Behind the Design: Q&A with Artist and Illustrator Chelsea Alexander

Can artwork encourage us to get outdoors? That’s one of many questions artist and designer Chelsea Alexander requested herself when the Outdoor Afro Inc + REI Co-op design group approached her to create an authentic sample for items within the newest tenting and climbing assortment. Somewhat than method the duty as merely a 2D illustration that will be printed on tents, camp pillows and comforters , Alexander discovered herself each reflecting on the affect nature has had on her and taking a better go searching at how—and why—different individuals may not have the identical affection for “roughing it.”

“One thing I discovered about this challenge is that not everybody has a constructive expertise with nature—which I assumed everybody did,” she says.

Alexander has spent a lot of her life in cities each small and enormous—she grew up in Austin, Texas, and has lived in New York Metropolis and London—however she is an avid runner and loves spending time outdoors for self-rejuvenation in addition to inspiration. She wished to tug imagery and inspiration from nature itself to create a constructive narrative as she designed patterns for the Out of doors Afro and REI communities. “I wished to point out a broader image of tenting—not nearly tents, however about experiencing water, experiencing the altering of colours, studying about flowers, and so on.,” she says.

Research have proven that Black individuals and different communities of shade don’t all the time have the identical entry to the outside that white Individuals do. In response to Trust for Public Land analysis, 1 in 3 individuals lack trails, parks, campgrounds, playgrounds or different leisure areas inside strolling distance from residence—a disparity known as “the character hole.” Outdoor Afro, a nationwide not-for-profit and longtime REI accomplice, has spent practically 15 years encouraging Black pleasure within the open air with group experiences, management coaching and programming designed to empower Black individuals all over the place to see themselves in nature.

Along with geographical entry to nature, the outside group has a illustration drawback in relation to gear and attire: A majority of merchandise designed for the outside are made by (and largely for) white recreationists, with out contemplating the particular wants or cultural connections that Black, Indigenous and different individuals of shade might want or want. In 2022, the for-profit arm of Out of doors Afro launched its first collaborative hike collection with REI Co-op, in search of to fill that want within the outside trade by offering garments that notably match and complement Black our bodies, and equipment that may assist everybody—however particularly marginalized of us—get outdoors with ease and luxury.

For this up to date assortment, Out of doors Afro Inc. and REI invited members of the Black group to take part in a sleep insights examine and supply suggestions on the brand new collaborative tent and sleep programs. The end result? An oversize satin camp pillow that helps all hair varieties and types, together with pure and curly textures, by lowering frizz-creating friction; a convertible comforter that can be utilized as a blanket, sleeping bag or double-wide cowl for 2; and a daring, shiny new tent that has house to face and stretch—all that includes Alexander’s stunning natural-abstract imagery. “Throughout this challenge, I wished to visually create one thing engaging and alluring for this group,” Alexander says. 

We not too long ago interviewed Chelsea Alexander through e mail from her residence within the U.Okay., and he or she shared ideas about her relationship to nature, what evokes her artwork and the way she’s utilizing operating (particularly London Marathon coaching) to honor her late mom.

What are your reminiscences of tenting or getting outdoors as you have been rising up, and the way do you search open air time now?

I’ve one reminiscence that taught me about tenting with household, and I’ve one other set of reminiscences the place I discovered about tenting individually at an precise camp. What I discovered with my household is that even throughout accidents and mishaps, we all the time discovered a approach to snicker about it. (The brief story is principally my mother and father didn’t have expertise placing up a tent earlier than and it rained actually onerous. Our tent shortly crammed up with rain. We wakened in water, however discovered a approach to snicker about it.) As for my particular person expertise at camp, that’s the place I actually was examined. I discovered to kayak on my own, I discovered to make pals, I discovered to begin a hearth, I discovered to dive, I discovered to not be afraid of heights (due to tree hopping and paragliding). Finally, I discovered be snug being afraid of latest issues, which is what I carried into my teenage years and maturity—and nonetheless carry at the moment. 

Have you ever had a protracted relationship to REI Co-op, and may you inform us how this collaboration with Out of doors Afro Inc. and REI got here to be? 

