We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Bauer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve taken many risks in the last three years. They were really propelled by a risk I took in 2013. With one suitcase and a backpack I bought a one way ticket moving from NYC to California. No job lined up. No friends waiting for me. Nowhere to live. Yet, still I am here. A proud resident of Long Beach California and loving every minute of my life.

Back in NYC I had been working a 9 to 5 job, had an art studio and was in many art shows with my visual arts practice. I had always wanted to move to California since I was 15. Visited many times and almost moved in 2007. Yet when I was being pushed out of NYC (expensive!) I asked myself what am I waiting for, and left.

When I first arrived I started freelancing as a seamstress. A few months later I started my teaching artist career working with a variety of organizations. I made many friends immediately and have continued to grow my network. I also continued participating in art shows. In 2016 I started Fun-A-Day-LA. A yearly community art show. I realized that I should be applying for grants instead of paying out of pocket for all the shows and workshops. So I did and in 2023 I received a microgrant for the show. I also applied to two more artist grants that year. I was awarded one that changed my life.

I am a California Creative Corps artist grantee 2023-24 from the California Arts Council through the Arts Council for Long Beach. That grant enabled me to take my dreams of hosting a wearable art show to grand levels. It was an opportunity that I could not pass up. So ten years after I first moved to California I took another leap of faith and quit my day job. I spent a year teaching all over Long Beach and produced Trashion Show Long Beach. A documentary was created about the show and the year-long project. During that year I also received two more grants, my art was in a museum, I sang in public for the first time (non-karaoke), and was featured in a documentary called Upcycling LA.

The year 2024 ended with the production of West Long Beach Trashion. A youth based program and show where all the participants were youth that I mentored. This was a ClimateLB grant from Youth Action Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Climate Action and Sustainability department of the City of Long Beach.

Due to the success of both of these trashion shows I started a nonprofit, Creative Art Events. To enable Trashion Show Long Beach to be produced annually and to empower the creation of community-enriching art events that celebrate creativity, foster connection and promote sustainable practices.

So far in 2025 I received an award as one of 18 Women of Distinction from Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, 69th District. I was awarded for Community Service: Individuals who work or volunteer for non-profit organizations, going above and beyond the norm to make their community a better place to live and work. Last week I received confirmation that a performance piece I proposed was accepted into Sound Pedro this year! I’m going to be in a two person trashion parade with my fellow artist and friend Mike Biagiotti. That is something I did not know I would participate in last year. I’m excited for what the future holds.

I do not regret any of these decisions. I never knew what was waiting for me when I flew across the country or quit my day job. It has only been amazing opportunities I did not even dream of that keep presenting themselves as I continue moving forward. My favorite part? Is the opportunity I am able to give to my fellow artists of all ages. To show them that trying something new and going for your dreams will open new doors to meeting new people and living a full life. Like I said to a photographer that asked me about photographing my artwork… I am the art! And so are all of you.

Amy, 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 am originally from New Jersey and a lifelong maker, an artist, designer, educator, and producer. I love learning and sharing my knowledge. Since moving to California I have become an Activate Arts Advocacy leader, a Climate Reality Project leader and I am currently a member of the Long Beach Neighborhood Leadership Program Cohort 2025.

I have been sewing my whole life. I inherited my grandmother’s sewing supplies, learned embroidery from my mother and started making clothes for myself in high school. And I have not stopped.

I work in a lot of mediums beyond textiles, but there are usually sewing elements involved somewhere. I also draw a lot. I remember watching my mother drawing when I was a child. She is a talented artist who specializes in painting and drawing. Though she was told that you could not make money as an artist. I am here to prove that theory wrong. Not only for myself, but for others out there. My personal, professional and now my nonprofits ethos is to Turn Neighbors from Strangers to Friends. I do this with my social practice art. I love working with others, teaching them skills and giving them a chance to create art. I had great experiences learning art skills when I was growing up. Running around my home showing family members what I created, even if it was not completely finished! Picture me in an almost finished ensemble and you have the perfect image of my excitement and love of the process of creating from beginning to end. For me there are no mistakes in art. Something I say a lot when participants get stuck or are afraid to even start.

In my own art I explore environmental themes; tying them into an investigation of the likenesses and frictions between my urban life and folk art aesthetic. I share a perception of the landscape along with the intersections of consumerism, rebirth of the mending movement, and climate concerns. All connected by fibers produced, discarded and reused. Textiles intended for fashion and interior design industries or sewing and crafting supplies that were created for home use and then discarded upon by overconsumption. These are the material elements I utilize to create colorful, consumer conscious, eclectic art that sends a message of unity and always looking at the sunny side of life.

