An Interview With Annie from Sapphic Market
What exactly is Sapphic Market and how did the idea come about?
Sapphic Market has evolved to become both an online and in person community to appreciate Sapphic art, and create a Sapphic community! For femmes and thems who enjoy the finer things, like slowing down, sunset, enjoying good art, and a tasteful dose of feminine form and intimacy. Think of it as a WLW art lounge space. Each market a local artist and internationally curated artist is highlighted and given a platform to talk about their art.
"Sapphic" originates from the greek poet "Sappho", who wrote about women on the island of lesbos in 600BC. Beyond WLW, it embraces diverse identities- including: lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, trans, masc, and those identifying with womanhood or femininity. The sapphic aesthetic honors the beauty, strength, and resilient love shared among women and non binary individuals.
It's liberating to have both an in person event as well as an online sapphic magazine & store. I'm trying to make the art as widely accessible as possible.
The in person events are SUPER fun- Sapphic group games that get flirty to break the ice and connect in a low pressure way, as well as live music and amazing food and beverage options make this a perfect opportunity to make connections of all kinds. The online space is to highlight artists, sapphic businesses, and give viewers an opportunity to appreciate a diversity of art. If you couldn't make the market, you'll still be able to discover new artists, places, and things to do that align with intentional sapphic space and ideas. If you're an artist, it's a place where you can diversify your portfolio and have an opportunity to be heard.
How has your experience as a queer woman in Denver been? Do you feel Denver is an inclusive city to live in?
Reflecting on my journey as a queer woman in Denver has been a mix of liberating self-acceptance and navigating a city that's evolving in terms of inclusivity. Over the past four years, embracing my queer identity has been incredibly empowering on a personal level. However, the city's inclusivity is a nuanced picture. Having faced direct sexism in a corporate setting where the gender ratio was skewed 1-6, it's evident that Denver needs a radical shift to encourage companies to adopt more inclusive hiring practices. Also, as someone leaning towards a more sober lifestyle, finding queer spaces not centered around alcohol has been a challenge. While the desire for connection remains strong, the ways we gather and build community are evolving.
Denver boasts numerous incredible queer and allied-owned businesses, each contributing to the city's vibrancy, creativity, and ongoing transformation. Despite the challenges, the resilience, coordination, and intentional efforts within the Denver queer community are awe-inspiring. Leaders and organizers I've encountered exemplify the spirit of unity and continuous improvement. They instill hope that, collectively, we can face whatever life throws our way.
What challenges have you faced so far with starting SM if any?
I embrace growth and being wrong, I feel like the price of entry to success is making mistakes often and early. Sometimes it really feels like people seek and hold on to the wrong, waiting with a critical eye. I've always been one to struggle with what others think of me, and a really hard part of this has been letting go to continue to do what brings me joy. I will always make it my mission to grow from my mistakes, not let them stop me, and surround myself with a community that seeks the good in others. As someone making a space for WLW/sapphic art, it's been easy to come under scrutiny. In a world where art and content is blocked or moderated for containing even the word "lesbian" it's incredibly difficult to build a platform that supports the communities it aims to serve. They're constantly having to swap to backup accounts, being buried in social media feeds, and it's difficult trying to find the type of art that you'd want in your living room collected in one spot, as a queer person who wants to simply see themselves -and love- reflected.
I started the event with full and blind trust. The first event I spent half of my rent money making sure it could happen, and sure enough I got it back (just barely). It was wild to have to trust myself that much and put so much on the line. It was worth every night of pasta.
What are your long term goals for SM...where do you see it in 5 years?
I used to love questions like this, because I had such a corporate answer. The last year has taught me that I don't operate like that, in fact few of us do.
Listening to my body and spirit is my 5 year plan. To accept what comes effortlessly, to let go of what doesn't serve me. Sapphic Market was created from effortlessness, and will go in the direction it's led naturally. My friends and I all got the same feeling when this first started, and it was like butterflies for us all. I know I'm not the only person who will be involved in the creation of what SM is becoming. I've gotten feedback that it's inspired people to create again, to see themselves as beautiful again. It's bigger than just me, and I'd love to honor that. I would love to attract the right people to help support the online platform and reach more artists, the vision I have in my head is to have a collection of work available and travel the world to create events for a community that currently doesn't really have a space. If it turns into a storefront that supports Sapphic art, amazing! If it was just a cool project a few times, that's also okay, because it's led to a deeper understanding of self.
Where can we find/support you?
Follow at @sapphicmarket on instagram to stay up to date with events around the Denver area! We are also on Facebook and our website is: www.sapphicmarket.com
Subscribe to the email list to get notified of new interviews, sales, events, and more!
The best way to support any business is by following, liking, commenting, and sharing, so even if you can't buy art today, you can support Sapphic artists with just a few taps!
If you're an artist or investor, email me at TheSapphicMarket@gmail.com
Thank you for your time and consideration <3
Warmly, Annie
