Women in Our Community: Jessica Miller Johnson
I take pride in the fact that our beloved downtown is evolving into something more beautiful (in my 25-years-young opinion) than it has ever been. Each day I am reading and researching the newest project that is going up for proposal, conversing with business peers regarding their plans and watching new entrepreneurs take a leap-of-faith into the wonderful community that is DTSF. I grew up in extreme central Sioux Falls and I've lived within a 6 block radius around the main Phillips Ave strip for my whole life, other than college. When I was growing up, the only place we were allowed to frequent 15-20 years ago was the soda fountain at Zandbros after school - but only with mom or dad. I can imagine that if you're older than me - this notion was only further exaggerated.
It's a beautiful thing, what our downtown is becoming and...
I feel boldly enough to state that a lot of this change is due to the young art community within our city. This month's Women in Our Community feature is on the beautiful and inspiring Jessica Miller Johnson. She singlehandedly researched, opened and is now running JAM Art & Supplies located on the corner of 6th and Phillips. The shop is 'committed to providing Sioux Falls artists with low-cost art making materials' but also provides our youth and adults with various classes revolving around all sorts of art forms. JAM Art & Supplies is a non-profit creative wonderland started - from scratch - by ONE outstanding lady: Jessica.
A little about you & the workplace…
Chelsea's Boutique: Begin by introducing yourself briefly.
Jess: I’m Jess Miller Johnson, a Sioux Falls artist and founder of JAM Art & Supplies. I was born in Iowa, moved to Sioux Falls when I was eight. I went to Harvey Dunn, Patrick Henry, Washington High School, and Augustana College.
CB: Describe what you do for a living. What is your job, job title?
Jess: I am Founder, Executive Director, and President of JAM. I do a lot, but not everything, just mostly everything. I run day-to-day operations, answer millions of emails, put donations away, plan events, talk with customers, and plan our next steps.
CB: If we were to ask, “what is a ‘day at the office’ like for you?” how would you respond?
Jess: Oh! Make coffee! Count money! Bills, bills, bills. Talk to customers. Answer emails. More customers. More emails. More bills! Sit down. Stand up. Coffee! Music! Artists! Volunteers! TRAFFIC!
Jess: JAM Art and Supplies is a Goodwill for art supplies. We sell the supplies that we take as donations when people are cleaning closets and their studios. We are also advocates for Sioux Falls artists by providing supplies, but also information via social media and our website.
CB: You also have an amazing team full of writers and artists. How do they come into play for the shop?
Jess: Oh man, the writers are little butterflies that fly in with great ideas, leave, and sometimes fly back with blog posts. We are grateful for every post those butterflies produce. Our blog post writers come into play for the shop because the more blog posts we produce, the better the traffic is for our store. As for artists, we’re continually keeping our ears and eyes peeled for new artists in Sioux Falls. I am constantly collecting business cards to hand off to Amy Jarding, our Inspired Interviewer. These artists are our customers, but we try to help them in anyway we can.
CB: When did you dream to open this nonprofit begin? In addition, tell us a little about some of the obstacles you had to face when opening a nonprofit on your own.
Jess: I originally started dreaming about JAM in 2005! I was living St. Paul going to art school there and would visit Art Scraps, a nonprofit Creative Reuse Center. I couldn’t get enough of the space and always wanted to pursue my own cheap art supply store. The biggest obstacle I faced when opening JAM was my self-doubt. Anytime a person does something big there will always be the big, bad ego down playing a person’s ability. My ego was an obstacle, but so was the actual knowledge I need to start a nonprofit. Everything I have done was first Googled.
CB: Why is it important to you to have something like this in our beloved city?
Jess: For me, it’s important to have JAM in our city because my husband and I are raising our daughter here; I have a need to impress her, but also expose her. And the other kids! it’s important to expose kids to artists in town, it’s important to show them that there are artists here! Plus we want to show them that there is a place, a need, and value in their creativity here in Sioux Falls.
