Meet Lindsey Schulz | Interdisciplinary Artist / Founder of Schulz Collection / Dog Behaviorist

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

Hi Lindsey, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work/Life balance is difficult and usually unrealistic under any circumstance. I’ve chosen a Work/Work/Work/Life balance (if that isn’t a total contradiction). Several years ago that balance was found solely at school. We were either in our studios working, in our studios talking about work, or in our studios hanging out before we got back to work. That structure rewards an imbalanced life. Several yeas later, I am living on a farmland with my fiancé, our dogs, horses, and chickens, running two businesses and a creative career. I am very fortunate that my fiancé is not only supportive of each of my businesses but is also a collaborator and partner. Initially (and really, often times still) it’s difficult to set boundaries for work, learning when to shut down the computer and push tasks to another day. I love working. I love getting lost in my work. But the romanticized workaholic lifestyle isn’t sustainable for prolonged happiness. So instead of getting pulled down a rabbit role, I make (a LOT of) to-do lists! However, the most important behavior I had to adopt was being present and flexible within this structure in order to nurture my relationship and friendships. The work/life balance will always teeter. What really matters is the effort and sincerity in which we do things.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The first of the three businesses is my studio practice as an interdisciplinary artist. My work pulls from land art, minimalism, and methods of presenting data and collections. I am driven by an obsession in materiality, and labor-intensive, repetitious processes which often goes unrecognized in the final works. I have long been fascinated with our sentimental impulse to preserve, and how the methods of preservation themselves often lead to their own destruction. At my core, process and materiality are critical in my approach to every piece, from the way I prepare and manipulate paper to the obsession of collecting and categorizing materials. Tangential to my studio work, my best friend (and Denver-based artist!) Olive Moya and I created a comedic art podcast called Middlebrow in order to talk about artists and their work – but in a casual and approachable manner. Our favorite reviews are the ones in which they say its like listening to your best friends talk about art – with lots of tangents.
This brings me to my next business… After graduating with my MFA from CalArts in 2015 I chose to move away from the usual studio assisting jobs which occupied most of my energy and left me drained for own practice. Instead, for additional income I began a business with dogs.
The business I co-own and operate with my fiancé, Inu Packs, began after I adopted an aggressive puppy and ended up diving into the world of dog behavior. Seven trainers told me to euthanize him, but after six years I found someone (Brandon Fouché) who understood aggression like no one else. I created a pack walking and socialization program based on his methodology where dogs could thrive and owners could be educated. The majority of my dogs have been kicked out of other programs for aggression, but when they’re in an environment where their behavior is understood and their needs are met, that’s when we can create change.
Schulz Collection is my most recent business venture consisting of luxury equestrian bags for tack and equipment. After losing all my riding gear in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, I was looking for protective bags to keep my new items safe but all I could find were bags made with cheap nylon that would deteriorate within months, or constructed with Italian calf skin leather that you wouldn’t actually bring anywhere near the barn. So I set out to create a line of bags that were easy and intuitive to use, durably made with recycled / ethically sourced materials, and could hold their ground against all the luxury brands. After two years of development, we are finally ready to launch our 1912 Collection with our boot bag, helmet bag and groom backpack.

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?
Since we just purchased our property in Sebastopol, CA – I’ll give you all a little itinerary if you’re coming to the area!

Favorite restaurant for Brunch and Dinner – Fern Bar

Favorite bakery – Wildflour in Freestone (and Freestone Artisan Cheese nearby)

Favorite “treat yo’ self” – Osmosis Spa (fermented cedar bath!)

Favorite lunch spot – The Altamont in Occidental

Favorite weekend adventure – Kayaking from Pt. Reyes in Tomales Bay and lunch at Hog Island

Favorite creative spots – ClayFolk Studio and North Bay Letterpress Arts

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?
Too many people! Aside from my parents and fiancé who have supported me endlessly and in all aspect of my life … I would like to give a special shoutout to aggression expert and rehabilitator, Brandon Fouché who changed everything we thought we knew about dogs and gave us a more purposeful life in helping other dogs. He has a dedication to his work that is unlike anyone else I know and is literally saving lives because of it.

Website: www.lindseyaschulz.com / www.inupacks.com / www.schulzcollection.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseyaschulz / https://www.instagram.com/inu.packs / https://www.instagram.com/schulzcollection

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-schulz-4b8556209