I’ve truly all the time cherished REI. At the same time as a child [growing up in Texas], my mother and father would take me there to purchase sports activities gear, as a result of I performed a number of soccer as a baby. This collaboration got here by way of [REI art director] Todd Durkee and his group: They discovered me (I nonetheless don’t fairly understand how!) and I instantly cherished the story of REI and Out of doors Afro. It linked to me and my very own story very deeply. I work rather a lot in communication and purposeful/impactful artwork and design. They approached me with an issue: connecting to those communities visually. My resolution was to tug imagery and inspiration from nature itself, to create a constructive narrative. The narrative I constructed was by way of phrases or affirmations, and shapes that supplied a unique tackle all the weather of tenting.

Your work appears so natural, with shiny colours, fluid traces and shapes that replicate the attractive chaos and curiosity of the pure world. Are you impressed by nature, and have you ever all the time been impressed by nature?

I delight myself on using patterns from the issues I’ve skilled in my life. I feel I’ve all the time been impressed by what’s round me bodily. Natural world are undoubtedly prevalent in my life. I’ve achieved a number of operating for 2 years, and I make it a degree to be very observant throughout my 14-mile runs. There’s a lot to expertise, and since I’m a really delicate particular person visually I take notes of latest shapes and kinds I discover all through my walks and runs. I’m additionally a conventional graphic designer, so I like increasing the thought of communication by way of letters and self-expression. On this challenge, I actually wished to make the most of letters as kinds to mix with components of nature to specific a narrative concerning the Out of doors Afro and REI collaboration specifically. 

Once you dream about getting outdoors, what does that imply or seem like to you? 

I’m going again to this love I’ve for operating lengthy distances. Earlier than I get up, I are likely to dream about happiness and freedom. I’m by no means as joyful and free as I’m on the times I run 14 miles. I don’t know what it’s, but it surely looks like I don’t must do something besides go searching me and put one foot in entrance of the opposite. No strain, simply observing the sweetness that already exists. I feel an excessive amount of these days, we as creatives are anticipated to make one thing excellent and delightful on a regular basis—however we’re imperfect, we’re human. Going outdoors simply proves that: We will’t make nature, we are able to solely recognize it, draw inspiration from it and respect it.

What was it like designing a sample for a tent? How was it totally different than different textiles, and what kinds of concerns did you have in mind? 

I feel designing for a tent was truly the very last thing on my thoughts, oddly sufficient! I like designing for giant, giant items of textiles and positive artwork, which I knew would work seamlessly for REI. I actually targeted my designs on the storytelling facet of the challenge: How a lot did I wish to present visually, and what components/shapes confirmed these emotions precisely? For instance, the blue piece I designed is supposed to evoke motion inside nature. The shapes I used have been deliberately chosen to suit totally different engaging wildlife. I used to be enthusiastic about how I might mix design, textiles and this idea of connection and storytelling, which might be attainable to increase as a bigger sample for various wants!

Do you would like you can be a fly on the wall for the parents who’re taking this tent out? What sorts of ideas and emotions do you hope this piece evokes for them? 

Oh, if solely! I hope that folks can see by way of the designs within the solar! I hope they’ll see by way of them figuratively too, and higher perceive their very own connection to nature is intricate, collaborative, inventive, complicated and delightful similar to the designs I made for this challenge. I hope it makes them really feel secure, in the end. I hope it makes them really feel inventive and curious as properly, possibly invoke emotions of affection, emotions of hope.

Do you’ve gotten any outside objectives this yr? Are you coaching for a race or planning to be taught a brand new exercise, spending extra time doing something specifically?

It is a very private query for me, truly. Nevertheless it defines me and the place I’m in my life proper now. I began to run constantly nearly a yr and a half in the past to deal with being an on-and-off caretaker for my mother on the time. I simply misplaced my mom to breast most cancers in December of 2023. Earlier than she handed, I made a decision I’d do as many breast most cancers runs, triathlons, marathons, something—as a lot as I might, for the remainder of my life—as a result of, a part of me wished so badly to really feel her ache, and empathize along with her throughout her remedy. So now I put my very own physique by way of hell to proceed to remind myself how inspiring she was to me.

I feel this has additionally introduced me nearer to my very own curiosity in nature once more, as I discussed:  I’m all the time taking visible notes after I’m operating for 2 to a few hours at a time. I’m operating within the London Marathon this April! I’ll be supporting Breast Cancer Now, a nonprofit analysis and help group right here within the U.Okay. The purpose is to boost 2,500 kilos and never faint throughout the race!

The submit Behind the Design: Q&A with Artist and Illustrator Chelsea Alexander appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication.

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