Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy Schultz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In nearly every job I’ve ever had, I’ve had opportunities to work on at least one project that was meaningful. Sometimes the project was meaningful to a broader community, and sometimes it was just meaningful to me. Regardless, I developed a craving for that combination of working hard, building a sense of community, and feeling like I made a difference in some way.

This all came together in 2020 when my friend Tony Rutigliano and I were looking for a way to help people feel more connected with each other during the pandemic. We decided to start an online magazine dedicated to “living generously and serving joyfully.” We named it Sociability, which is defined as the “art of being social.” As you remember, there truly was an art to staying social during the pandemic.

Tony was the publisher and I was the executive editor of Sociability. We launched Sociability as a platform for other people to tell stories about the good in our community of Arlington, Texas. I had the privilege of reaching out to all kinds of people from our city, inviting them to write on all kinds of topics in their own words and, as their editor, bring them out into the light. Everyone was a volunteer, including Tony and me. Every month, we shared beautiful stories and funny ones, personal stories and creative ones, and ones that made people really think. We started a “Do Gooders Directory” of ways people could volunteer. We worked with non-profits to help them amplify their work. We built connections and friendships and an air of possibilities.

Eighteen months later, after considering making Sociability a non-profit, nearly everyone involved in the project suddenly or slowly shifted into their post-pandemic lives. It was time for Sociability to end. We still feel the impact of Sociability today in the kinds of conversations we’re having in our community. It’s a legacy that will always be incredibly meaningful to me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For years, I worked in just about every communications and constituent relations role that exists at universities, including marketing, PR, alumni relations, speech writing, social media, and more. Then, about eight years ago, I felt my career priorities shift. There had always been a slow burn inside me to move into a creative field, one that could combine my love of writing, photography, art, and design as well as satisfy that tenacious need I have to connect dots and shine light on compelling stories that hide in plain sight. I started my own studio practice in 2015, and since then, my curiosity and creative work have led me on incredible journeys.

My creative practice is called unplain jane studio. Besides Jane being my middle name, I chose this name to emphasize what I believe, which is that NOTHING is “plain Jane” if you take the time to see, listen, and understand. I don’t work with very many clients at a time because when I work with a client, I roll up my sleeves, and I’m all in. Over the last few years, I’ve had so many wonderful opportunities to help more people learn how my clients are making the world a better place.

In addition to helping clients with all kinds of communication, branding, and creative needs, I also spend time developing my own creative interests and skills. I’ve won awards for my photography and traveled across the southeast to participate in dozens of art festivals. In 2019, I was asked to serve as the inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Arlington Museum of Art, and in 2022, the museum and I reunited to work together on creative communications projects. Now I’m the AMA’s Creative Director.

Even before I was invited to be the Artist-in-Residence at the AMA, I had begun working on a long-term photography project. The residency gave me a platform to showcase that photography, conduct research, and begin envisioning the work as a book. I’m excited to say that that book will be released on April 25, 2023 by Atmosphere Press (Austin, TX)! Entitled MUMENTOUS, the book is a collection of my photography and funny, sweet, and sometimes surprising stories about homecoming mums, a 100-year-old custom that’s practiced in high schools across the southeastern United States but ubiquitously in Texas.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society can best support artists and creatives by valuing art and creativity. This can be manifested in all kinds of ways, such as a city funding public art projects, or a school district generously integrating the arts throughout the curriculum, or libraries offering arts workshops, or private businesses commissioning artwork for their buildings, etc.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes! “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell, “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, “The Peter Principle” by Laurence J. Peter, the Invisibilia podcast, and “Bossypants” by Tina Fey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.unplainjanestudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_unplainjane/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnplainJaneStudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-j-schultz-9220554/
• Other: https://www.mumentousbook.com/

Image Credits
Amy J. Schultz