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

EJ & Zack, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

Thanks to a handful of people, Zack and I have been lucky recipients of various tools, materials and knowledge – all invaluable in our creative endeavors. Back in 2016, an elderly neighbor of ours suddenly had to move into assisted living. He gave us a workshop full of tools that allowed us to start tackling projects we couldn’t otherwise, and most of them are still in our shop today.

Later in 2020, when we pivoted by leaning further into our art, Brian Presnell from Indy Urban Hardwood helped us shift to using mostly locally sourced recycled lumber and helped inspire us to branch out from the jewelry we had always done. We’ve been featured in their gallery shop since they opened it.

Another amazing kindness we can’t ignore is the tutelage of Claire Fullam – my mom – who is a metal smith and lapidary artist behind Stone Water Metal Works. She’s taught us so much and is a great person to bounce ideas off of and problem solve with. When we started in 2010, we were mainly hand-carving wood elements for jewelry and didn’t fabricate any of our metal findings. Today we’re constantly finding ways to incorporate hand-forged metal elements into our jewelry, accessories and housewares – including the metal and wood belt buckles featured this year in Indy Monthly Magazine.

We could share many more examples of kindnesses bestowed to us, and we don’t take a single one of them for granted. We feel it’s a gift to do what we do. That spirit helps fuel us to continue putting good energy back into our community and beyond by making beautiful things with love and gratitude.

EJ & Zack, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We began working on art together in 2010. Zack had graduated with a degree in sculpture from Herron, and I had been working in various creative jobs while earning my journalism/PR degree. We just wanted something to do in our spare time to give back to others and challenge ourselves.

We started an Etsy page and began doing small shows early on to market our wooden jewelry. It wasn’t until 2020 that we really invested heavily into our shop and started dedicating serious time to the shop full-time. We increased the number of markets we did and started our independent website, but we also began fielding requests to complete jobs far outside the jewelry we had been known for. We have completed functional sculptures, created a line of accessories and housewares, and even helped our friends Nicole and Ryan Oesch build out their brewery – Kismetic Beer Company. We’ve also completed several projects for Wild Moon Acres.

Our ideal projects (aside from the wearable art and functional housewares we make) allow us to turn discarded or unwanted material into something beautiful and valued. We enjoy making one-of-a-kind pieces rather than large runs of similar items. We work primarily with recycled local lumber and try to partner with fellow local creatives and business owners whenever possible. As artists, we are most inspired by the unique patterns and features of the pieces of wood we use, and we continue to push ourselves to learn more and evolve our skills to create projects for ourselves and our patrons.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As the parents of two young girls, we strive to inspire our children to solve problems, think creatively, and use their time well. We feel making art gives our lives more depth and meaning and provides goals to strive for. We love knowing we’re putting good energy and beautiful work into our community and as far as our art can go (so far, the furthest we’ve shipped to is Denmark).

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

We have loved seeing so many maker spaces pop up around town and love that social media makes it easy for artists to apply for community projects. Organizations like Creative Mornings foster a supportive community as well by gathering artists together to discuss challenges and opportunities. We would love to see more places to access materials that may otherwise be discarded, similar to the model of Habitat for Humanity Restore, but for art supplies and building materials artists can use to make larger works.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bicursaldesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bicursaldesigns/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indybicursaldesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisejadeanderson

Image Credits
All photos taken by EJ Anderson