j. bronwyn design

make + mend.

MAKE AND MEND
Second hand art and craft supply store located in Somerville, MA. Created in 2017 by a Mass-Art student who wanted to fix financial hurdles in art creation. Owner, Emily, states that the mission of Make & Mend is to collect and redistribute art supplies, while also reducing the amount of waste that goes into creating art.

OUR MISSION
Provide a sustainable and accessible art education center within Boston’s West End. Foster an educational setting that focuses on creating art sustainably. Allow community members to learn how to create art using different mediums without having to financially commit to the hobby. Works to reduce waste in art creation by using primarily secondhand materials in a communal setting. Working in a group setting means that materials can be allocated better, which means there can be less waste. Our pairing with Make + Mend, helps continue our goal to use second-hand art supplies, with our business being built up from donated materials, we hope to keep our participation costs low, to allow as many people as possible to access art. We would also like to participate in community outreach; such as public art installations, mental health groups, etc. Work with a rotating artist fellow, highlight their medium, exhibit their work in Public Gallery space. Accept art supply donations. Facilitate a recycling/reuse center.

What creates waste in art?

  • Overbuying of materials – people tend to buy art supplies when different hobbies are ‘trending’, once the trend dies down those materials lie untouched and are often thrown away.
  • Single use materials (ie. paper towels, water cups, palettes, etc.)
  • Excessive packaging on art supplies(ie. plastic wrap on canvases)

How does art making impact out environment?

  • Improper disposal of materials leads to contamination of water and soil
  • Ex. Acrylic paints are made of polymers=plastics, so when washed out in the sink they are contributing to micro-plastic pollution
  • Ex. Oil paints contain toxic chemicals like heavy metals and solvents that contaminate soil and water
  • Ex. Cotton and linen canvases consume excessive amount of water in manufacturing
  • Ex. Synthetic paint brushes often made of polyester or nylon contribute to micro-plastic pollution

How we’re combating waste at Make + Mend Studios:

  • Working in a group setting to better allocate resources
  • Using secondhand materials
  • Making eco-friendly material choices
  • Educating artists on the environmental impact of supplies
  • De-influencing overbuying materials
  • Offering alternatives to 1 time use materials
  • Holding workshops on trending hobbies, using sustainable materials instead of the over-influenced versions
  • Facilitating proper disposal of toxic materials
  • Founding a donation / recycling center with adequate resources to properly dispose potentially harmful supplies
  • Supporting local artists in making sustainable art
  • Running community clean up workshops
  • Use of reusable cleaning supplies like cloth ‘paper’ towels
  • Encouraging the use of recycled materials in art
  • Keeping participations costs low to keep art accessible