(...I would like to briefly add in that her daughter Dessa is absolutely amazing. Such a beautiful little soul - just like mommy!)
CB: What are some things that JAM does around our community to contribute?
Jess: Explicitly, we do quarterly supply drives where we hook up with local nonprofits that have a need for art supplies. But for me, the most important work we do is advocating for artists through First Friday Reviews, Inspired Interviews, and our ever evolving website.
CB: What is your greatest personal accomplishment revolving around JAM?
Jess: My greatest personal accomplishment revolving around JAM is networking. Without networking there would be no JAM.
CB: Nonprofit you say...so, does that mean we can send over some volunteers and helpers? How does one go about contact to be involved in your project?
Jess: Oh man, do we need volunteers! We have a monthly Volunteer Training Hour so, if someone is interested in finding out about our next session email jamartandsupplies@gmail.com for more information!
Some about you, personally…
CB: Jessica Anne Miller (JAM) tell us a little about your family and home life. You have a beautiful little girl and she’s commonly seen at the shop. What are some of the things you do for fun in your spare/free time?
Jess: In my free time while my daughter’s awake I’m usually playing with her. We like reading and playing outside most. While my daughter is sleeping I am either making art or in our yard dreaming up new ideas. We have a beautiful yard that was consumed by years of weeds so we’re slowing chipping away at taking back the space. We have a desire to create a yard that wows people with special gardens and secret trails. It will always be a work in progress. But I think that’s what gardening is all about.
CB: If you had to comprise a list of your top five priorities, what would they be and why?
Jess: These five priorities are important to me because of science.
Love: The Science of Love
Contentment: The Grateful Life: The Secret to Happiness, and the Science of Contentment
Honesty: The Science of Honesty: Lying Less Improves Health and Relationships
Health: The 22 Best TED Talks for Fitness, Health, and Happiness
Art: Study Says Making Art Is Good For Your Brain, and We Say You Should Listen
CB: What is the number one (or what are a couple) thing that inspires you on a daily basis?
Jess: The breeze, my daughter, and art.
CB: Do you have a fashion inspiration?
Jess: Oh this is embarrassing, but it’s Kirsten Dunst from the movie Crazy/Beautiful.
CB: What is your go-to daily outfit?
Jess: Jeans and a t-shirt
CB: Being extremely artistic yourself, who are some of the top artists that inspire you and why? Do you find yourself grabbing your creativity from them?
Jess: Peter Milton for his detailed fantasy drawings. Egon Schiele for his application of color and lines. Danny Gregory and Frederick Frank for their inspiring zen-like “everyday” drawing approaches and their books on the subject.
CB: What are some of your personal goals to accomplish in the near future - not including work?
Jess: I’m preparing for an art show in August at Rehfeld’s, so I preparing new art work for that show. The goal is to show off my drawing skills. I have a couple goals revolving around my daughter’s second birthday in August. Including finding plans to build a playhouse in our yard and to repurpose a tv stand into a little play kitchen for her.
For funsies...
CB: Beer? Wine? Liquor? What’s your after-work drink of choice?
Jess: Wine. Right now it’s Pinot-Grigio for the summer.
CB: Chapstick or lipstick?
Jess: I like chapsticks with color.
CB: Heels or flats?
Jess: Flats! Although, I have a pretty nice collection of heels that I never leave the house in.
CB: If you reached into your bag/purse, what are the first five things you’d pull out?
Jess: Business cards, keys, wrappers, cell phone, and books that carry around in case I get a second to read.
If you're interested in helping JAM Art & Supplies, I would strongly encourage you to head down there and see for yourself what they're all about. You can find all of their hours, etc on their website or Facebook pages. They also do a wonderful job of keeping us informed about awesome art-happenings - you can find those HERE!
We are creative souls down at Chelsea's Boutique and being apart of a creative community is a beautiful thing. Keep up the fantastic work, Jess!
If you know someone that deserves to be featured on our Women in Our Community blog, shoot us some information to info@chelseas-boutique.com! We love our #womenempoweringwomen.
xoxo, Becky
