Inspiring Other Artists
by HOLLY VASIC
It’s summer time and that means outdoor festivals, fairs, and farmers markets; the perfect place for artisans to shine. One such artist is Natalie Allsup-Edwards, who was spotted at events such as South Salt Lake’s Mural Fest in May. Her work included hand-drawn photo booth in which she sketched pictures of people out of a cardboard box that resembles a retro photo machine, “The idea came to me around 2011,” Allsup-Edwards said. “I remembered an episode of the Flintstones where the family had their polaroid taken. But, since it’s the stone age, the photo was taken by a bird in a box who quickly pecked their image into stone.” Allsup-Edward loves this gig and hopes to train more people to use the concept she developed to grow the hand-drawn photo booth business.
Allsup-Edwards also runs the Local Artist Sticker Machine. At about ten locations in Salt Lake City you can find classic 90’s sticker machines. You know, the ones that you put a quarter in and a tie-dye Volkswagen bug car sticker comes out pressed between two white pieces of carboard. But, instead of a mass produced sticker, it’s local art. “I enjoy making opportunities for people to make art of their own,” Allsup-Edwards said. Alhough Allsup-Edwards doesn’t get the opportunity to learn a lot about each artist, she explains that is happy to give each of them a platform. She explained, “It’s intended to promote local artists. I pay the artists royalties for their images and, of course, include some of my own designs from time to time.”
35 years ago, before Allsup-Edwards was born, her parents opened a toy store in Austin, Texas called Terra Toys that they still operate today. The store features hand-made wooden toys designed by the family. “It’s interesting to contemplate how to make art approachable and affordable to anyone,” Allsup-Edwards said. “I think this inclination comes from my parents who are inveterate creative entrepreneurs.”Allsup-Edwards is always looking for innovative ideas to display local art. You can find her most recent showcase at the Impact Hub in Salt Lake City. Of the display, she said, “I built a small display case that doubles as the stand. It has plexi-glass walls with a locking door and lighting.” She hopes to exhibit more dimensional pieces there, opposed to her two-dimensional stickers.