By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
Nate Couser, founder of The Artist Exchange and VashtiBlue Jewelry Studio, honors his heritage and Black history through his art and self-expression. Now, through both his teaching and his business, he is on a mission to ensure that Black art is properly taught, properly represented and gets the recognition that it deserves.
Couser translates his experiences and those of the broader Black community through his jewelry, clothing and art. As a teacher, he integrates lessons on Black art history and the influence of the Black experience on art throughout the years.
Couser’s career as an artist began as a source of creative inspiration and expression.
“In college, I would make my own clothes and jewelry and people wanted to buy it. I realized I couldn’t just keep giving it away. People were willing to buy what I was creating,” said Couser. “Prior to going to college, I went to predominantly White schools and learned mostly White art history. I had to go through a journey of learning more about myself, and that’s when I started calling myself a Black artist.”
Couser majored in urban arts and production at Coppin State University, a historically Black institution in Baltimore. At Coppin, Couser began to make pieces honoring his university and paraphernalia for members of the Black Greek fraternities and sororities. Couser credits his professor Amini J. Courts for connecting him with his history, which he didn’t learn at the predominantly White schools where he studied art.
“There will never be enough art, enough movies, enough books or television shows to cover every single Black story,” said Couser. “People never tell other cultures to stop telling stories about their history. Some people are ashamed of their history and unfortunately I believe that it has contributed to the suppression of our voices. Black art needs to be preserved.”
Couser said that being an artist is synonymous with being an entrepreneur, but he considers his art to be less of a commercialized entity and something that is more “spiritual.”
“Art is life. I do art for mental stimulation and it turned into a business. I create art for myself and it just naturally grew into a business. My biggest struggle is actually that I am not a money driven person,” said Couser. “My focus is always just getting the art out.”
Jaye Nicole, an avid supporter and customer of Couser’s, spoke highly about VashtiBlue.
“If you’re looking for jewelry that speaks before you even say a word, look no further than VashtiBlue Jewelry by Nate Couser. Every piece I’ve received has been nothing short of unique, creative and deeply inspiring. It’s like wearable art that carries a story,” said Nicole. “Nate has a rare talent for capturing individuality in his designs, and every time I wear one of his creations, I stand out without even trying.”
Nicole also complimented Couser’s customer service. She described Couser as very professional, personable and said that he “communicates every step of the way – from custom designs to shipping updates.”
When asked how he sees both his art and business growing in the future, Couser told the AFRO that he is looking forward to doing more collaboration. Meanwhile, loyal customers continue to sing his praises and boost his business.
“If you’re ready to elevate your accessory game and invest in something that feels personal and powerful, I highly recommend VashtiBlue Jewelry,” Nicole added. “Nate Couser is officially my go-to designer for one-of-a-kind pieces. Trust me, you won’t find anything else like it.”
Great Job Mekhi Abbott & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
