LEFT: The Cherry Pit Collective is a com- munal studio space for artists, makers and creators in Kansas City’s Midtown district. CENTER: “(Papermaking is) almost medita- tive,” Kelsey said. “I love the sound of peel- ing the paper off.” BOTTOM: Around a dozen members and artists, including Lost & Found Design and Travis Stewart, participated in the neighbor- hood-wide event.
exchange for use of the space and supplies, until she graduated and set up shop in her parents’ garage in Lawrence, KS. Every week, she would drive there and make paper all day for a few days straight, and then drive back to Kansas City to work her day job. Exhaust- ed, she searched for a studio closer to home. “I read a newspaper article talking about the new businesses coming in to this area: the yoga studio, the bike collective. I was only going to rent a small space for just me, but the landlords (Maker Village owners, next door) wanted to rent out the entire building.” From there, the Cherry Pit Collective began to grow — with members, business classes and, most recently, Wanderfest! Held on April 30, Wanderfest! was an open house and block party featuring more than 20 businesses from the 31st and Cherry neighborhood. The Cherry Pit Collective or- ganized the event and turned their space into a pop-up shop, with around a dozen mem- bers and artists selling their handmade work. For some, like Ariel Thompson, ceramic and jewelry artist, this was their craft fair debut. Ariel participated in the Collective’s six- week Etsy Incubator to get her shop, Wild Whims Studio, up and running online. “I learned a lot,” she said, “like how to advertise on Etsy and price my products,” which also helped her prepare for the event. Other artists included Lost & Found Design, Peaches Vintage Collective, Freckled Nose Co., Heavy Metals Jewelry, Alyissa Let- ters, Travis Stewart, and, of course, Sustain- able Paper+Craft and Adri Luna Studio. ^ To learn more about the Cherry Pit Collective or apply for a membership, visit cherrypitcollective.com.
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