Meet Aimee Reese | Artist/Artistic Director

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

Hi Aimee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It wasn’t exactly on purpose- I just started doing these events that gained a lot of success pretty quickly, and it seemed like it was something the community needed!
I’ve also always wanted to be my own boss, and the idea of having my own business has always been compelling, I just didn’t know how to start. When ArtNight presented itself it all just kinda aligned.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well I’m an artist of many mediums but I think the most compelling piece of my artistic “career” is the collective I founded called ArtNight. It began as a small event in a friends back yard, and is now a large-scale production with a YouTube channel as well. After five years I can safely say this venture has provided some of the biggest challenges of my life. From arguing with venue-neighbors, to arguments between artists within the community, to not having NEARLY enough funding, and so much more….i have basically learned a VERY HUMBLING lesson in keeping my cool, amongst other things! I have learned that so many things are out of my control in the position that I’m in and that just remaining calm and staying focused and confident in what it is that I’m doin, truly believing in myself and the brand, can and will solve just about everything.
I guess I would just want folks to know that, like I said, ArtNight has faced SO many challenges, but overall I just want the world to know that we intend to be a community that generates positivity and promotes creative productivity, for the purpose of maintaining wellness for individuals and communities at large. I personally have found the significance of art as a healing practice, and I believe it can be that way for everyone. So despite any drama that can and will arise in a situation like this where multiple opinions can conflict and whatnot, ArtNight remains confidently a place to seek support and comfort, period!

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.
Obviously to an ArtNight!!
Saturday afternoon I’d look out for some pop-up markets, like the uptown market and Centeal Arts Market. We’d head over
Outside of that though…let’s see.
On a Sunday specifically, I would take them to Grand Ave; we’d start out shopping at The Styles shop, Plum, the Magick shop, and Pueblo. Then we’d grab a slice from Snap Back and head to Wayward for some daytime brews!

In a Monday we’d go tubing on the Salt River, then head to Apache Junction to go on the “zipline” and have a hike…and we’d HAVE to stop for $4 crowlers to go from Huss Brewing on the way home! (Very busy day)

Tuesday (why not) I’d take them to SAS fabrics to get some killer deals AND inspiration and have a fun textile-art-day, and later that night we’d go to 6-0-Tuesdays at Bikini!

Wednesday evening we’d go to the Phx Art Museum, since it’s free entry Wednesday evenings, and then head to Meraki Kava Bar for Open Mic.

Thursday we’d get coffee at Jarrod’s (new location) in Mesa, then to night-splash at Sunsplash, and if we’re not too pooped we’d go back to PHX to get down on an open wall at Just Blaze!

And ArtNight on Friday!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d just say I owe it ALL to the folks that have been following along and supporting through the years; from production members to audience hype-men, you know who you are!

Instagram: @artnight_phx

Youtube: ArtNight TV Live