We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenelle Grosser and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenelle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started MakeJoy in 2019 when I was in grad school at Colorado State University. I was getting my masters in Arts Management and Cultural Programming so at the time I was focusing a lot on how the arts can be used to bring communities together. My background was in K-12 art education so my skillset was a good fit for adult community classes. I was inspired by another small business in Colorado Springs called Red Earth Knots which primarily hosts macrame classes around town at breweries and other businesses. The classes were a great success right from the start, it’s just been really fun to be able to provide an opportunity for people to come together, create things, and connect.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I fell in love with ceramics when I was in high school, I had an amazing ceramics teacher named Greg Chapman, he let me have free reign over the studio and allowed my creativity to run wild. I was able to find success in the arts while struggling in many other areas of my life because of some learning disabilities. I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be an art teacher of some kind to provide that same space for others.
I went on to earn my BFA in Ceramics from Illinois State University, My professors Albion Stafford, Tyler Lotz, and Erin Furimsky provided an incredibly rigorous work environment that pushed my ceramic work further than I had ever imagined. I was amazed to learn how complex the ceramic process is and the endless possibilities clay offers for artists. At the same time, I was also studying for my BS in K-12 art Education. My classmates and I dreamed of one day starting an artist residency program together, with me as the education coordinator. During my student teaching, I was lucky enough to be placed with my high school teacher again, Greg Chapman as well as Joyce Simkus. They opened my eyes to how amazing being an art teacher can be and how to navigate the incredibly important role an art teacher plays in so many students’ lives.
After I graduated I ended up teaching in the K-12 setting at all different grade levels. I loved teaching choice-based art and basing my teaching practice around Teaching for Artistic Behavior. This teaching philosophy empowers students to explore their creativity and discover their creative voice. I discovered the magic that teaching and art-making can provide, I love seeing that spark in my student’s eyes when they come up with a new idea or witnessing how proud my students are when they solve a problem they are facing. I love being these students’ favorite teacher or just providing a space where they feel safe and free to be themselves, a space where they can look forward to coming every day.
When I first moved to Colorado my friend, mentor, and colleague Nancy Roach immediately scooped me up under her wing. She taught me everything she knew about jewelry making and metalwork. She was also a huge inspiration for my studio practice and for continuing my artmaking through my teaching career. I would visit her classroom and she was always creating. We would go to gallery shows around town and take our students on field trips to the Denver Art Museum together.
Now that I look back on my journey through art-making and teaching over the past 18 years I can see how important my teachers and mentors were to me. There have been setbacks along the way but through it all, it’s been the arts and the people who teach it that have helped me find the joy in this life. That’s what MakeJoy Creative is all about, providing a space for people to create things, connect, and find their joy through making.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Growing up in Illinois there wasn’t a whole lot to do. That’s why I love living in Colorado so much, I honestly feel like I’m on vacation every day here. When my friends and family come to visit there is no shortage of things to do and places to see. We love to bring people to FH Beerworks on our way home from the airport, they always have the best food and drinks and the vibes are always good there. In the morning Wayfinder Cafe is a must, we love their tasty expresso and divine baked goods! I love taking people to downtown Colorado Springs because there are seemingly endless shops, bars, and restaurants to go to. Eclectic CO. is such a fantastic place to visit when you need to get a special gift for someone. Their selection of handmade goods and unique, lovingly created items is unmatched. Ladyfingers Letterpress is my go-to for handmade cards for every occasion and is such a hub for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our go-to date night dinner or lunch is Suggas, they have the most delicious cocktails and food I’ve ever tasted. My last stop downtown is always ICONS, they are the best place to catch a drag performance in town! Of course, a trip to the Springs wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Goat Patch Brewing and Red Leg Brewing for a beer and a make-and-take class! Both breweries host many events, makers’ markets, creative workshops, and offer so many opportunities for friends to gather, that I always enjoy myself.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was inspired to start teaching creative classes by Janel Rogers who owns Red Earth Knots. I found her on Instagram and saw pictures of people creating things together and enjoying themselves, I just thought it was the coolest thing. I thought to myself, I want to provide that space for people to get creative and connect through making too. Her business is inspiring and it’s cool to see how much she has grown it over the years. We’ve corresponded a few times and her advice has been so helpful to growing my own business. I can’t wait to take one of her macrame workshops for myself someday soon!
I also want to shout out Goat Patch Brewing Co. and Red Leg Brewing Co. They have provided the space for me to host many of my workshops. My attendees love their space, they have great craft beer and people enjoy the workshops more because of where they take place. Both breweries have been so helpful and supportive in advertising and getting the word out about the workshops, they are great places for our communities to gather and thrive together.
I think it’s important for small businesses to work together in their community. We can find more success together than on our own, especially when we are just starting. I also think great things happen when women support one another!
Website: Jenellegrosser.com
Instagram: @makejoy.creative
Facebook: MakeJoy Creative Classes
Other: My Etsy Shop to Register for Workshops and buy my artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MakeJoyCreative?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1563723865&from_page=listing