We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Cohn and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Julie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m Julie Cohn, founder of Sustaining Arts. These two words, Sustaining and Arts, embody my philosophy toward life and my passion for art. For many years, I have embraced painting, and drawing as a vehicle for elevating and sustaining my spiritual awareness. During the beginning stages of the Covid pandemic I was feeling isolated, just like many of us. I spent time with only very few close family members and created a lot in my studio. Painting sustained me during those difficult times. I decided to start Sustaining Arts because I wanted to extend my awareness of the beauty of art to others and share resources with those who need assistance to make their lives more sustainable.
I view my company and aspirations as a wheel that unites and sustains us. I find peace and fulfillment at the hub of the wheel where I nourish myself as a creative person. The spokes represent my role as a gallerist, inviting three artists to exhibit with me in person and to present their art online at www.SustainingArts.com. We all feel a part of this large wheel that travels far and wide to help people bring depth and beauty to their sacred spaces. Keeping our pricing moderate for the quality of our art, we also give 30% of our earnings to Habitat for Humanity, East Bay/Silicon Valley, Inc. They, in turn, help those who want to live a better life and feel secure and at peace in their homes.
With the effects of climate change and a fast paced society that gives less and less room for relaxation and reflection, I wanted to educate myself and others about how to keep ourselves healthy on a green planet and happy with beauty around us for many generations to come. Sustainability and Art have much in common. We can sustain ourselves by using and enjoying the creativity of others in many ways. In the About section of www.SustainingArts.com I have collected articles about all types of sustainable practices, and I welcome you to submit a story about sustainability.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Even though I may not have been aware of it at the age of 10 when I started painting, art has always been a spiritual pursuit for me. I tried all kinds of mediums, and then, at 24, while attending College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California, I found it. I found the medium that I would choose to explore to its greatest depths beyond what most have done. As I started to really understand the versatility of Watercolor, I was in awe. I knew I needed to develop a relationship with the spirit of this fluid medium. We took to each other like a skipping rock, bouncing on the water, reverberating rings of delight.
Watercolor painting is a constant challenge, a real conversation that encourages and fosters full body awareness, visual patience, and deep exploration. Because I have taught watercolor painting for over 35 years at the college level, I can teach anything under the sun about this medium, and every technique can apply to realism as much as it can apply to abstraction. Using the skills that I have learned as a teacher and solo artist, I have shifted the typical course for Watercolor to one that is contemporary and off the beaten track. I use all kinds of tools in addition to brushes, such as scraping cards, brooms, sponges, and paper towels, yet I stick to this one medium, exploring its opaque and transparent consistencies. I work from a small to a very large scale, wrapping wet, high-quality paper around a pre stretched canvas. When it dries, it’s as tight as a drum. I paint directly as though I am painting on a canvas.
I infuse representation into abstraction, showing my reverence for the earth and the positive qualities in all beings. What I love about this medium is the fact that I can’t always control every aspect of it. It helps me to go “with the flow.” There such a thing as having some control in life, and this is important. However, along with teaching me flexibility, Watercolor has also kept me invigorated, as it is always moving, and I keep mentally, emotionally and physically fit try to keep up with it.
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.
The San Francisco Bay area is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to! And I have traveled a lot. Even though I actually live here, this area is chock-full of amazing venues and nature experiences that I haven’t even explored yet. I do have some ideas at the top of my list for anybody visiting.
I would start the day with a beautiful walk In the Marin headlands, on Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, and in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. If you love kayaking, Seatrek.com in Sausalito rents kayaks for a beautiful voyage on the Bay. Fort Mason in San Francisco is a great spot for lunch and frisbee or kite flying on the grass by the Bay and offers a host of galleries and restaurants within easy reach.
For arts, culture and science, San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland have much to offer. Check out all the major museums in San Francisco: the De Young Museum and nearby California Academy of Sciences and Japanese Tea Garden; the Legion of Honor; the San Francisco MOMA; and MOAD, Museum of the African Diaspora. Enjoy great performances at the Orpheum Theatre and the San Francisco Opera House. Walk through an elaborate gated entrance to see San Francisco China Town. Find enthralling art at the Oakland Museum. In Berkeley, check out the Jazz School, Freight & Salvage, Greek Theatre and Yoshi’s for fabulous music.
I recommend that you visit a few of my favorite restaurants in Berkeley, not far from my studio/gallery. Here is a list of healthy eateries with great atmospheres, from very casual to expensive: Café Leila and Sam’s Log Cabin for breakfast and lunch; Picante for Mexican fare; Anchalee Thai Cuisine; and Chez Pannise for organic gourmet food. And last, but certainly not least, please do visit my studio/gallery to digest food for your soul. I look forward to hearing about your treks in the neighborhood and sharing with you the art from Sustaining 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?
The most important aspect about growing up and becoming the person I am now is knowing who to turn to for love, support and advice. My parents, Harry and Barbara Cohn, taught me by example how to be the best one can be and how to give back even after much has been taken away.
My father fled from Germany during the German holocaust, first to an orphanage in Belgium, and eventually to reunite with his family, withstanding a long and dangerous journey to America. My mom‘s father left her when she was three, so she was a foster child for many years until she returned to her mom. No matter the kind of trials they faced, both showed me that they could develop on their chosen path as they learned, persevered and took advantage of their innate gifts. One can have a natural talent, but that talent is only 3% of what it really takes to become truly skilled in any art form. Learning how to share it with the world is an entirely different set of skills. My Dad, a great businessman at Levi Strauss & Co. and my mom, an accomplished painter and lover of philosophy, both paved the way for me to thrive in art and business. You see, not only did they use their creative abilities in the plastic and fashion arts, they also wanted to give back to the world, offering their services and donations to large art institutions and a variety of charities to make the world a better place. After my mom passed away, my step mom, Judy, stepped into her place as a very generous philanthropist and champion of sustainability practices.
After many years of developing my skills as an artist, I was inspired by my parents’ generosity to develop Sustaining Arts, an online and by-appointment brick and mortar gallery. The 30% given to Habitat for Humanity, East Bay / Silicon Valley, Inc. gives new home buyers an opportunity to help build their own homes and to pay affordable mortgages. Home is an especially important place for my family, because my parents were forced to leave theirs. Now I am giving back, providing more opportunity to those less fortunate than myself to have a sacred place to call their own.
There have been so many others along the way who have supported my journey, including my husband, Michael Chadwick, who is so wise I can hardly even imagine being where I am without his support. Thank you all!
Website: www.SustainingArts.com www.JulieCohnFineArt.com
Instagram: @sustainingarts @juliecohnwatercolors
Linkedin: SustainingArts
Facebook: Sustaining Arts Julie Cohn
Yelp: Sustaining Arts Julie Cohn
Image Credits
Jonathan Taylor