community
We’re nothing without a community. Here is where you will find my involvement in community initiatives in Austin from a creative standpoint.
fully free collective (pt. 1)
Highlighting people's experience with identity expression, the Fully Free Collective exhibited their recent project at the Museum of Human Achievement. The project sheds light on the parts of social identity that folks feel they must mask to maintain, respect, relationships, and physical and emotional safety.
FULLY FREE COLLECTIVE (PT. 2)
This is Oghosaikhin, who goes by Debbie in her every day life so people can pronounce her name. As a part of a deep dive into her life as a black woman in Austin, we visited coffee shops where she ordered using her first name to see what people would write and how they might interact with her. This photo was taken at a coffee shop where they took her name as “Osaim.” The Fully Free Collective team submitted this portrait and story to the National Portrait Gallery competition and it made it into the top 10 percent of selections - just one round before the final 50 were chosen to be in the gallery in London.
Room484 @ SXSW 2018
Planned and executed a benefit concert for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) under the name Room484, an organization I started to promote healing through music.
Earth Day 2020
For Earth Day this year, things were a little difference considering the global pandemic going on. While people couldn’t celebrate by going to their favorite local parks, we wanted to find a way to give back to Austin Parks Foundation in this time of need. We created custom, limited edition hats for APF and challenged Austinites to help raise $10,000 for the organization. With a certain donation level, they received a rad hat in return.
MAGDALENE HOUSE ATX
For the 2019 holiday season, we partnered with Magdalene House ATX, a home for victims of sex trafficking where they are able to rehabilitate and have access to resources to get them back on their feet. The project included providing custom art for their new home, sending holiday cards to partners, clients and vendors to raise awareness, a website takeover and donations.
austin pets alive!
In 2018, GSD&M’s holiday card went to the dogs (and cats). We created an integrated campaign to raise awareness for the local animal shelter, Austin Pets Alive!.
Efforts to raise awareness and put pets in homes included:
18-foot “wishlist” tree: We constructed am 18-foot “wishlist tree” out of hundreds of blankets to ensure every shelter animal stays warm this winter.
Donations: Employees stepped up and donated food, funds, toys, sweaters and more.
Website takeover: We transformed our website into a hub of adoptable pets. GSDM.com featured imagery of the animals in hopes of generating adoptions and donations.
Holiday card: A traditional holiday card mailed to our family, friends, clients and partners featured adoptable shelter dogs and cats, and raised awareness for the shelter.