Meet Delilah Reed | Artist & Owner of The Loud Cicada

We had the good fortune of connecting with Delilah Reed and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Delilah, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have a good handful of friends that are successful retail business owners and I had always liked and admired their success and the way that their shops seemed to be so strongly tapped into the community. As an artist doing markets, art shows, pop-ups, and online sales, the hustle culture is strong within me. But I had a great desire to do less running around and more “come see me at my brick and mortar anytime”. I had dreamt up this wonderful idea in my mind of a bright, cheery, happy place that had interactive experiences in the form of a letter writing station as well as a working art studio. Retailing my art in this way allowed me continue doing what I loved the most, creating art. The Loud Cicada is ultimately an art brand that has become a retail store selling the cutest things that are TLC brand approved.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has been rich and varied, which has allowed me to create art and make a positive impact on the community. I have worked in administrative roles (such as an assistant at Dopps Chiropractic); served as a social media consultant (Tallgrass Film Festival); and in retail (The Workroom). I also have found a good fit in the hospitality industry in Wichita, which allows me to interact with and serve a wide variety of interesting and creative people. I have especially enjoyed my time at Espresso To Go Go, Birney’s Snack Shop, and Lava and Tonic. I’ve also worked with start-up restaurants such as Little Lion Ice Cream and Piatto in their earliest days.

These roles have allowed me to start and grow my own business. I create bright and fun murals in Wichita’s public spaces and have received commissions for art in a growing number of businesses in the city. I developed my own line of apparel and ephemera and will work with commissions of almost any size, no matter how big or small. I also assist with workshops, art demonstrations and other learning activities.

I have also become an influencer in popular culture in Wichita, endorsing the Tallgrass Film Festival, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and other endeavors such as a runner work for The Orpheum and Intrust Bank arena.

My background in these areas makes me ever more committed to investing in Wichita. I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most talented and brave entrepreneurs and hope I can be a mentor to others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have been practicing for this question my whole life! First things first we start with a delicious coffee drink from Espresso To Go Go, this place gives me life (order a Velvet Thunder and be sure to thank me for the recommendation), next up head over to Leslies Coffee Co for an avocado toast, then slip into Spektrum Music to rifle through the records (I have dibs on Radiohead’s, Hail to the Thief Album, if you find it), then we’re going to head into Bungaloo 26 to buy a College Hill sented candle! For Lunch I’m sending you to First Mile Kitchen then head over to Grow Giesen Plant Shop, after that get an afternoon drink at Central Standard Brewery. Pop over to Revolustia to check out my shop and all of the other retail spaces in this area across the street is the brand new Pee+Sweets Bakery and Not Dead Yet Vintage, woo hoo! For dinner go to The Belmont or Georges French Bistro or get stuff from Viola’s Pantry if you wanna cook a beautiful Italian dinner in your fancy Airbnb. Check out The Workroom for all of the local art and Wichita swag, Vortex Souvenir is an awesome gift shop as well as Lucinda’s (you can find my art there as well), you gotta finish the night with a bang by hitting up my favorite bars like Lucky’s and Lava and Tonic. Next day start out with a pain au chocolate croissant and a rosemary and rose latte from Reverie Roasters, Clifton Square has lots of shops food options, Clifton Collective and Dempsy Burger Co. and cheesey garlic bread from Ziggy’s Pizza. While you’re having lunch research the live music scene and see what’s happening (Wave, Kirby’s Beer Store, Barleycorn’s, Temple Live). Need more recommendations come ask me in person, I’ll be in my shop ready to help guide your night!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Phew… that saying, “it takes a village” is the most literal statement I can think of to describe my journey to get where I am now. I definitely have a long list but i’ll try to condense it down. Ann and Warren Tandoc from Espresso To Go Go are two of the most encouraging people I have ever known, Maggie Gilmore who has been a wonderful artistic companion and problem solver in my life, Janelle King owner of The Workroom was the first encouraged me to open a storefront and for years and years sold my art on consignment as well as hosted the artisan markets that gave me my first opportunities to sell my art, Micheal Ramsey is my mentor and landlord who has encouraged and helped me take the big risks and taught me not to wait until i’m ready but rather to just jump in with both feet and figure the what-ifs out later, Shenneah Webb who is my bestie and has helped me every step of the way, whether it was picking up material in her truck or helping me finish a mural in time, i’d be dead without her help. I absolutely have to give Heather Giesen a mega shout out! She’s the owner of Grow Giesen Plant Shop located in Downtown Wichita, she and I formed a wonderful partnership on the tail end of 2020. She gave me the opportunity to run a petite shop inside of her business with the exchange of me helping her run her plant shop, i’m grateful for all that I learned from her. Lastly I would like to shout out my collectors and followers, without the support of the community and art buyers i’d wouldn’t be living my dream life of being a full-time artist and business owner.

Website: theloudcicada

Instagram: @theloudcicada @delilahreed

Facebook: Delilah Reed and The Loud Cicada

Image Credits
All Photos by Allie Burns Photography