We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Hausmann Schall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Rachel , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’m a person that loves working with others. Collaboration and organization are huge parts of my creative practice. I think the most meaningful work, for me, comes when I can support other artists in some way. That’s the main reason I started writing – because I wanted to highlight the work of artists around me who I felt were making or doing something important.

The Grilled Cheese Grant is a project that holds deep meaning to me and it’s something I’ve been a part of for 10 years. Alongside a team of artist organizers, we raise funds for emerging visual artists in Wisconsin and host a one-day event that celebrates their work with grilled cheese sandwiches. The project is a grassroots endeavor, and we invite the community to participate by voting for their favorite artist. There is music, a gallery exhibition, raffle, and tours of the space where the event is held – Vanguard Sculpture Services – a fine art foundry in Milwaukee. It’s a project that has been nurtured and grown from raising around $500 in its first year to raising nearly $6,000 annually for emerging artists.

Many of the organizers of Grilled Cheese Grant are connected to its beginnings on a personal level, myself included. The reason the project began was because many of us had just finished our undergraduate thesis projects and basically, we were poor college students. We spent thousands of dollars developing a body of work to present as the capstone of our studies at art school. We felt there was a gap in financial support for emerging artists in this situation and we wanted to provide students just like us the opportunity to fund projects that they spent countless time and effort creating.

Rachel , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a people person. I have always been creative as long as I can remember. Frankly, I was a weird kid growing up. I always wanted to do the opposite of what was considered “popular” or “cool.” I bring that up because I believe artists begin shaping their personality and finding their stride very early in life, even in childhood. And I think that was certainly true for me too.

I got into the visual arts industry by attending exhibitions and events in the Milwaukee area when I was in college at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. It sounds a lot easier than it actually was, but I basically started talking to people and building relationships, and showing up. . . for my friends – who had work included in exhibitions, for people that I Iooked up to, and at spaces I wanted to become involved with. Over the course of five years, the relationships I built helped me get connected to new opportunities, like sharing a studio space with 7 other artists.

From there, I continued showing up and being an active member of the community, supporting others in the ways I could. I started writing and becoming involved with collaborative projects, like the Grilled Cheese Grant. Infiltrating any visual arts scene starts with getting to know people and spaces and seeing how you can contribute. I had a professor in college who shared some of the best advice I still refer back to today – when you go to an event, try to introduce yourself to three people in the room that you don’t already know and hold a conversation. You don’t know who that person is connected to or what opportunities might come from that interaction in the future.

Now, I live in central Wisconsin and work at a small museum in education. I work with a variety of different audiences and get to interact with people everyday. I am still active in my studio practice, making collage and sculpture. I am also a contributing writer and co-editor for Artdose Magazine, where I enjoy learning about artists, art spaces, and supporting people through my writing. I occasionally write for other visual arts publications like Sixty Inches From Center, based out of Chicago.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Artists often struggle financially, especially those from non-privileged backgrounds. Many of my peers have full-time jobs in addition to trying to “make it” in the art world. The hustle is real and it’s their passion that continues to drive them, even if that means they have to work 70 hours a week. The best thing that we can do is support small businesses, especially creative or artistic endeavors.

Do you have a friend that makes jewelry? Go buy a pair of earrings. How about a cousin that knits sweaters? Ask them to make you one. What about your neighbor that’s a photographer? Book a session. Are you decorating your new home? Commission a piece from an artist instead of purchasing something at a “big box” store. Supporting artists and creatives is one of the easiest ways that we can contribute. This also helps build a healthy and thriving ecosystem for creatives to live in. If you can’t financially afford someone’s work, recommend them for an opportunity or connect them to someone who is interested. These are simple actions that go a long way and mean a lot to the people you support.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It’s been challenging to find the balance between my creative practice, personal life, and day job. Right out of college, I was told not to say “no” to anything. Early on, I would say “yes” to almost any opportunity. Do you want to organize an exhibition at this space? Yes. Would you like to participate on a panel at a conference? Yes. Would you like to collaborate and develop programming for this event? Yes.

But, as I’ve been working about 10 years in this industry, it’s simply not sustainable to do it all – and you can’t. Nobody can. And when you try, you burnout. And that’s a trap several artists fall into. Unfortunately, it’s also how we are exploited for free labor. I’m continuing to unlearn saying “yes.” I’m learning to prioritize my goals and my time. I’ve said yes to enough opportunities for no compensation that I’m also learning to ask for what I’m worth. Artists deserve to be paid for their time, energy, and ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: rhausmannschall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoorachel
• Other: grilledcheesegrant.com artdosemagazine.com

Image Credits
Frank Juarez/Artdose Magazine Adam White/DocMy Art