We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful L’Andrae’ Bradley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with L’Andrae’ below.

Alright, L’Andrae’ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Selecting to be on the volunteer committee for Art In The Hollow seems to be the most satisfying project I have been on since moving to Minnesota. For some of the art I create, I experimented with printed merchandise. I understand everyone either doesn’t have room for original art or has the extra money to purchase a drawing/painting. Printing my art on items such as coffee mugs, buttons, or greeting cards allows a connection to the buyer’s overall experience.
When Art In The Hollow resumed full force from the Pandemic, I felt it would be a great idea to promote the community event for visitors to purchase Art In The Hollow t-shirts and reusable totes. Just moving up to Minnesota in the spring of 2017, it seemed appropriate for residents in the area to invest and take advantage of the art festival experience. As a committee, we wanted to connect the idea that this great event is taking place in the community’s backyard, and they should take full advantage of it.
Since I’ve been on the committee, AITH has ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 visitors during the past two summers. I also would like to add that our event is a great outdoor event for any vendor, either starting or seasoned veterans in the arts festival scene.

L’Andrae’, 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?

I was born in Lima,Ohio, a city of less than 36,000 people the last time I checked. At the time, I was taking random classes at the Ohio State Univerity Branch Campus in Lima, Ohio, uncertain about what I wanted to do. At the time, an art professor believed in me and that I should pursue a major in Fine Arts or at least pursue more classes in the field. Mind you, at that particular time, I have never imagined going head-on as an artist. I faced many self-esteem issues even when I moved to Columbus, Ohio, to take more classes to improve my overall skills.
I kept grinding away with my art for about 20 years in Columbus before moving to Minnesota. I started experimenting with printed merchandise in 2016 and found it helps financially. It creates a unique experience for the buyers and art collectors. It feels good to me that people can get something such as a button and their overall experience, and satisfaction just seems to radiate in front of me. I’m happy when they are happy.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When I’m narrating my story, when a visitor stops by my studio, and a particular work of art captures their eye, I remember the experience/phase of my life as if it were yesterday. I never realized the importance of the story beforehand because I’m an introvert. I learned over the years that each work of art I create has a story behind it, and it doesn’t always have to be a happy or positive story. It can be a story of the worst moments of your existence from over ten years ago. Gathering the courage and narrating that awful experience can be the most healing thing you can imagine.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

From the early 2000s up to 2009, there were some challenging years for me, and subconsciously, my art reflected that dark energy. The mediums I was using were wax pastels on Stonehenge paper. Many of the compositions consisted of random scribbles from various sketchbooks I owned, and I would apply them to create a story. The characters that were made, many didn’t have eyes. Where there were supposed to be eyes, they were just black. It was as if the characters didn’t have a soul or were expressing a form of going through the motions, as one would say. Reflecting on it now, my personal life was like that. If identity crisis were a person, I would be that person as if Mother Nature herself was looking down, judging, and laughing at me as if it was saying, “Who the hell do you think you are?”
My final piece with these mediums, titled “The Last Laugh,” felt like the epitome of my overall experience of suffering.
After creating “The Last Laugh”, I didn’t again until late 2011, almost 2012.
Anything at that particular time, it didn’t seem like I was doing anything right, nor did I feel anything serious was worth pursuing. Describing this moment as we speak has generated a moment of personal healing for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.goodearthtreasure.store
• Instagram: @landrae_bradley_the_artist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodearthtreasure/

Image Credits
Photo of Artist with “The Last Laugh” courtesy of Stephan Kistler