Meet Caitlin Mathes

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caitlin Mathes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I think the key, for me, to keeping my creativity alive and flowing has a lot more to do with pitfalls to avoid. I think it is a natural state to be creating, and sharing, and playing. The trick is to keep too much outside influence from telling you that what you make is not good enough, or doesn’t make sense. A favorite idea from Lynda Barry that I hold onto is the idea that every kid can draw a tree… and freely, but at some point someone says- ‘that doesn’t look like a tree,’ and the kid takes that on and decides there is probably only one worthy way of drawing a tree. Once good or bad starts getting assigned to creative endeavors- that is when the inside critics activate, and that will swiftly and mercilessly dim your creativity.
I was also fortunate to study singing with someone who really valued learning through experimentation. A steady idea filtered through a variable will always give you new information. This helps to frame creative endeavors as not good or bad, but useful… in either direction. The things I endeavor to create and build are then an accumulation of tiny moments of play, experimentation, and I am continuously creating a collage of all that knowledge.
I am also happy to play in a niche, to continue to dig and stretch in my discipline or medium (like running my marigold business.) Having parameters allows for inspiration to happen, because I have certain rules that I am trying to follow, and my creative brain scrambles to utilize ‘marigolds as the medium’ for the things I’m trying to bring forward and share, just as an example.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I run a small flower farm, The Marigold Gardens, in the Finger Lakes, which grows only one type of flower, marigolds. I grow around 40 varieties every season, and have been working to share the beauty and sing the praises of this incredible, versatile, and important flower. It is a really unique type of flower business, being so hyper-focused on one flower. I am also a singer, classically trained vocalist, and cabaret performer, and that certainly influences the artistic approach I take to the business. I love working to create an experience for people, especially one that engages them, lights them up in some way, both in my performing, and in the marigold-ery I share. There is something nostalgic, joyous, and engaging to The Marigold Gardens. I am going into my forth official season, and have just launched a MariGuild, for people to join and involve themselves even more in the ‘delight found in all things marigold’.

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?

My three ingredients that I feel have greatly impacted by journey are: engagement, creativity, and an energetic approach to everything.

Marigolds are unique in that they really reflect those specific qualities. When I started my marigold journey, I was surprised and delighted by how many marigold people came out of the woodwork and offered me connection and advice and inspiration.

Trading excitement is extremely rewarding, fueling, and I would recommend that someone at the beginning of their endeavor ensures that they find something that they are thrilled to share, and then mark the positive feedback, putting it in your good feelings bank, building that buoyant community! There are folks, just like you, waiting for what you are making! And then, with a tough hide, recognize that when there is disinterest, or folks don’t ‘get’ your excitement, or the things you offer, that they may be highlighting an area where you can stretch, but also, that they just might not be your audience, or your fuel.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am absolutely looking for collaborators who see this sunny, versatile, robust, and nostalgic flower as an opportunity for the crafts, experiences, or art they create. I feel that I am looking for stylish dirt-manicured types, who have rolled up sleeves and are interested in creating and sharing delight and experience with their friends and patrons. If someone is inspired by the marigolds, and wanted to get in touch with me, they could e-mail [email protected]. If they were curious and looking for their own marigold inspiration, they could follow @themarigoldgardens on Instagram, and ask me all kinds of questions. Marigold is the medium and so much is possible with it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themarigoldgardens.com
• Instagram: @themarigoldgardens

Image Credits

Caitlin Mathes