Meet Dalton Bevill and Dylan McClain | Co-owners Animas Artisans
We had the good fortune of connecting with Dalton Bevill and Dylan McClain and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dylan, Dalton, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We decided to start our own business because it allows us to control what we work on, who we work with, and how much we work. Being in control of all of these makes every day interesting and exciting. We choose projects that we are passionate about which means we go above and beyond in crafting each product. It is also great to be able to collaborate with other individuals who share similar passions, have different perspectives, and are excited to learn/push the limits.
Sustainability is something we want to be a fundamental component of our business. After working for many other businesses where waste is excessive and there is little consideration to the impact of our work, we wanted to change how we ran a business. We want to upcycle as much as possible which also helps us provide high quality products to individuals with lower budgets.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our vision is to combine a wide variety of materials (steel, wood, concrete, resin, plastic, etc.) in collaboration with other people to create art, home finishings, and home accessories that make our everyday lives more enjoyable. We craft each piece to the highest quality no matter the client so that they can be well used and well loved.
Our art sculpture pieces have been the highlight of our journey thus far. The endless potential for creativity keeps us both constantly dreaming of the next sculpture. We hope that more sculptures and art are in our future. Its a gratifying way to contribute to the community and recycle materials.
We are currently 4 months into this adventure. It started out of our garage and now has expanded to three shops including the garage. It has not been easy but we both have done our best to approach it knowing that every day is another day to learn. We strive to learn from our mistakes, from our talent in the community, and from every step we take in crafting another piece. Keeping an open mind has been the big component to our success and will continue to be. We have a lot to learn and in acknowledging that, we are excited at the possibilities to come.
We think its important for the world to know how old “trashy” materials can be brought back to life and made into heirlooms. So many materials have another life in them and with a little creativity and love, we can help make that happen.
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.
The river. The mountains. We suggest getting outside as much as possible. Go camp in the La Platas, hike a mountain, raft the Animas, ride your bike in Horse Gulch, ski at Purgatory, catch a show at Animas City Theater, eat at Zia Taqueria, have a beer at Ska Brewing, soak in the hot springs.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many groups and people who have supported us. This is one reason we decided to live and start a business here. The community of Durango is extremely supportive and passionate. Our partners, Dakota Isaak and Hadley Bevill have been absolutely amazing in loving, supporting, and pushing us to pursue this adventure. We also are thankful for the Durango Farmers Market, The Durango Art Brigade, The Durango Sustainability Guide, Phoenix Recycling, Handcrafted House, Silver Creek Designs, Counter Kulture, and our many friends and family members.
Website: animasartisans.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animas_artisans/?hl=en
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