Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the word “reckon” in the name of your artists’ collective?
We’re living in a time of great reckoning — socially, politically, and ecologically. The very founding principles of our way of life are at question. The word “reckon” means: to take stock, to guess at an answer, or to grapple with matters that need rectifying. It’s true, the uncertainty of these times can be overwhelming, but rather than pretend to have answers, we at Reckon Arts Collective propose using artistic collaboration as an antidote to reckon creatively with the questions, trusting that answers will emerge. Reckon Arts Collective stands for three things: Art, Collaboration, and Activism.
What does it mean that Reckon Arts is an artists’ collective?
Making art can be a lonely endeavor. By joining forces in a collective, our artists inspire each other through collaboration. The resulting works are then displayed on our website, through our social media platforms and each artist’s personal social media platforms. This cross-pollination amplifies the ability of our artists to share their work. In a world so damaged by the cult of individualism, collaboration is a way of remembering our shared humanity and is activist by its very nature. Throughout the ages, art has always been at the forefront of social change; a collective allows us to be a force for thoughtful. change.
What kind of activism does Reckon Arts Collective support?
Activism used to be the domain of a brave minority of people, but our current political crisis needs us all to get involved. Our nation’s ideological foundation has been blasted out from under us by a massive disinformation campaign led by an illegitimate president and a corrupt network of politicians, lawyers, and executives. Our democracy is being undermined by an increasingly authoritarian agenda. With our leadership either compromised or hobbled, it is imperative that we all to roll up our sleeves and become activists to try to create a culture that is livable for all. Artists are in a unique position when it comes to activism. We see into the very heart of things. Our visionary powers can imagine bold possibilities well ahead of those in power. Artists also have tools that leaders lack to communicate complex ideas with simple images, phrases, lyrics. Artists have a long history of being at the forefront of positive social change. As such, we at Reckon Arts Collective believe it is our duty as artists, living at this moment in time, to work as activists. We need to use our talents of expression to imagine the world with new eyes and work to create that world with our actions. Our desire to promote and inspire activism comes out of these beliefs. Reckon Arts Collective welcomes all kinds of creative activist expressions, from the subtle to the overt — activism comes in many flavors.
Who are the primary members of the collective?
The collective was founded by Fiona Theodoredis, and co-founded by Amal Phoenix and Ella Baca. Other members have been, and continue to be, invited to join.
Who is invited to join the collective?
Reckon Arts works with both emerging and established artists. We strive to amplify the voices of artists who are passionate about Art, Collaboration, and Activism.
What is required of collective members?
Members are asked to engage collaboratively with other collective members in at least one of the following three ways:
1) through artistic projects
2) through creative activism
3) through offering ideas, support, and publicity for the ongoing projects and outreach of Reckon Arts Collective.
Are there costs involved to become a member?
At this time, there are no membership fees. Reckon Arts Collective does require members to take an active role in sending high-quality photographs of their visual/3D work, or copies of their literary or musical work. Reckon Arts Collective does not own the rights to members’ work, we simply try to unite artists and offer their work to a larger audience.
Are members paid?
Reckon Arts Collective does not pay the artists in our collective. Our role is to offer collaborative and promotional opportunities. We acknowledge that artists are troubled guests in the world of capitalism. We at Reckon Arts Collective are grappling with this conversation while actively exploring creative ways that artists can make a living amidst the dismantling of capitalism.
What type of artistic media is Reckon Arts Collective open to working with?
We are open to visual art, ceramics, 3-dimensional art, installations, photography and videography, fabric arts and costumes, poetry, literary works, spoken word, and music. Basically all artistic expressions. We are also open to working with musicians under our partner alliance Reckon Records.
What do I do if I want to get involved?
Head over to the contact page and be in touch if you have questions, or feel free to donate. We love donations.