Rising Stars: Meet Justin Klocke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Klocke.

Hi Justin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Nishnabotna started from a desire to make high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry available to people at a reasonable price. In 2016 I was teaching jewelry classes in California, and the importance of craft and craftspersonship was the core of my curriculum. It had become clear to me that well-crafted, handmade objects had become less existent in our day-to-day experience. They had also become harder to obtain – something more of a luxury item for special occasions only. I created Nishnabotna to wedge my products between art galleries and their high mark-ups and platforms like Etsy where anything can be sold regardless of quality.

I felt that great design was the key to making this happen. Most Nishnabotna products are relatively simple which allows me to focus on the quality of the finished product without adding labor costs. I assumed if I could make things efficiently, I could assign a more affordable price to each product and I feel I have!

Efficiency is key to every aspect of Nishnabotna. It plays into how I’ve set up my record keeping, my time management, my material stock, how I store the product that hasn’t sold yet, etc. Each product is handmade, which requires notes on how to make it, what materials to use, where to get the materials and order of operations. Every repeated design has a set of notes that indicate the standards of construction which help me build each piece in an efficient, affordable manner.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never been smooth, but more of a roller coaster. There are lots of ups and downs. Some months feel like a brand new, smooth roller coaster, and some months feel like a rickety old wooden coaster where the wheels could explode at any second. The good news is, as I go along, running a business feels more like a smooth roller coaster more often than not. It’s not as bumpy and a lot more fun.

The biggest struggle, for me, has always been getting my brand out in front of people. I’m pretty introverted in a crowd and am constantly behind the curve when it comes to social media, although I try.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m constantly trying to simplify my work. The challenge is pulling off simplicity without being boring. If I’m making a piece of artwork that is conceptually developed it can be quite difficult to be simple and, at the same time, let the work speak for itself. Most of the time it is like swinging at a fastball – there will be lots of strikes, but when you make contact with the bat, you have a good chance at getting a hit…or RBI or home run… you get the point.

I’d say I’m most proud of how I’ve worked my practice into my life and how it has become part of my self-care. I used to work to distract myself from other stresses, anxieties, etc, and at a certain point, everything (making art included) would become overwhelming stress. After grad school, I learned to find more positivity in my work and use it as a form of therapy (along with therapy). Mistakes are no longer ‘end of the world’ situations for me. Errors are opportunities. Now my workbench is a place for growth, not an unhealthy distraction.

Making jewelry, making art, or just working with my hands has become a vocation for me, and not really ‘work’.

Plenty of times it still feels like work, but I enjoy it. I enjoy what I can learn from it, and I am grateful for the opportunity to get to do it. My personal tie to the work has become a place to celebrate craftspersonship, and I think my love for craft and materials is what sets me apart from others.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I grew up on a working farm in Iowa. A lot of my work references the land and labor but in a very subtle way. A person might not ever see the connection.

Working on a farm as a kid helped developed the way I interact with materials and tools. Subsequently, I think that comes through in my designs. When I was a kid I wanted to be a farmer when I grew up. I think being a jeweler worked out well since the practice is better for late nights in the studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nishnabotna.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nishnabotna/