New artists come and go in the art world, but those who fuel their passions by doing what they can to help their art thrive, like T-Mike McCloud, will be around for years to come.
In Norman, Oklahoma, there is a shop that relies on these artists so it can thrive. The shop name is Flamewerkz 33, or McCloud’z Pipes, depending on how long you’ve been a fan. Shop owner T-Mike McCloud has been owner and operator of this store for two years now, originating in the Midwest City/Del City area and moving to Norman just a year ago. T-Mike is a new breed of artist in that he isn’t starving, but rather, is succeeding in funding his art and shop.
T-Mike owns not only his art studio, but also a property preservation company and a lawn mowing company. With his preservation company, T-Mike goes into homes that need work on them in order to be sold and he and his workers turn them around, making them pieces of art as well. He takes the money he earns from both companies, as well as the revenue from selling art pieces, and uses it to support his family, his shop, his other two companies, and his art. He knows how to truly stretch a dollar to make a living.
“He’s had to invest his time, money, and pretty much his soul into trying to create a shop where there’s artists available to buy from, where other shops essentially only carry production pieces,” said one of T-Mike’s shopkeepers, Elissa Newmeyer, who goes by her artist name, Elnew. “He’s everything to this company. He is the company.”
Elnew and T-Mike have learned glass working together and have worked together over the span of the last two years. They compliment each other in their vision for the studio and their passion for their own art as well as artists around the nation.
“We want to show the fact that there’s an artist side to smoke shops. And we don’t really even want to be known as a smoke shop, we want to be known more as an artist gallery.”
To create and maintain an art gallery and be an art dealer, it takes more than monetary gain, according to the website Art Business. It says the owner has to have a vision, and everything in the gallery must reflect that vision. The owner must create an identity and stick with it. To do this, the shop has to be specialized. To be specialized, the shop workers must be knowledgable about the work they showcase so the consumers can get a better feel for what it is they are really buying.
For an art gallery to really thrive, it takes time. Years, in fact. The owner must build a reputation in the community and show them what their gallery is and that they are providing the best art possible and consistently do so. It has to be made known to the public that there is actually something worth while inside the gallery, and it should be noticed and appreciated for years to come.
T-Mike has been glass working for almost three years, originating in marble work. It wasn’t until he went to a blown glass trade show that he really got into making other functional pieces like pipes. He still mainly focuses on marble work, but continues to venture out and try new things every week. Soon, T-Mike and Elnew plan to host glass working workshops where the public can come and learn a new craft while enjoying the art around them.
I talked to T-Mike and got his take on his store and where he hopes to go from here. He allowed me to video him working on a piece to see his artistic side.
VIDEO: Tyler Jones, runtime 1:02
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