 pm. BMoCA has been doing Studio Project Internship for quite some time. Studio Project Internship is a great way for high school students to become engaged. Through this project subjects like art, art making, and social issues will be discussed. The interns will get the opportunity to work with local art activists, partner with nonprofits, and plan events to share their artwork they made during this program. More information on this program can be found on this website. 

As a non-collecting institution BMoCA thrives to be a catalyst for creative experiences. They “present rotating exhibitions and programs that stimulate active participation in the global dialogue about contemporary art”. 

Another feature that will be available are Zoom art classes. The first session of these will begin on December 1. More information on these classes can be found on the website. Everyone, and every business, is having to make drastic changes to how their everyday life used to be before the pandemic. Firehouse is trying to make the best out of this situation, alongside many other places.  

I am sure there are many activities in people’s lives that they would like to stay the same to keep their sanity. Maybe art is the one thing that you don’t want this pandemic to rip away from you. Don’t worry, that is why Firehouse is here, to make the changes necessary to keep art  available for those who don’t want art to leave their life. If you are someone who is never ready to let go of art no matter what is going on in the world, then take a look at Firehouse Art Center. With the new precautions that Firehouse is taking and the new ways that are offering to provide you classes you can still get your art on during this pandemic. 

To get further resources and information on what Firehouse is going to be doing for you guys to keep your art dreams going, make sure you stay updated with their newest events. Every year this museum serves over 100,000 people. They have 9 exhibitions and over 500 programs presented for their audience of all ages and backgrounds. BMoCA is located at 1750 13 Street in downtown Boulder, CO. They can be contacted at 303.443.2122 or you can look at their website for more information.

As we prepare to head into stronger lockdowns and higher precautions, Firehouse will be changing the way they are doing things and updating it constantly to stay up to date with their consumers. 

Go get involved in some of these amazing local art events and show love for your artistic community. 

During your ventures through Firehouse’s upcoming events, you can also get connected and more involved with the art community as a whole. You can see how other people are dealing with art in these COVID times.This is a time where you don’t want to lose yourself, so just because their world is changing right around us, don’t make it change the things that you love to do. Take advantage of these events and get involved. 

As new requirements are needed during COVID, Firehouse will be keeping up and making those changes. During these times it is important to support businesses, and Firehouse should be one of them.

If you want to keep your inspiration going and help kids with their art dreams, then make sure you stay connected to Firehouse during these hard times. Keep updated with their websites and their newest events and how they will be delivered so that we can all stay involved and enjoy the art events. 

The post Firehouse Art Center: New Events, COVID Ready  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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New government restrictions are on the way due to COVID surges across the region. This has impacted everyone, including our local art scene, in serious ways. Firehouse Art Center is here to bring some ease to this global pandemic by presenting COVID safe events for our community. 

Are you ready to step foot into another gallery? Miss being surrounded by the fresh smell of canvases and paints? Don’t worry, art lover, Firehouse Art Center has found a way to safely open with their new restrictions. 

There are many different heartwarming events that Firehouse Art Center will be holding the rest of this year. Now, if you are ready, brace your eyes for their newest upcoming events.

Starting November 13th, they are opening to the public for walk-ins available Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm.  If those days don’t fit into your busy schedule you can make an appointment, 24 hours in advance, to come on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. 

With new restrictions comes new guidelines, including a limit on patrons allowed in the gallery. Right now, the gallery is operating at 50 percent occupancy. So, if you and your friends are expecting a fancy night at the Firehouse Art Center, you should call ahead. A 6 ft. distance is also required between gallery patrons. Masks will be mandatory and, upon entering the building, you will be asked to use sanitizer.  

Events will still be offered virtually and in person. The first event, Inktober, will be on November 13th from 6:30-9 pm. You will be able to stream this from the moon if wanted. The Livestream will be on Facebook and there will also be an in person attendance option for those of you who are dying to show off that sparkly new dress or elegant tux. During this event you will have the great honor of meeting the residents of the gallery and students who are showcasing. 

If you are interested in going and viewing student works, you can find them at the Firehouse Art Center in Studio C from November 11th– 25th. The artwork will be available to view during their Inktober event. For those that will be attending via livestream, you can join them from 6-6:30 pm. If you decide to attend in person, they will be going for the entire time. 

On Saturday, November 28th Firehouse Art Center will also be participating in Small Business Saturday. The following day, Sunday, November 29th will be Artist Sunday. Between 12 pm and 5 pm on the 28th and 29th artists, artisans, and craft makers will be showcased at the gallery. 

Buying these pieces could make great holiday gifts and help support local artists. 

Along with these events, the Firehouse Art Center is also dedicating an area to the Front Range Community College Student Show, which will be judged and awarded by cross recruited Denver art critic, writer and curator Michael Paglia. These are pieces that students have made during these tough pandemic times. You can find these pieces in the gallery. 

With Boulder County beginning a level red lock down, more virtual options are being offered. Starting from the moment you are reading this to December 9th you can purchase one of Firehouse’s sweater making kits. These kits will come with felt appliques, pom poms, bells, glue and glitter glue, and other spunky holiday items. You can choose to buy your decorations with a sweater for $35, or if you already have your favorite sweater and just want the design elements this will be $15. For families they will be offering discounts when you purchase multiple kits.

If you are stuck and having a hard time coming up with your own christmas sweater design, then you can join the Firehouse Executive Director, Miss Elaine, for some help. She will be holding a free facebook livestream on December 10th where she will also be creating her own DIY sweater. 

If you thought making your own christmas sweater wasn’t cool enough, there will also be a fashion show fundraiser held on December 17th, but make sure you enter by the 15th. If you purchased a kit, then this includes the 5$ entry fee for the fashion show. 

The show will consist of pictures of everyone’s holiday sweaters up for the contest. You can vote on Best Design, Ugliest Design, Most Colorful, Best Family Picture, and many more, 1$ = 1 vote. To enter into this contest it is $5 per photo entry, unless you purchased a kit. You can enter with either your own sweater or the sweater from the kit. For the winner there will be prizes. For more information on this check out their event website.

On this same night the Firehouse Art Center will be holding a live zoom session. During this session you can expect to learn about how the Firehouse has been connecting the community to art and culture over the past 35 years. 

This coming Spring of 2021 Firehouse will be having a collaboration with BMoCA, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, for the new Studio Project Internship. This project is to reach and engage with a larger range of younger high schoolers online. To apply for this opportunity, submit an application byil Friday, December 11th, at 5 pm.

BMoCA has been doing Studio Project Internship for quite some time. Studio Project Internship is a great way for high school students to become engaged. Through this project subjects like art, art making, and social issues will be discussed. 

The interns will get the opportunity to work with local art activists, partner with nonprofits, and plan events to share their artwork they made during this program. More information on this program can be found on this website. 

As a non-collecting institution BMoCA thrives to be a catalyst for creative experiences. They “present rotating exhibitions and programs that stimulate active participation in the global dialogue about contemporary art”. 

Every year this museum serves over 100,000 people. They have 9 exhibitions and over 500 programs presented for their audience of all ages and backgrounds. BMoCA is located at 1750 13th street in downtown Boulder, CO. They can be contacted at 303.443.2122 or you can look at their website for more information.

Another feature that will be available are zoom art classes. The first session of these will begin on December 1st. More information on these classes can be found on the website.

Go get involved in some of these amazing local art events and show love for your artistic community. 

The post Firehouse Art Center: Winter Events, COVID Ready  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.