2023 Creatives and Partners
Art Vendors
In no particular order. Photos and content of each creative below were taken from our 2023 social media spotlight series on @craft_colorado. Click on a creative’s photo to access their social media account.
La'Donna Jones (she/her) “I'm all about making new stuff. My magnetic coasters are my pride and joy and the custom nature helps with fitting each piece for each client. Each piece is hand-painted with acrylic and covered in slow poor resin to persevere the art. I'd describe my work as brightly-colored expressions of my world. Created with personality and a few curse words for flavor. “
Far West Laser (Floyd Bundrant, he/him) is a laser engraving craftwork small business, based out of Fort Collins, CO. Co-founders Floyd and Haley are a dynamic duo that bring a balance of art and technology. Far West creates a range of artisan crafts and custom pieces such as plant propagation holders, keychains, signs, wall decor, and earrings.
Original Remix (Amber Smith, she/her) creates unique home goods and products by remixing the ordinary into something new. The latest collections include Root Vases and Live Plant Jewelry. All products are designed and hand-crafted with love by Amber Faith of Denver Colorado.
Jade Gutiérrez (she/her) is a potter, jeweler, and hopeful curandera in-the-making. She specializes in wood-fired pottery, hand-stitched beaded jewelry, and has recently branched into salves and candles using foraged and harvested ingredients.
Lina Osmundson (she/her) “I'm beyond excited to join CRAFt as both a vendor and Board Member this year. As a biracial Samoan-American amigurumi crochet artist, I feel empowered to pursue my own artistic dreams and support fellow artists of color to reach their dreams through CRAFt. My art is colorful, vibrant, silly, and creative; my primary intent is for my customers to feel joy and a sense of playfulness when they see or touch my creations."
Jahna Rae (she/her) is an artist from New York living in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California in 2017 with an Associates in Illustration. She now works as a painter, illustrator and muralist. Jahna has completed over a dozen murals around Denver, participated in numerous group exhibitions, two solo shows and a residency through Platteforum; a non-profit organization celebrating and supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists.
Denver-based Artist Brayan Montes-Terrazas (He/Him/His) is better known by his alias YAMZ. Under YAMZ, Brayan’s unwavering identity-driven art stresses the importance of putting marginalized voices at the forefront of our conversations and the stories we tell. He is driven by the essential need to tell the stories of his identity as an undocumented, queer person of color. Using art and design as the vessel to show others that they are not alone in the fight toward equity justice and sound mental health.
Zonera Nasir (she/her) is a home-based henna artist originally from Pakistan, born and raised in Saudi Arabia. A student in the United States trying to promote her cultural art, Henna.
Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Denver, Colorado. She is most well-known for her fude brush 筆 ink illustrations in which she uses a single traditional Japanese brush. Akemi's work is informed by her identity as a third and fourth-generation (sansei-han and yonsei), mixed-race Japanese American. Her imagery blends themes of Japanese folklore with Western mysticism, inspired by the intersectionality of cultural tradition, ancestral wisdom and modern identity.
Chanja (she/her) began her plant journey in 2014 with outdoor herbs and vegetables. At first she struggled, and killed everything she laid her eyes on. After about a year of research, practice, and perseverance, things began to flourish under her care. This led to the collection of both indoor and outdoor plant varieties. After moving to sunny Colorado, she brought everything inside and never looked back. Chanja has experience with a large range of plants that include tropical plants, flowering plants, cacti and succulents, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and hydroponic systems. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Florida, with a B.S. in Geology/Soil and Water Science, and a focus in Hydrogeology.
Jackie (she/her) was born and raised in Southern California, and moved to CO at the end of 2020 to close the gap with her husband. She has her Bachelor of Fine Arts from CSU, Fullerton. Her medium of choice is Watercolor, and her main subject matter is people/portraits, but with a slight twist: she adds ornate mandalas in gold surrounding her subjects.
Christian (she/they) is a multi-media artist who explores color, queerness, texture, sensation, and identity through painting, sculpture, photography, and digital media. Their lived experience as a queer, black, mixed-race, non-binary woman and human in the Deep South informs their work and their vision for a liberated future. They invite observers to experience liberatory imagination, the naturalness of queerness, celebration of blackness, and an anti-colonial approach to identity as the observers interact with her heartfelt creations.
