We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bea Solo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bea, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have collected entomological fine art and taxidermy for years now. When I first started, I noticed the community and excitment for each other when someone got a new piece. When I started learning about creating this specialized art myself, I had the overwhelming feeling to share it with everyone. Meeting people every day with the same excitment about nature, knowledge and curiosity is what gives me purpose.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Novis Mortem Collective is a curiosity gallery here in Colorado Springs. We offer entomological fine art like butterflies and insects as well as taxidermy, unique jewelry and local art as well as prints, posters and gifts. I started Novis Mortem online in 2019 after my obsession overran our home with butterflies. In 2020 I decided I wanted a physical location where I can share my love for curiosities. Since then we are commited to art, education and community. We are focusing on female artists in our community as well as female owned and operator small businesses.
We love meeting everyone in our community and those who visit! We love seeing their faces light up and curiosity spark when we tell them fun facts and spark curiosity to learn more.
After taking a little break, we scheduled a full calendar with classes again. We love teaching and we work with a lot of community members to create unique and specilized class schedule.
Like I said community is important, so we are volunteering with Inside Out Youth Services and partnered with them for our classes. On our website is a pay it forward option. Novis Mortem is committed to providing fulfilling creative experiences for LGBTQIA2+ community here in Colorado Springs. By selecting the pay-it-forward option, you can help us provide free art classes to queer young people with Inside Out Youth Services. We are very proud of this program and excited that we are able to be involved.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Well first of it is a continueing journey but I do think my interest in fun facts and random knowledge helps me connect with people which creates a personal connection and we have made a lot of friends that will just come in to say hi. My best advice is, no matter how hard it seems try to keep going. Running a business is always changing and will always be a learning experience, Even with the best business plans you can never forsee changes and outside influences. We all have to go with the flow and still figuring it out.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We loves partnering with people! There is a german saying that my dad always said “knowledge only multiplies when you divide it” it propably doesnt make a ton of sense in english but it was always impactful to me and i think it is the same with success. I think we will get so much further if we just support each other. We are planning to have pop up vendors hopefully starting july again and we are currently looking for more teachers for our classes. If this is something you would be interested in please stop by and see the Collective. We love our space and want to make sure that it fits your vibe.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.novismortemcollective.com
- Instagram: @novismortemcollective
- Facebook: novismortemcollective
