We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Hanst and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jonathan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to have a space where local creatives could do whatever it is they love to do. I am lucky enough to have my own studio to inhabit every day and I thought it would be cool to build something for other like-minded artists and makers.
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.
I have been a creative person my whole life. The most traditional phase of my career was in radio where I was the Creative Services director for a few stations over a 12 year period. The transition to doing voiceover full time happened gradually during that stretch, then I began to create my own visual art in 2014 and found it a wonderful escape and exploration.
Kaleidoscope, the nonprofit I run, was born out of the joy I experience making art. I want anyone who desires to have more creativity in their life to have a place to do it. So often, the activities we love are pushed off over and over to a distant “someday.” I believe one of the silver linings of the pandemic is that many people realized they shouldn’t postpone joy. Life is short and unpredictable.
The journey from idea to completion of Kaleidoscope was definitely challenging. I’m not sure I would have taken it on if I knew how stressful it was going to be. But I believed in it every step of the way and had key people in my life continue to support me and cheer me on.
I want people to know that Kaleidoscope’s mission is to bring more love, light, creativity and connection to the world. If people resonate with that idea, I want them to come participate in what we’re doing! The world always could use more joy, art, collaboration and community.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Lafayette in particular has a lot of cool stuff going on. I love all the public art we have, so I’d take someone for a nice walk around town and show them all the sculptures we have scattered around. We also have this loose federation of local artists and homeowners who paint murals on the garages and outbuildings on their property. It’s called “Alley Art Amazin'” … and it really typifies the kind of grass roots, bohemian community that we are. Our city has definitely embraced that, on a government and funding level, which is fantastic, but the spirit feels like it’s always been here.
Other spots to check: Tilt Pinball and Little Horse Vintage in Louisville. Brian Bradley’s antique and framing shop on Baseline. The Coal Creek trail is great to wander, as is Waneka Lake Park. Longmont has a real gem with McIntosh Lake: great place to paddleboard or kayak! And of course, if you want to get out of the Boulder Bubble a bit: Red Rocks and Meow Wolf are must sees, IMO.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There has been so much support I’ve gotten in this journey. I never could have built Kaleidoscope on my own. A big SHOUTOUT goes to Brigid Keating and the City of Lafayette who supported the idea in a significant way financially. I also have a lot of gratitude for people who believed in this dream as ‘early adopters’ and contributed money before there was anything tangible.
Website: www.kscope.studio
Instagram: @kscope.studio
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYW8vWh_rA88qFZLxjl16tA
Other: You can check out my art at HiFiJones.com. My gallery is on the front of the property where Kaleidoscope is.
Image Credits
Front Range Media