Jacinda Soto (she/her) “Tarot is a beautiful way to help others communicate with themselves and their problems or joys. I enjoy making connections for folks and opening their minds to understanding their spirit. I believe my journey is to remain open to abundance and connection to all, with tarot I can receive those things and in turn give something that comes naturally to me to help others."
Latasha (she/her) is a visual artist based in Denver whos work is heavily inspired by nature. She spends a lot of time drawing inspiration and creating art outside and loves to share that passion with others through murals, product design and illustraton.
Bia (she/her) was born in a small town in the Brazilian Amazon. From a young age, her insatiable curiosity about the ocean and its fascinating inhabitants lead her to a life as a marine scientist. She has a bachelor's degree in Oceanography from the Federal University of Para, Brazil, a master's in Marine Biology from the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Beyond her academic pursuits, her love for art and passion for science communication also plays a vital role in her life. She enjoys blending these passions to visually convey complex scientific concepts and discoveries, making them accessible and engaging to a broader audience. Through art and communication efforts, she aspire to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the wonders of our ocean and its delicate ecosystems. Bia loves spending time in nature, hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing, and fly fishing.
Melisa (she/her/ella), owner of Peak to Peak Studio, is a small batch potter that creates functional pottery ware. She has been creating pottery for over 4 years and has since grown her hobby into a part-time business, selling mostly wholesale to local businesses.
Nia Dawson (she/her) "I come from the ones with rebelious souls They Trusted their paths Defined their own roles Their freedom and brilliance In gemstones and metals Jewelry for your journey Inspired by rebels Named after my maternal grandmother Bettie Arlene, B.A. rebel jewelry was created to honor the rebels I come from and nurture the one inside of us. It's your journey- protect it!"
Kaitlyn Mariye (she/her) is a full-time graduate student, part-time maker based in and around Boulder, CO. When not working on classwork or research, she can often be found covered in clay, crafting small-batch ceramics. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, much of Kaitlyn’s work is a nod to the people and places she has called home.
Evanne (she/her) is a rancher, mother, professional organizer, and fiber artist (when she can find the time!) She has lived her entire life in the Southwest and draws inspiration from the colors of the desert and the mountains in her sewing, crocheting, and embroidery. She currently lives in Fort Collins, CO where she and her husband raise their family and run their small scale grass-fed, grass-finished beef business, Caviness Farms. Evanne is passionate about conservation agriculture and empowering BIPOC farmers, which is why she sources as much of her yarn from Cactus Hill Farm from the San Luis Valley of CO. Much of her yarn comes from her dear friend Elena, raises Merino sheep utilizing the Acequias that her family has stewarded for generations. Evanne affectionately refers to her crochet work as Latina-powered from the “baa” to the “beanie.”
Interested in joining CRAFt?
We would love to hear from you! Share with us who you are and a bit about your craft. We look forward to meeting you!
Performers
In no particular order. Photos and content of each creative below were taken from our 2023 social media spotlight series on @craft_colorado. Click on a creative’s photo to access their social media account.
"We are Foco Flava and we are a Fort Collins based Hip-Hop Dance Collective / Non-Profit Organization 501 C (3). Host of the #1 Hip-Hop Dance Jam in NOCO “Foco Flava" Our values fall under the motto of hip-hop: Peace * Love * Unity * Having Fun. Included in our values is the acronym of HIP-HOP (Higher.Inner.Peace-Helping.Other.People) We perform on stages all over Northern Colorado, from Odell and Wibby Brewing, Carbondale Fashion Show, FOCOMX, City of Fort Collins Cultural Events, Taste of Fort Collins, at the Lincoln Center we have done Children's Summer Series, Dance Express, and Canyon Concert. Additionally, Dance Education in Motion at CSU Center for The Arts, Vision Dance Expo, Colorado Dance Collective at the Civic Center in Greeley, Community Roots Art Festival, Museum of Discovery, Bonanza by Boredom Fighters, performances at Lyric Cinema, to name a few and every First Friday on stage in Old Town Plaza for the summers."
