Influencing with Purpose: Art Tooth

In 2019, we started a new feature called “Influencing with Purpose” to shine a spotlight on local social media influencers who use their platforms for more than just advertising themselves. It’s appropriate, then, that for our arts issue we chose Art Tooth, Fort Worth’s nonprofit dedicated to exhibiting emerging and mid-career artists, while building new relationships between artists and art patrons. We reached out to Art Tooth’s director, Shasta Haubrich.

Art Tooth is a major player in the Fort Worth art scene. When was Art Tooth established, and what need did Art Tooth fill?

Art Tooth was established in 2016. We wanted to create more opportunities for emerging artists in DFW using creative partnerships to get art on walls and in unique places that move beyond typical gallery shows.

Art Tooth friend Tony Green and Executive Director Shasta Haubrich
Photo courtesy of Art Tooth

Can you give us a quick timeline of Art Tooth?

… in the first couple of years we did all kinds of events: education events, parties, the bus, exhibits. We became the first Collective in Residence at Arts Fort Worth in 2018. We started focusing on mainly exhibits… and partnered with Art South to curate the Art Box on South Main in 2019. Thanks to grants from Facebook and NTCF we were able to tread water during 2020 and the height of the pandemic… in that time, we partnered with Hotel Dryce for a grant to give five BIPOC artists funds to create work for the space… we are about to announce our second round of the Artists in Business Grant to give more artists funds to make work. Since we started, we have worked with more than 300 artists and organized more than 100 events.

To paraphrase your website, Art Tooth was established to foster connections between artists, patrons, and collectors. How does Art Tooth nurture these relationships?

Art Tooth creates events that highlight local art and bring people together to support those artists. We specifically try to help artists create or display work that helps broaden their audience or helps them expand [what] they can include on their CV, like solo shows and public installations. For patrons, we help many people begin their art collections by introducing them to emerging artists.

I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA Partnership at Art South Box
Photo courtesy of Art Tooth

Fort Worth has become an incubator for both emerging and established artists. What is it about Fort Worth that is possibly missing in other cities that allowed this to happen?

I think Fort Worth artists are uniquely supportive of each other and noncompetitive.

What are the biggest issues that local artists face?

There is a plethora of issues faced by artists… but I feel like Fort Worth is severely lacking in direct financial support to artists from the city and in affordable studio spaces.

Gallery space in Fort Worth is at a premium. Can you tell us what Art Tooth is doing to help mitigate that?

Art Tooth works to partner with businesses to create unique opportunities for artists at many levels. Current and previous examples include the Art Tooth wall at Tulips, where we show a new artist every month; the Art South Box, where we show installation art every six weeks, including partnerships with local high schools; and partnerships with beloved entities like Bass Hall, Mayfest, and Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

First art exhibit Amuse Bouche
Photo courtesy of Art Tooth

The new space at Tulips – what does residency space mean to the artists, and what kind of programs can we expect out of the workspace/gallery?

So just to clarify, it is just a workspace, not a gallery… In most other cities known for their thriving art scene, residencies and studio spaces help artists have a place to make work and connect with [other artists]. Fort Worth has seen closures of several studio spaces, and with the rising cost of living in Fort Worth, affordable studio spaces and residencies are imperative to keep artists in the city. I think the creatives working in this city are what make it a great place to live, so we need to ensure there is space for them at every level.

Parents everywhere insist that their children get a “realistic degree to have something to fall back on.” For our readers whose children want to become artists, can you offer a bit of reassurance that their child can make a living?

I think a world without art would be a pretty miserable place. Artists create work to express their thoughts, feelings, and compulsions in a way that moves beyond just words. In this way, humans find connections with art that validate their feelings. In a time when life in general can be very isolating, we need those unspoken ties. For that reason, I think any parent should be proud to push their children toward their dreams. I never thought I could make it as a full-time artist. It made me miserable, and I don’t think any parent wants that for their child.

This issue hit the stands just before Fall Gallery Night 2023. Tell me about Art Tooth’s history with Gallery Night and what you did for this installment.

The first bus took off for Spring Gallery Night in 2017. When I first moved to Fort Worth in 2009, I was interested in Gallery Night, but it made me nervous to go to galleries on my own. I thought if we gathered a busload of people to go to the galleries, people might not feel intimidated. This year, we were excited to host two buses. One from noon to three and one from five to nine, which doubled the number of galleries we visited.

The bi-annual Gallery Nights are highlights of the art year in Fort Worth. What other opportunities are there for artists and patrons to connect throughout the year?

ArtsGoggle in Southside is a great one. Wandering Roots Market has events throughout the year and at Trinity Pride. Almost every gallery on Gallery Night is also open throughout the year, so if you find one you like, be sure to follow their social media or sign up for their newsletters… The same goes for any artist you find that you love. We are all hustling year ‘round…

Art South Reunions Show at The Pool
Photo courtesy of Art Tooth

What does the future hold for Art Tooth?

We’re about to open our first studio space. We’re hoping to find a way to create residencies for artists so they can have free studio space. Of course, we will continue to partner with businesses to create opportunities for artists and hope to continue to expand our work throughout the city.

Editor’s Note: This article appeared before the tragic death of Art Tooth’s former executive director Aimee Cardoso and her husband Lucas Cardoso. Like so many in our community, Madeworthy adored Aimee and Lucas, and we mourn their loss.