Meet Emily Cartagine | Artist & Craftsperson

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

Hi Emily, how do you think about risk?

There’s a misconception about what it means to take risks. Taking risks doesn’t always mean choosing the most ambitious option. For me, taking risks has meant taking the road less traveled and making my own way.

Growing up in New York and pursuing a career in theater, I felt like there was a path laid out for me; I could move home after college, commute into NYC, save up until I could afford an apartment in Brooklyn, and continue this career path to work on Broadway shows. This certainly would have been an ambitious path requiring plenty of hard work, but I needed to see what else was out there. So instead I took a job at Arizona Theatre Company and moved to this desert city called Tucson knowing practically nothing about it.

Six months after moving to a strange new place, I found myself in the midst of this pandemic not just losing my job but seeing my entire industry screech to a devastating halt. I could have accepted defeat, moved back to my parents’ house while figuring out next steps, but again I decided to take the risk and stick it out in Tucson and pick up an office job to get by.

Flash forward to 2021 I found myself a little art studio and fed up with my underpaid 9 to 5, I finally quit to pursue art full-time. Only this time I did so without the structure of working for a theater company. Some days it feels like I haven’t got a single clue what I’m doing, and other days I can see that these are promising beginnings for a young artist working for herself. I am constantly proud of the risks I have taken and the personal and professional growth they have pushed me to achieve.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

For as long as I can remember I loved all things hands-on. I always wanted to do arts and crafts and loved participating in theater after school. But this was all fun hobbies and extra-curriculars, it wasn’t until my first mentor told me, “you know, you can make a career out of theater arts,” that I realized that was exactly what I wanted. I spent four years earning my BFA through a rigorous Theatrical Production Arts program and graduated ready to jump into this career that I have been so passionate about.

After college I moved to Tucson for Arizona Theatre Company and started getting acquainted with the art community here. Covid put everything on pause shortly after my move, and even as restrictions eased jobs in my field stayed scarce. I switched my focus to fine art, rented an art studio, and became a member artist with the non-profit Warehouse Arts Management Organization, aka WAMO. Soon after joining the group I was elected to the board, which I currently serve on.

Even though I switched gears, I applied the skills I learned from my work in theatrical props and scenic art to my new endeavors. I started teaching craft workshops at Good Things Tucson and painting classes with Creative Juice Art Bar, taught myself how to make resin crafts, and made a storefront sign for a local business. I’m still figuring out how to run my own business as an artist doing commissioned pieces, selling hand-crafted goods, and making the art I want to make, but I have found courage to take this risk through the supportive community of artists here. Now on any given weekend you can find me organizing art events, selling resin jewelry and crafts at artisan markets, and teaching classes and workshops. I still don’t have all of the answers – in fact I think I have relatively few – but if I can give any advice based on my experience it would be to take the risk, and that you can’t walk someone else’s path, you have to find your own.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course I would recommend seeing one of the incredible shows produced by Arizona Theatre Company! You can catch them in Tucson or in Phoenix. As a maker I have to say that Arizona has some incredible craft markets – I frequently sell at St Philip’s Plaza Market but there are also many great pop-ups throughout the year. If you can’t make the markets there are plenty of great local businesses on Fourth Ave that feature products made by local artisans like Pop-Cycle. And no trip to AZ is complete without a scenic hike – I love the trails at Sabino Canyon.

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?
There are so many people that deserve some credit and recognition. I’d like to shoutout two of my most influential mentors Melinda Bloom and Ruth Barber for believing in me, encouraging me to pursue the artistic endeavors that make me happy, and continuing to provide me with advice and support along the way.

Website: emilycartagine.com

Instagram: emilycartagineart