Shreya (she/her) is a Indian classical dancer with over 20 years of experience, specializing in a south Indian art form called Bharatanatyam. She is a student of SMT. Nita Mallya with the Sampradaya school of dance and performed her professional debut in May 2017. As part of Cornell University’s premier Indian classical dance team, she performed competitively across the US. Additionally, she has attended choreography and technique workshops by several well-known artists such as Rukmini Vijayakumar, Dr. Seshadri Iyengar, and Guru Padmini Ravi.
From the far reaches of outer space comes @Kidastronavt - a time and dimension traveling "futuristic R&B" musician.
2MX2 is a revolutionary bilingual band whose music combines traditional Latin, alternative, pop, and urban rhythms, seamlessly blending English and Spanish (Spanglish). Their music carries a powerful message, fearlessly addressing significant social issues like immigration, health, and education reform through meaningful and thought-provoking lyrics. The band is composed of highly talented individuals, including Owen Trujillo (aka O1), a Mexican-born artist from Zacatecas, Denver natives Juice ET Hugo, Lolita, DMD, and Kenny O., and Chilean/Cuban artist Adrian Garay. In 2022, 2MX2 was voted one of Colorado's Top 10 Bands by NPR's Colorado Public Radio.
"Hi, I’m Roxey (they/them)! I’m 24 years old! I work in the stock market but I have a passion for comedy. Comedy is my way to unwind from the stresses of life. I was born in NY and raised in FL been living in Colorado for about seven years. I grew up the daughter of a Jamaican-Belezian immigrant pastor for a mother but my comedy is anything but holy. I would like to say my jokes bring a multicultural perspective to the comedy scene in Colorado that is both refreshing and relatable. I try to offer a unique perspective on controversial subjects that will have you laughing and learning at the same time."
Becca (she/her) and Liza (they/them) are childhood best friends who reignited their friendship as adults with their love of pole dancing! Dancing together has been a fun way to grow together and continue their goofy youthful friendship.
3Two (Christopher Bennett, he/him) is a Hip-hop artist hailing from Denver, CO. The emcee and beatmaker has been part of Colorado's emerging hip-hop scene for a little over half a decade, using his unique individual style to pave a lane that is all his own. With a range of lyrical content and musical production, his style has become hard for others to compare, yet somehow manages to be universally relatable. 3Two blurs the lines between sub genres, in what manages to be a balanced, uniquely flavored auditory blend that if nothing else, is unmistakably and unapologetically Hip-Hop.
“My name is Nady René (she/her), I am 23 years young. I am an afro-indigenous, Intuitive Artist, Spiritual Vocalist, Songwriter, Poet, Jewelry maker, and Annointed Healer/Shaman. Music, Art, and Healing are my Passions! I am happy to be returning to the CRAFt Festival again this year to Perform and spread my Vibration! My intention is to raise the vibration, Consciousness, and uplift all the souls who receive and are In alignment with my energy and message. I bring healing through all my creations."
“Hello, My Name is Anthony Le (he/him), but I go by Chopz as my Artist name. I am a self taught dancer and musician. I’ve been dancing for years and playing music for two years. I’ve had a wide spectrum of dance performances in my career. Throughout all my years of dancing I have done performances for many different crowds and audiences. From public schools, festivals, Bars, concerts, fashion shows, street performances, Theatres, conventions etc.. A few styles of dance I’ve performed and practiced are Breaking (breakdance), Hiphop, contemporary, and Bollywood. The handpan played a big role in keeping me sane during Covid and has always been a meditative practice as well. I’ve never been musically gifted growing up but I approached the handpan with no judgement towards myself or how good I was playing at it. Eventually I built the courage to perform at a few open mics downtown Denver and friends' bedrooms. I had my first two performances the next year: One at the lunar new year festival in Denver at the Far East center and second one at the Denver backyard session.”
Food Vendors
In no particular order. Photos and content of each creative below were taken from our 2023 social media spotlight series on @craft_colorado. Click on a creative’s photo to access their social media account.
Susan's Samosas
Rae's & Kay's
Colorado Cocoa Pod
Joanna's Kitchen
Don Martin Burritos
Big Daddy's Texas BBQ