Meet Teresa Bauer | Writer, poet and makerspace manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Bauer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I wouldn’t say that I chose to pursue a creative path as much as it chose me. Most of my life, within all of my roles and various jobs, there was something growing in me that wanted to get out.

After my children had grown, I began to put more intention behind this feeling, this big un-named dream hidden within me. I would write and write and write, trying to understand what it was.

“I feel it living in me,
wrestling about
nudging my guts
like a baby in the womb.”

It was a slow awakening. Years. Years of working service jobs, years of practicing different ways to express myself, YEARS of writing for no one but me. Eventually I became restless in it; not satisfied with journals only. I was ready for an audience. I was ready to test the waters to see where this urge would take me.

Sharing my writings on social media seemed safe enough (at the time), so I did and received great feedback. That encouragement nudged me on! Writings led to poetry and poetry led to my first poetry book, “He Called Her Beautiful”, published in 2021. I then began reading my poems in small gatherings.

This big, un-named dream was just beginning to peek its head above the ground. It gave me so much joy to introduce this part of me that had been hidden away for so long, it became the only thing I wanted to do.

It was then that I said YES to the work inside me. It was then that I wanted to pursue further and more seriously, to find out if I could BE this creative person. Could I BE an artist?

“Hello, my name is Teresa, and I am a creative.”

Continuing down that path, I dreamed a little more. Something else was nagging me on the inside. Community. I needed a community of people that felt like me, that dreamed, that doubted, that questioned, and wanted to take a risk and create something.

After a few attempts on my own to form community of some kind, I was hired by a local non-profit to jumpstart a makerspace. I was free within certain parameters to establish a working creative space that encouraged building relationships across social boundaries.
A year later, with a lot of work and support, a beautiful creative community has taken root.

So when I say that my creative path pursued me, I mean an invisible something inside me wanted to live in this world and invited me into a partnership to make room for it. And I said YES.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I spend a lot of time thinking. I’m curious about the honesty of the human soul and I ask a lot of questions. Often it is birthed in a poem or an essay that offers language to what most of us feel or have felt. My poetry often navigates us back to higher perspective, reconnecting us with Hope and Love.

One of my greatest challenges throughout my creative journey has been believing my work is good enough for the masses. It took a long time to call myself an artist or writer. What I try to remember is no one else has my voice or my experience or my way of seeing the world. All I can do to is practice my craft, improve where it needs it, and trust there is an audience for it.

This is why having a supportive creative community is so important. Pioneers on a similar journey, a risky journey, available to each other to give and receive the gentle push we all need in a safe environment.

I have learned so many things on my creative journey.
-The thing we set out to create will first create us. It will need to have its work in us to become what it is to be. Our creation is often our teacher.
-There is rhythm and process, we cannot make demands on our creativity. If we want our work to be true, we must follow the rhythms and seasons of the work. Sometimes we are making, sometimes receiving, sometimes resting.
-Comparison only invites shame. And shame does not create good work.
-We should create things WE like. We should write what WE need to hear. We should make choices that please US. If we create for ourselves it will be true.

When it comes down to it, I just want my work, my art, my expression, to speak life into the world, a person, a community. And I cannot DO anything else.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always love taking friends downtown. It would take several days to cover my favorite places to eat. We could start with a good morning coffee and pastry at Common House. Some of my favorite lunch spots are Figs Beanery & Creamery, Grouchos, and Summa Joes. For shopping or just pleasure, Indigo Custom Framing is a must! You’ll find a good variety of wares by local artists and beautiful gifts. We would definitely go through Apple Dumpling and The Vine, 2 antique stores I just love. The Fashion Shack is a weekly habit for me, so we might as well not skip that. The Bradbury Bistro for afternoon coffee and pastry; and down the street a little to City Seed at the Station, a unique seed shop with fun gifts and planting ideas. If we aren’t in the mood to shop, we would stroll around and look at all the cool old buildings and visit the Art Center. Downtown just has a great atmosphere, no matter what you do.

Anderson is just as pretty at night as in the day. We would definitely not miss having dinner and a drink at Earle St. Kitchen and Bar. I eat there at least once a week (lunch or dinner). Another good dinner spot with a great outdoor option, is Magnetic South, especially when there is a band. A little walk-about to get another drink and music would be The Bauernhaus. Hopefully the timing would be right and we could sit at Wren Park one evening and watch The Market Theater Company perform in the amphitheater.

Last but not least, I would definitely take my friend to spend some time at West Market Makers (where I work) to hang out with the gang and do some creative stuff. She would feel right at home even if she wasn’t the creative type.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are countless people who have been a part of my creative story. Let’s begin with my mom who was my cheerleader, always believing in me, especially when I didn’t, and always saying the things that would inspire me. I didn’t feel the weight she carried in my art until I no longer had her with me.

My local community. My church. My small band of sister artists, without whom, I would given up a long time ago. So many friends that support me in so many ways! Local businesses that sell or have sold my work, Figs Cafe and Farmacy, Indigo Custom Framing, & The Vine Antiques. Local venues like The Bauernhaus, which held weekly poetry nights where I could practice and experience others’ craft. Dave P. for giving his time to help me publish my first book. The LOT Project for giving me an opportunity and trusting me to create and build under their leadership.

I have a lot of encouragement and support from my online community, Makers & Mystics, providing me with a language and a belonging that extends across the globe.

Though art and especially writing are solitary in execution, they require a lot of support. Creativity in its purest form can be very fragile.

Website: https://www.teresabauer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcatbauer/

Other: https://teresabauer.substack.com/