Material is closed

July 1, 2019 | Michael Winters (Owner)

Last winter after we added baby Noah to our family life, I nearly closed Material. I had been happy with the way business was going, but the money still wasn’t great and I was concerned that with extra family responsibility I just wouldn’t have the time. Then, because it’s hard to quit something you’ve built and are proud of, I second-guessed the decision and figured I’d at least give it a few more months to see if I could make it work.

Now, 6 months later, it still seems like the right decision.

What I wrote before—with just a couple revisions—still seems appropriate…

Thankful

I’ve been so glad to print for so many people. I’ve greatly enjoyed helping artists and photographers get their work out into the world.

In many ways, Material was just getting rolling. We had our first profitable year in 2018 and had lined up some exciting exhibits in our space for 2019. Our client list kept growing, including regulars who I’ve really loved working with.

I’m so thankful for all the clients who made Material possible, as well as my parents who helped me get started, plus all the friends who’ve helped me think through how to move forward, most notably Tim Robertson, but also many others. Above all, my wife, Shanaka, has been my biggest supporter, believing in me and letting me go for whatever I think is best.

Though I’ve had a lot of great support from multiple angles, Material has basically been a one-person operation. Offering great customer service as a one-person shop requires constant attention and I’m just not be able to balance that with the rest of life for now.

Simplifying, but still helping artists move their work forward

I’m looking forward to a more simple life with fewer deadlines and less time in front of a computer. I plan to put much of my creative work into family life, but I’ll also be keeping my part-time role with Sojourn Church Midtown as the Director of Sojourn Arts. You can check out that work at the Sojourn Arts website, or on Instagram: @sojournarts. I also hope to get back in the habit of making my own art and showing it when possible.

Some practical notes

• Material will accept orders through the end of June 2019.
• Any unsold retail products will be returned to the artists.
• My new email contact is michaeltimothywinters@gmail.com
• For printing and framing locally, you may want to check out:
  • Deven 7
  • Iris Pro
  • Murphy’s Camera
  • Unique Imaging

Let me know if I can clarify anything for you, or help you make a transition with how you produce your prints.