The Words Behind My “Why”

I recently heard a quote by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”  Nietzsche’s words are simultaneously sensible and mind-blowing in that remarkable way that important revelations often are.  Nietzsche’s words are strong.  By now I have stumbled through my career long enough to know that defining my “why” is the first step in a successful business plan, and the importance of this step cannot be underestimated.  

So here it goes…my “why” can be broken down into 4 words.  Collaboration.  Community.  Art.  Education.  These words are meaningful but stagnant without a “how” to drive them into action.  My “how,” is the business I plan to build on the foundation of my 4 “why” words.  The behind the scenes story of this business is the central focus of this blog.  

I define my 4 words in the following way:

1. Collaboration: To foster an environment that promotes creative and entrepreneurial growth in its residents through collaboration rather than competition.

2. Community: Give value back to my community equal to the value it has given me in the form of support, art and design, education, interest, and commerce.

3. Art: Build a space that houses art, design, and creative expression in an inclusive, transparent and accessible way.

4. Educate: Provide a window into the art and design world through customer interaction and transparent studio practices.  Makers will sell directly to their consumers in order to promote the exchange of ideas between the artist and their audience.   

The physical expression of my “Why” is a shared art and design studio/retail space in Essex, NY called Kit+Syl Studio or The Studio for short.  This boutique experience will serve to introduce select artists and designers to The Champlain Valley while drawing interest to Main Street through a unique, year round business. 

The concept behind The Studio sprouted from my trip to Berlin, Germany during the summer of 2016.  Strolling the textured streets of Berlin was when I first encountered retail spaces that doubled as artists’ studios.  Each space housed multiple artists who were actively creating while selling their work.  I saw jewelry shops comprised of multiple jewelers.  There were also spaces made up of artists practicing in all different disciplines.  One such store front housed a fashion designer, tattoo artist, and print maker.  This business model offers a boutique retail experience paired with the intimacy of an artist studio visit.  It provides the buyer with a uniquely transparent shopping experience, and it gives the artists the opportunity to educate their customer on their product, process, and mission.  These models are rich microcosms of creative energy that provide each artist-in-residence the opportunity to network, dialogue and collaborate.  

Most of these shops were centered in an art-hungry neighborhood called Neukolln.  Neukolln is a diverse Berlin borough home to many immigrants, students and artists.  I walked around this area for hours.  It has that grungy aesthetic common to city neighborhoods existing in that pre-gentrification golden hour when artists can still find affordable spaces to live and work.  Where the graffiti is beautiful, the creative energy is palpable, and their are interesting finds around every corner.  It was during my meandering that I came across AKA.  AKA is a multidisciplinary art space featuring tattoo artists whose work is informed by different creative backgrounds.  I love the concept behind this studio as it highlights the unique style of each artist and features the story behind how each of their aesthetic leanings developed from very different backgrounds.  This is a brilliant juxtaposition, and provides the kind of educational opportunity between artist and consumer that I will draw from when curating the artist-in-residence presence at The Studio.    

Thank you for reading!  If you’re interested in learning more about the significance behind a business defining their “Why” check out this great TedTalk! 

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