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

Hi Genna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had been exploring my various interests of film photography, fused glass jewelry making, upcycled art and design, and hoping to turn them into a more realized practice for a few years. On my birthday in 2021 I decided to launch Clumsy World as a gift to myself. My intention was for Clumsy World to be a space in which my creativity could thrive, while connecting with others who appreciate the healing benefits of color, texture, statement-making and a sense of play in adorning their bodies and homes. It has been so beautiful to witness the growth of my art practice, confidence, and ability to navigate challenges as I tend to the amazing little community that is Clumsy World.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a multidisciplinary artist, I thrive in the in-betweens, the overlapping connections that come from collaboration and experimentation. I am deeply inspired by color, movement, collective care and regenerative perspectives. I have twenty years of formal dance training, eight years of film photography experience and an ever-growing list of things I want to learn. I am on the path to operating an intuitive art practice by listening in to my body first and moving from a place of authenticity. I am very proud of Clumsy World, my fused glass accessories brand, as well as the Intuitive Movement Podcast, a collaborative project I started in 2020 with my childhood friend Tammi. We are creating a space and community around the experiences we share of growing up in a dance studio, being high achievers with big expectations of ourselves from a young age. We are planning our next season now and I am so excited to see the continued growth of the project and community. I’ve learned along this journey that my intuition will not fail me, and the validity of my work doesn’t rest on anyone else’s opinions of it. I hope that my work leaves people with a sense of joy and lightness, as well as the feeling of being part of a community. Clumsy World is an ephemeral space that welcomes and encourages the quirky and beautiful uniqueness of each individual on this planet. Clumsy World is for everyone 🙂

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.
There are so many amazing offerings all around me! If I were planning an itinerary for my bestie, top of the list would definitely be the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, followed by Salvation Mountain and Joshua Tree if she’s up for a little drive. I would take her to all my favorite food spots ~ Just What I Kneaded vegan bakery in Frogtown, Magpies Softserve on York (also with lots of vegan + gf options), Folliero’s Pizzeria on Figueroa, Pho Bahn Mi Che Cali in Pasadena, and Sunright Tea Studio in Little Tokyo. We’d go thrifting at Saver’s in Arcadia, the Goodwill on Colorado and ReDress in Atwater Village. I would include a day downtown, some time in an art museum, and lots of time roaming around different parks and hikes. And of course, I’d have to bring her to my day job, Crush and Touch in Highland Park. Not only do I work there but I am always so excited to see all of the beautiful and unique things that pop up in the shop every week. You can even find some clumsy pieces there 😉

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely have to shoutout my family, which is comprised of artists and deep thinkers who have always supported me in pursuing my dreams. In particular, my aunt, Rhoda Bloom-Erath, has made a tremendous impact on my art practice and current trajectory. Rhoda is an incredible multidisciplinary artist, trained in painting and printmaking with decades of teaching experience. Throughout my life I got to see the art that she created displayed in my home and others, and I had the immense privilege of learning about so many art forms from her. One of these was fused glass, a pretty niche art form that lit up my creativity with the plethora of options available throughout the process. For the first many years, I only made fused glass when I visited my aunt’s house. I would play around with her glass scraps, making unique pieces of art that wowed me every time. Eventually, I realized I wanted to dive into the world of glass myself. I found a mini kiln that cooks in 10-15 minutes rather than the multiple hours that are customary of fused glass kilns. Clumsy World was soon born, and I continue to be inspired and enthralled by the art form that is fused glass. My aunt is still actively making glass and it is the biggest joy to be able to collaborate with her. I will always be so grateful for the impact that she has had on my life.

Website: clumsyworld.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clumsy.world/ ; https://www.instagram.com/genna.bb/ ; https://www.instagram.com/intuitivemovementpodcast/ ; https://www.instagram.com/photo.gennaration/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clumsyworld.shop

Other: www.tiktok.com/@clumsy.world email: helloclumsyworld@gmail.com

Image Credits
Levi Meir Clancy Alissa Wyle/Holy Smoke Photography Genna BloomBecker Zander Fieschko

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.