2014-09-03





Kit met Evan La Ruffa of IPaintMyMind and Shared Walls at Blend an event in August and was instantly impressed with Evan’s enthusiasm for the local art scene and his desire to make art accessible to everyone. We talked to Evan about how he turned a blog into a non-profit organization and the mission of SharedWalls.

Tell us about IPaintMyMind. How did it come to be and how did it lead to the Shared Walls™ program?

IPaintMyMind started as a blog in 2009 and grew into a full fledged nonprofit arts organization in 2012. After building a growing community of fans online featuring visual art, music, & film from all over the world, we started hosting local events and developing the ‘real world’ component.

Through our blog, funding art projects, and our arts services & programs, we connect the public with great emerging art. IPMM isn’t just an arts curator, website, gallery, or community organization: we’re all of those things.

We work to provide the virtual and physical spaces that enable public art awareness, education, and patronage. Our curatorial principles are Global Citizenship, Diversity, Surrealism, & The Urban Experience, with a focus on Affordable & Emerging Art.

IPaintMyMind’s mission is to make art accessible to everyone.

After featuring over 500 artists online over the years, we began to amass a pretty sweet collection of art. That gave us the idea to loan this collection out to both private & public spaces, which we call Shared Walls by IPaintMyMind™. In essence, private companies pay us to host curated portions of our art collection, then we use those funds to offer FREE exhibitions to public spaces. It’s a lot fun, puts art where people live & work, and really transforms the offices & buildings that host the art.

My Technori talk about Shared Walls™ from April 2014 is probably the best way to learn more about it.

When did PaintMyMind and Shared Walls come to be, and what techniques have proved to be successful ways of spreading your mission?

We incorporated and became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in February 2012, and Shared Walls™ launched in the Fall of 2013.

Putting mutual benefit at the heart of every process, program, and pitch, has without a doubt been the best way to clue people in to what we’re doing. By showing that we can offer value to private companies, and that their participation helps us offer art to spaces that can’t afford it, couldn’t be more in line with our mission.

What are you looking forward to during the rest of 2014 for IPaintMyMind and Shared Walls? When is your next opening?

We’re really looking forward to announcing a few awesome partnerships with some well-known Chicago companies, as well as reaching out to more companies that understand the value of a vibrant workspace. It’s also been really cool to see how the FREE art exhibitions in schools, libraries, community centers, and parks bring them to life. It’s sooooo needed, and we’re happy to transform these spaces while connecting artists with their communities in a really practical way.

We’ll have openings at IPaintMyMind Gallery @ Green Exchange monthly, and Shared Walls™ exhibitions are also being planned for the rest of the year. Tune in to IPaintMyMind.org for updates!

What advice do you have for people looking to start their own business?

Love what you’re building, create opportunities to learn from mentors, and make sure your business solves a problem, addresses a need, and makes you happy.

Which leaders do you look up to? What is the best business advice you have been given?

A buddy of mine, Jonathan Fields, is definitely someone I look to as a leader, both in business, and in life. He’s just helped me focus on the fact that alignment is necessary. What I mean is, you can’t silo life. Everything interacts with everything, so it’s helpful to try to keep all facets of life in healthy dialogue. Jonathan’s Good Life Project is definitely a community I recommend to anyone who thinks along similar lines.

Being good at business and ignoring the rest life has to offer isn’t my version of success. I guess that would be the best business advice I can give…

How can bloggers get involved with IPaintMyMind and Shared Walls™?

We’re always looking for more arts & music editorial contributors, so anyone interested in writing for us should definitely get in touch. But as far as bloggers, we’d certainly love to bring attention to any of the companies & public spaces that have hosted a Shared Walls™ exhibition, which you can learn more about here.

We’ll also have news about a few Shared Walls™ collaborations in the near future which we’ll announce in our newsletter. Everyone is invited to IPaintMyMind Gallery @ Green Exchange at 2545 W Diversey too!

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