We were lucky to catch up with Marla Dobbs Hawkins recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve been creating art since I was about five years old. My grandparents, both creative people, are to credit for introducing me to creating art and to appreciating arts and culture in New York City, where I was born and raised. I was always known as the creative child from then through my attending The High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, where I focused on Fashion Illustration. My path to work in the arts took a lot of twists and turns after that. When it was time to graduate, I began second guessing if I could really have a career using my passion for fashion; My parents also moved to South Jersey, and with my being away from the city, I took time off to figure out what was next.
During the next few years, I wound up marrying my high-school boyfriend, who was a year older and had joined the military, and giving birth to our son while living in Germany. Back home in the states at 21 and wanting to continue my education, I enrolled in a one-year program for office administration. After my first week on the job at an advertising agency, I was watching the graphic designer, trying to figure out how to get her job. My creative destiny would not be suppressed. A few years later at the dawn of the dot.com startup era, while working at an online advertising company I completed a one year certificate program in Digital Graphics and Web Design. From there I decided that i wanted to teach and used the credits I had accumulated to begin my B.A. at almost thirty years old in a non-traditional program for adults and designed a combined major in Cultural Studies focusing on Literature and Visual Art. From there I completed my Master of Education in Teaching, spending my entire thirties in school.
Marla, 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?
A big turning point in my life and for my career in the Arts came shortly after entering my forties, when my husband suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Needing a complete change, I moved to North Carolina. In an effort to process grief, heal and connect with people, I found an arts community with who I met kindred spirits and chosen family. A big part of my healing process involved writing and sharing my poems about my journey. As a textile artist, I eventually created a series of mixed-media textile pieces that included visuals and text of my poems; This culminated in an exhibit for which I decided to hold an opening bringing together the theme of processing and moving past trauma and grief in a community conversation. This was so well received and lit the spark for what I knew I wanted to do, facilitate art and emotional/ mental health opportunities and spaces. This led to my opening my business Cultivate Creative Cafe. I currently teach High School Art, run this business, design wearable art and am pursuing a second graduate degree in Counseling.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
What society can do is to keep providing opportunities in any way that you can, whether that’s purchasing art/ crafts; to providing space for artists to set up or sell or perform, if you are a small business – hosting a special event can be a win-win for artists and your business; to continuing grant opportunities if you are a larger organization and have the resources. In these times especially, individuals will need to come together to support creatives and create the inspiring communities we want to see.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
My advice to creatives who are really passionate about your creative work and vision, is to find a way to make it happen. I believe if it’s a passion that stays with you, it is part of your purpose in this life, and you won’t be at peace until you are sharing it with the world.
Spend time creating a narrative around who you are, your path, and the why behind your work. From there, gain confidence talking about your work to others including at vending events and shows. This is a great way to connect with others. Then look for and apply to anything that will take you further. I’ve applied to and landed several scholarships to great training programs and artist retreats and received grants to fund my art and business. You’ll be amazed at how taking one small step leads to the next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cultivatecreativecafe.com
- Instagram: heritij_arts and cultivate creative cafe
- Facebook: cultivatecreativecafe
- Linkedin: marla dobbs hawkins
