The Best Complaint is to Make Something
Art is man's challenge to time, his rebuke to chaos; the protest will survive neither the triumph of fire, nor the finality of ice — but it is better than the silence of consent.
- Dr. Idel Dreimer
Whatever your politics, the present feels like a time of both destruction and creation. It feels like a time to make a stand - to actively participate in creating a world that we want to live in, a world where all people can thrive. To take ownership of ourselves and our businesses and our process. Something in Elysian Fields post of the James Murphy quote “The best way to complain is to make something” just rings true, especially right now.
We’re always inspired by what people make. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been so inspired by how the artists, designers, and makers that we work with and that we admire have spun overwhelm and fear into ideas, beautiful things, and action. Most importantly, each of these makers have called us away from division and into love. Their actions have been beautifully generative.
Here are just a few of the ways they’re doing it.
Native Bear, a stationery and gift line, lent their creative hand to Signs of Solidarity, a public art protest in opposition of divisiveness in Atlanta, Georgia.
Welcome feels the warmest in your native language. Scout & Whistle have created neighborhood signs to affirm and include, and they’re giving almost half of the proceeds to Portland’s Immigrant & Refugee community.
Bringing opportunity and ethics into every piece of their beautiful products, Sweetgum Textiles, based in New England, partners with regional women to sew their linens, donates 1% of all of their profits to For the Planet, and they only use natural fibers and water-based dyes.
Love binds us: This is the message of this newly released card by Pen+Pillar. 100% of the proceeds from the card go towards the Preemptive Love Coalition, an organization that offers support to refugees in Syria and Iraq.
SugarSky sews encouragement and empowerment into every headband they make. Skyler partners with US women to sew the headbands, and her new collection of patterns featuring the natural parks are subtle but powerful advocacy for the great outdoors.
A few more: Beetle Ink Co. is donating 20% of their February art sales to the ACLU. Milk Handmade and Argaman & Defiance are teaming up to donate up to $750 for the International Rescue Committee. Lisa Congdon is standing up for her right to state her opinions, as well as share her art, publicly.
How are you creating a world we want to live in?
We invite you to share your #makercomplaint online and tag Wholesale In a Box. Selfishly, we could use a little more inspiration these days.