Art and Life at Northwind: Aran Galligan is an anti-capitalist capitalist

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Educator and artist Aran Galligan’s classes include the Crafting a Creative Business: From Passion to Practice course starting Sept. 25 at Northwind Art School in Port Townsend. Photo by Diane Urbani de la Paz  [/caption]

A Northwind Art Column by Diane Urbani de la Paz

Editor’s Note:
This workshop, now named “Your Creative Business: Passion and Practice,” is set for Jan. 13 through Feb. 10. For information about other Northwind Art classes, visit https://northwindart.org

Aran Galligan is a self-described anti-capitalist capitalist. And after living, studying and working all over the country, Galligan is happily settled in Port Townsend, living according to dreams and plans.

The artist and educator, who uses they-them pronouns, is about to teach “Crafting a Creative Business: From Passion to Practice,” a five-week course at Northwind Art School. Thursday evening sessions, Sept. 25 through Oct. 23, will delve into not only business basics, but also how to find your voice and your path.

So, yes, it’s about capitalism, but Galligan believes the 'grow-grow' mentality isn’t for all of us.

“Crafting a Creative Business” is for artists, makers and right-brain thinkers, Galligan notes. The course, which is open to older teens as well as adults, focuses on building a successful business that extends beyond financial gain.

“I’ll be helping people create a road map,” said Galligan: a sketchbook containing journal entries, mind maps, collage, and other makings of a business that aligns with each participant’s creative goals and personal values.

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Aran Galligan’s wearable art is in the Zee Tai collective in downtown Port Townsend. Photos by Diane Urbani de la Paz  [/caption]

More details are found at https://northwindart.org via the Take a Class heading. The only supplies participants need are a blank sketchbook and an example of something they’ve made that could inspire the formation of a business.

Artists, Galligan finds, can get intimidated by accounting and traditional business plans. Galligan, who is dyslexic, has done extensive study of dyslexia as well as art and business management. Many artists have dyslexia, Galligan has learned — which has made them passionate about teaching other makers that they can have businesses where they work intuitively, look at the big picture, and are successful.

“My goal since childhood was to make a living making things,” Galligan said. One of their early businesses was in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where they sold tie-dyed clothing in their middle school parking lot before class.

Galligan went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in craft and materials studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, a fellowship at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina and a Master of Fine Arts in Metal at the State University of New York at New Paltz. They created and operated a fine jewelry business, Aide-Memoire, and an art and craft business, AranMade, that ranges from tie-dyed apparel to enamel jewelry.

After operating their business in Seattle for many years, Galligan decided to move on and look for a place where art is a highly important part of life. They were headed back to Penland to teach in 2024 when Hurricane Helene devastated the surrounding area. Galligan then decided to stay in Port Townsend.

“I love it here,” they said.

They’re now part of the Zee Tai artists collective at 918 Water Street and a vendor at the Port Townsend Farmers Market.

In their Northwind Art School course, Galligan looks forward to discussing the many options for artists and makers. Galleries, markets, fairs, wholesale, online? The course also will go into licenses, permits, taxes and bookkeeping — without overwhelm, Galligan writes.

And the wrap-up exercise: “What does success look like — for you?”

Now there’s a question we can all explore.