I grew up exploring the forests, lakes and prairies of my native Wisconsin, then I set out for adventures in fashion, drawing and writing in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan, and Seattle, Washington. I now reside back in the Midwest and spend my time looking for and writing about the multicultural connections between art and life.
I've always felt that my life's calling is to simply explore creativity and curiosity. I'm proud to say that I'm living this as a writer, journalist, researcher and collector.
When I was a child I wanted to be a cartoonist, an archaeologist and a red gummy bear... and now I'm kind of a combination of all three!
+Education and Interests+
I'm a humanist by training, but the threads that run through my educational and professional experiences are visual art, fashion, cultural anthropology and East Asia. I have a BA from a liberal arts institution in Asian Studies and Japanese language, but I studied almost exclusively East Asian art history and writing in my undergraduate studies. I experienced contemporary Japanese art in Tokyo for my year abroad. I'm interested in a wide variety of issues surrounding contemporary culture, popular media, visual art and artists and multiculturalism. I'm also quite passionate about buying and producing clothing consciously and creating an open discussion around the environmental and human costs of fast fashion.
+Professional Experiences+
I have a varied background in marketing, publicity, and sales. After graduating, I taught English in Fukuoka, Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, and after I returned to the US I worked in several globally-focused boutiques (and one well-known women's clothing & homegoods chain) as a salesperson and assistant buyer. I also have written for and edited Japan-focused publications. Most recently, I was a book publicist and marketing consultant representing several independent publishers from around the world, and made the decision to depart the book publishing world to pursue my interest in arts writing and representing visual artists and their works. For more details or to see a rundown of my resume, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.
+Misc.+
Why Japan?
It's complicated to explain why I connected (and still connect) so well with Japan. I've thought a lot about this over the years, and I think that the credit goes to my wonderful middle school art teacher, who had piles and piles of Chinese and Japanese magazines and newspapers in the classroom and encouraged me to explore more about different languages and writing systems through art. I also came of age during the late 1990s/early 2000s (when Japanese popular culture was coming to North America in a new wave through comics, television, and fashion). Needless to say, the combination of encouraging mentors and timed globalization had quite an impact on my life.
Why do you care so much about buying "sustainable" clothing?
I think that "sustainable" or "green" are now tricky, loaded terms to use thanks to marketing saturation, so I prefer to use the term "conscious" when I talk about consuming clothing. I care deeply about fashion, and I enjoy the playfulness and innovation of trends, but I have serious concerns regarding the speed, quality, environmental impact, and human rights implications that the majority of clothing producers and fashion designers perpetuate. Whenever possible, I buy directly from independent designers and craftspeople, buy secondhand, and heavily research fashion retailers, producers and dealers for more details regarding their practices. I see this as an ethical choice and a small way to help shift the cycle of waste that marks clothing production, and I find that being "conscious" in my consumer choices (for clothing and other items) is far more rewardable and, in the long run, affordable than chasing cheap items.
What kind of cat is Pie?
Pie is a Cornish Rex, a breed relatively new to the cat world that is marked by a (harmless) genetic mutation that makes their fur short and wavy, like 1920s pin curls. Many people say that Cornish Rexes are very social cats-- they love to hang out by your side, wait for you to come home and even play "fetch." You can learn more about them here! Pie has her name because she's really, really sweet, and because I think that with her white markings on her face, it looks like someone hit her in the face with a cream pie!
Disclosure:: all photographs and images that appear here are by Jessica Sattell, unless otherwise noted. If any images that appear here are improperly credited, please let me know and I am happy to correct. If your work appears here and you would like it removed, contact me and I will take it down immediately.
