Hello! We're The Weird Company!

WOC founded and community driven, you may know us out in the world as Raicodoll (Sam Gaitan) and the owners of Tumbleweed + Sage (Destiny and Cole Adams). And if you know us, you know how much we love to grow and support the community while providing opportunities and a safe place to do so. From art markets, creative vending machines, drag shows and story time, workshops and fun events, we're passionate about art, creativity, and the people who live here.

So we're here to tell you about The Weird Space!

• The Weird Space will feature a 2000 square foot permanent interactive art installation experience created by a variety of local artists that will let you explore, play, and discover the story tied into it.
• It will include a lobby with a gift shop (called The Weird Stuff) featuring local artist and fun oddball product, The Little Crow's Market art vending machine, an art bar with take home art kits (or you can work on them on-site!) and workshop activities.
• We will also have space for private rental for artists to use as an independent retail space and pop-ups!

See what we're doing with the names? wink wink

Under The Weird Company umbrella,  The Little Crow's Market and The Oddities Art Market will be joining as part of it as well! 

This idea has been something we've dreamed about for years! 

With experience and passion for interactive art installations, Raicodoll has previously done horror exhibits/collaborative interactive spaces that were temporary and existed for less than a month. This gives us a chance to not only set up a permanent installation for people to see and enjoy longer, but bring in more artists into the medium and build something new for Lubbock!

By helping us, you in turn support and help dozens of local creatives! The more we raise, the more artists we can hire on.

What We Need & What You Get

So what are you helping us with? 

Building something at this level takes a bit of time and lots of hands on deck. It's a small business with big business ideas and 2000sf is a big area to install on a very short timeline. We're looking at roughly at least $20k to pay the artists for all their work & supply costs and cover any emergencies! This is a very lowball budget. Lumber and supplies are pricey. The more we can raise, the better this can be and we really want to be able to take on more artists!

We are also wanting to focus on a sustainability program by pairing up with local businesses and groups, taking recyclables or any items no longer needed, and turning them into art in an effort to keep them out of the landfills! But some things do need to be bought new and that can add up quickly. 

TL;DR

• We are asking for at least $20,000 primarily for our Artist Fund
• This will help us pay the artists that are building this!
• It also goes to supply costs for the installations
• The faster we get supplies and can build, the sooner it'll be open!

What do you get for supporting us?

• Updates on the process
• Access to behind the scenes video and photos
• Founders merch! 
• Access to a private Preview Night
• Goodies!
• Your name on the wall (which wall? guess you'll have to find out)
• Potentially some warmth in your heart (not guaranteed)

What happens if we don't meet the goal?

The Weird Space is still happening and whatever we raise will still go towards costs, but it may mean a smaller group of artists we can onboard with a lot more on their plate, the budget will be tighter, and we'll have to figure out how to make certain things work. We don't want that. It's like getting generic store brand items instead of name brand. We want this to be the best it can be and we need help with that. 

You deserve name brand.

The Impact

Lubbock has the ability to be like larger cities. We don't have to Lubbock or Leave It. We can stay here and make it better for everyone. We have a younger demographic through the colleges, a thriving and growing art and music scene, and people that love this community. But it takes support to do it and that's where you come in.

• The Weird Space will provide not only the opportunity to help artists develop and get experience with an interactive art medium, but also collaborate with other each other and outside artists!
• Provide another avenue to connect customers with local talent
• Bring in visitors from out of town and help the local economy
• We will also be able to still do workshops, events, and shows to support our community!

We wanna say we have a pretty good track record when it comes to making things happen. Sam has been running events, galleries, and markets in the community for almost a decade and Destiny has been an advocate and helped with multiple non-profits to help those that need it locally. Combined, we can help not only to bring something fun and new and exciting but bring opportunities to so many!

Risks & Challenges

We won't lie. This is a scary endeavor and there's not a roadmap we can follow with this type of business (imagine us having to explain this to non-artist types). Between the scary Lubbock economy that likes shiny new things only to forget about them months later to trying to navigate building interactive art, we've got a lot of hardships ahead. But we're use to facing the odds and we're good on our toes.

We're no strangers to adversity.

The Weird Space is unique and a weird conglomeration of so many ideas (part escape room, part art gallery, part adult playground, part chill vibes, and part a sort-of acid trip) but you don't get anywhere new by sticking to the path. We're ready to go off-course and find our way!

Other Ways You Can Help

We get that some of you can't contribute monetarily. But there are still ways to help!

• Make some noise! Share share share all about what we are trying to do
• Know someone involved with the media? Let them know about us
• Look out for volunteer calls! Sometimes we need tall people to reach places we can't
• Have items you may want to donate for art? We'll take it off your hands
• Showing up and showing out when we need it at local events & fundraisers
• Just get the word out however you can! That alone can make a big difference!