Lee K

ARTIST.DEV was a concept I had been toying with for some time — inspired, no doubt in part, by attending NAMM year after year and witnessing first-hand how good it felt to meet, speak with, and simply be shoulder to shoulder with people working in the same space as you.

It's really easy to become siloed — especially with something that can be a solitary pursuit by nature (artistry, of any flavor). This is also an industry that can sometimes feel like it holds a sense of cliquiness and competition, emphasizing any separation that may already be lingering.

The idea of bringing the San Diego music community together in some way to network, talk about current projects, and maybe even walk away having learned something new or simply feeling inspired felt like a great way to bridge some of these gaps.

Once the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel began to appear at the end of 2021, it felt more appropriate than ever to take the step forward and bring ARTIST.DEV from mere idea to reality. After hitting plenty of dead ends trying to find a location to hold it, I stumbled upon what Gallery 130 was rolling out for the local music community — something completely in alignment with the ethos of what I hoped AD to be. They've been amazing partners since.

Having peers & friends who are willing to come into the space for an afternoon and share their knowledge, insights, & expertise is also what makes this possible: so my gratitude to Nik Cherwink, Hisham Dahud, and Mike Warner for doing just that.

Most of all, I'm grateful to each and every Artist who has come out, introduced themselves, asked questions, and had pen at the ready — open to learning and being a part of this community if for no other reason than to be able to look around the room and see a bit of themselves mirrored back.

This Saturday we'll hold our fourth edition with Amanda Malcolm-Brown, diving into a space that's often overlooked but no less vital to the strength — and certainly longevity — of the life of an Artist: Finding Balance & Mastering Habits.

RSVP can be made here: https://tinyurl.com/4atd9swu
Hope to see all you Artists there.