How to Build Community Through Exclusive Previews

I collect Relationships.

There is a difference between being a "Collector" and being a "Friend to Artists." A Collector consumes the work. A Friend supports the ecosystem that creates the work.

Recently, my friend, the incredible artist Nate Lewis, was preparing to ship a new body of work to Vielmetter Gallery in Los Angeles for a major exhibit.

I realized that his New York community, the people who love him and root for him, wouldn't all get to see these intricate, sculptural works before they left the city.

So, we decided to intervene & we threw a send-off.

We organized an exclusive preview to give our NY community a moment with the art (and the artist) before the crates were sealed.

This is where the power of the Ecosystem comes in. Because I am vocal about my support for the arts, I’ve connected with brands that share that value. Edmonds Honor Bourbon stepped up immediately. They showed up as a true partner, investing in the culture we were building in that room.

I am not in these spaces just to put things on my wall. I am here to leverage my connections to open doors, create moments, and give artists like Nate Lewis their flowers while they can smell them.