What makes me unique is my ability to be a creator of art, a teaching artist, producer of art shows, and founder of a nonprofit. Add in my grant writing skills, that I have been called a powerhouse of arts administration by former coworkers and my positiveness and patience and you get an individual and business professional that is a breeze to work with in all situations. Even when things get a bit hectic I remain calm. Perhaps from my risk taking moments or my ability to use both sides of my brain or my willingness to let others be their true selves and give input. I am an expert delegator. I naturally uplift others with me on my journey through life.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

When I say I am an artist, most people respond with ‘what do you paint?’. I do paint, but that is not my main medium. Nor do I paint in any traditional way (but maybe I will in the future!). My paintings are usually abstract and include other items, like paper or fabric.

When I say I sew, many people ask me if I can hem their pants? Well, technically I can, but that is not my main focus with sewing. I make wearable art from discarded items. Whether fabric scraps, interior design samples, plastics and many unknown objects. Trashion (trash + fashion) is my main sewing practice.

I did not go to an art school. Or originally go for an arts degree. I am mostly self taught with some classes here and there. I do have an art degree, but I was the only visual artist in the degree program at the whole school. That includes the instructors, none of them were visual artists. It was an interesting experience that was not bad or good. I was able to graduate in one and half years. I did go through the process to appeal my final thesis grade. Gathered statements from a lot of people who viewed my finished piece. Even though I decided against filing the appeal I kept all those letters. They have proven that yes I am an artist. I plan on having them be part of a future book. It is all part of my story and helped to continue propelling me to apply to art shows.

I love learning. Originally I attended a community college straight after high school. As a broadcasting major. Yes I have been on multiple radio stations as an on air dj plus hosted a podcast and livestream show. You can watch the livestream on my YouTube channel. In my second year I left college, officially withdrew and moved out of state. Though I always felt this urge to continue college. I ended up putting myself back into school. First finishing with my associates degree in design. Went straight into NYC for a job interview only to be told to come back when I have my bachelors degree. As a first generation college student this was startling. I thought a college degree meant you could get a job. Not so true. My determination helped me continue my college path. I attended five colleges (in various lengths of time) and now have three degrees. An associate in design, a bachelors in fine arts and masters in educational technology. Then I continued to work to pay off those loans. My current goal is not to just live but to thrive. I was told by an old boss who saw I had a masters, “well you’re not using that degree”. I immediately disagreed. I use it every day I said. I teach others how to use technology, old and new through workshops and jobs. I utilize both soft and hard skills to round out my life. I learned a lot by putting myself through school. I also made lots of friends that have stayed in contact with me.

As an artist, most of our paths are not the same. We intersect, but none of the paths are linear. I wish it would be as simple as you go to art school, graduate and start making enough money to thrive as a full time professional artist. But then again, I would not change my own path because it has been very fulfilling and full of various skills I might not have learned by going from high school straight to an art school.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an artist who reuses items, I rarely need to purchase art supplies. So when I was working on my Creative Corps grant project I was able to utilize the supply fund to pay other artists. I hired a workshop assistant, videographers, an artist with a company to write press releases and send them out, high school makeup artists, and a photographer that I hired multiple times throughout the year. It was a wonderful surprise of how great it felt to be able to pay other artists. So much so I have continued to hire artists for the last two grants I received.

It is another way to collaborate with artists. It also continues to strengthen ties with other artists. One of those artists, Cory Bilicko, led me to getting paid jobs as a teaching artist. It is all truly a community where we all are sharing opportunities we see with each other. My whole adult life I searched for a community to feel a part of without knowing what I was really looking to achieve. When I first moved to California. I volunteered to be a sewing teacher for a workshop on turning t-shirts into reusable bags. It was held right in the hallway outside the meeting room where voting was going on for the plastic bag ban in Culver City. That day I met many people who cared about the environment. I am still friends with all of them.

What I love about the art community is how open the artists are about helping each other grow. How they will let each other know about art opportunities, whether shows, grants, gigs, or anything. One way myself and a group of artists in Long Beach are doing this is by running Art Clout Collective. It is a way to connect with the other artists in the 50 square mile city. To give opportunities to anyone in Southern California to participate in art shows, attend drawing clubs and connect with other art groups nearby.

For me making art is rewarding, but connecting with others through art is far more rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amybauerdesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amybauerdesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amybauerdesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybauerdesigns
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amybauerdesigns