Local Retailer

The Riversider | April/May 2022

MADE

WORDS: ALEJANDRA GARCIA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

Resting on Magnolia Avenue is MADE, where it’s nestled between the shopping center behind Provident Bank. There’s an abundance of one-ofa-kind items at MADE, where you can find anything from handmade home decor to unique furniture pieces that’ll surely be a highlight in your home. Owners Rheiana and Rico Alderette opened their doors in 2015, and started with seven “makers.” Now, they have over 200 local artisans and makers who create these novel and quirky items for their consignment shop. “I’d say that 95-percent of everything in here is made by a local artist,” said Rico. Most of their local artisans and makers are within a twenty-mile radius, although, the majority of the artisans and makers are from Riverside. “We’ve become the Raincross store,” he continued. Many of the makers like to use the now iconic symbol that’s been an identifier for the city of Riverside since 1907. The origins of MADE started with thoughts and ideas brewing for years before the store materialized. It was truly a family coming together. “Six of those makers were family and friends,” Rico said. It included himself, his in-laws, his wife Rheiana, and a couple of friends. “Every other weekend, I’d go out and find other makers,” he concluded. Now, MADE has grown its number of consigned makers and local artisans. Before MADE opened, his in-laws were in the business of selling handmade home décor, amongst other goods, and they’d travel and take their business to Long Beach and Pasadena. But this wasn’t sustainable in the long run, and that catapulted the push for opening a store in order to create a more practical business venture. With many makers and local artisans, there’s a variety of different handmade products available at MADE. The shop carries anything from skincare products, brewed beverages to eclectic lighting fixtures and home decor. “We’ve got soaps, we have lighting, we have people that paint furniture, and we have people that make furniture!” exclaimed Rico. “We’ve also got people who put tea together, people that make cold-brew coffee, and people who make cool art pieces.” The shop also carries clothing in their extensive inventory. “Some of the clothes we have, we buy from small businesses that make their own prints,” he added. The makers leave their mark with their stories. Rico described a time when an older couple came into his shop, and the wife asked Rico if he’d sell handmade wooden toys. She told him that ever since her husband retired, he’d make these wooden toys and their garage was full of them. This encounter led to this retiree selling his creations, so he could create more since it was a hobby for him. Keeping and nurturing local talent allows opportunities for them to be seen, as well as giving the opportunity for others to shop for unique, oneof-a-kind items that’d otherwise not be accessible at big box retailers that already influence most customers. Shopping from your local small businesses benefits everyone. “When you’re shopping here, you’re supporting local,” said Rico. “We’re local, we live here, we go to school here, and we spend all our money here.” His belief is to keep the money local, while uplifting the community. Another way MADE stays connected with the community is through social media. “Lunch at MADE” is a mini-show that started as a promotional way to stay on the radar, and using a common lunch hour was key. “I was in line trying to get something to eat, and I saw everyone on their phone. Everyone was going through Instagram. If we go live at noon and everyone is at lunch, then maybe people will watch it a little bit.” he said. The idea took off, and now it can be seen through Instagram, and MADE hosts nearly weekly episodes featuring different guests from local business owners to community leaders and Riverside council members. The main focus of Lunch at MADE is to primarily share stories and relate to one another while promoting local businesses, non-profits, community leaders, and people that work for the city of Riverside. “That’s the real intent of it,” Rico said of Lunch at MADE. “And trying to bring a little more of humanity back.”

(L to R): Alexandria Lenox, Rheiana Lenox Alderette, Rico Alderette, and Nova Alderette.

MADE 6520 Magnolia Avenue (951) 342-3044 madeshop.store @made_riverside

Eastside Arthouse Presents:

Mujeres in Art

Two local latina artists creating change and inspiring their community

Words: Alejandra Garcia

Say hello to Rosana Cortez. She is an oil painter focusing on portraiture to add to her extensive layers as an artist, which includes plein-air painting, photography, art documentation, and muralism. Rosana joined Eastside Arthouse when it first launched in September 2021 after landing her Artist-in-Residency with UCR’s Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center. Ever since joining the arthouse, she has explored muralism with the guidance of Juan Navarro, the founder of the art studio, and other members who lend their expertise in handling a spray-paint can. “Muralism is tied in with community work,” said Rosana. “It’s a great way to establish a relationship with the neighborhood.” Rosana and Juan Navarro are currently collaborating with Riverside Art Museum on the Park Avenue Storefront Revitalization Project with a grant from US Bank. Many of the community mural projects have consisted of the participation of local residents and volunteers. The themes that resonate most with Rosana are nature, femininity, emotion, and Chicano culture. The symbolism she uses reflects in the murals she’s created, and show a common cultural heritage with some of the residents in the area, such as the monarch butterflies which signify migration, and those common elements further fortify the sense of community in the Eastside. Rosana is also leading monthly themed figurative model sessions at the Eastside Arthouse. They are monthly themed life drawing/painting workshops that are inspired by her undergraduate studies. “We’ve done five art model sessions and it’s going well,” said Rosana. “Each session we’re collaborating with more local artists, businesses and models.” For Rosana, being a member of Eastside Arthouse has opened many doors. “I’ve grown so much just being at the arthouse,” said Rosana. “ It’s has brought my career to the next level.” She also found the support system that inspires her to continue with her on-going projects. “The best thing is to be around like minded people,” Rosana said. “And being able to share resources and opportunities with others.” There’s still much more to come for Rosana. She has set her intentions on continuing community building through art, having an artist-in-residency at a national park, and her ultimate goal is to one day have a painting in Washington, D.C.’s historic art museum, the National Portrait Gallery.

Clarissa Cervantes is known for being recently elected as a Council Member for Riverside’s Ward 2, and she is also an artist who focuses on muralism, more specifically community muralism. “It’s very shocking to some people, trying to process an artist becoming a Council Member.” said Clarissa. She started as a grassroots activist in her local neighborhoods, and she’s currently representing six communities that make Ward 2. For Clarissa, to be involved in her community while using art as a medium to speak to the local neighborhoods is important. “Art has the ability to heal communities,” she said. Before she started advocating in her community, Clarissa started discovering her skills as an artist when she was a teenager. It wouldn’t be after many years that she took it upon herself to learn how to use a spraypaint can on her own and create graffiti style murals. “There’s power in the messages in graffiti,” said Clarissa. She refers to herself as a community muralist. “A lot of it comes back to culture and storytelling. I love art that serves as activism driving social-political messages and critical movements that reach people.” She actively advocates for local artists, for they deliver much needed messages to the community through public art. Such as with the revitalization projects for Park Avenue, many residents in the neighborhood can identify with its significance and the symbolism of each piece. Moreover, neighborhood residents also volunteer in the murals creation, which makes the experience even more personal. This is one of the many focuses for Clarissa, which is the importance of public art, and how it makes people feel safe and have a sense of belonging in their neighborhood. Clarissa joined the Eastside Arthouse before there was a brick and mortar space for the studio. “I’ve been on

board since before the doors opened,” she said. “Also, I really wanted to support Juan (Navarro).” Being part of a group of artists has brought friendship and a unique sense of support that only artists can give each other. It’s had an influential difference in my life,” she continued. “It brought friends, and people I never realized I needed in my life. It’s become a homebase for coming together and creating. We’re also encouraging each other, which for me is the most powerful “Art has the thing, and I feel healthier to be artistically ability to heal supported in this space.” communities” EASTSIDE ARTHOUSE 4177 Park Avenue eastsidearthouse.studio @eastsidearthouse