"Art Is Powerful Medicine": Unified Theory Collective set to open June 24

 

Longtime tattoo artist Willard Malebear, Jr. is setting up shop in Uptown with plans to open his own tattoo parlor and a community-focused arts programming space on 35th Street and Hennepin Ave. 

The arts space, Unified Theory Collective, aims to provide free materials and a place to work on creative projects for both experienced and amateur artists – and those who don’t see themselves as artists but want to experiment with drawing or painting. It will be free to use during business hours, with supplies, access to instructional videos, and staff on hand to help people navigate. 

Unified Theory Collective has been in development (and under construction) for the past several months and has now announced their grand opening celebration will take place June 24 from 1 – 9pm.

 

Reconnecting with art in recovery 

The idea for Unified Theory Collective began years ago. Malebear is a longtime professional tattoo artist, and a struggle with substance use had alienated him from his artistic pursuits. While incarcerated, Malebear reconnected with his creativity and began helping others do the same.  

“I redeveloped my relationship with art, becoming an art tutor, working on commissions, and doing murals and paintings inside the prison,” says Malebear. “I shared that insight with other inmates that were around me at the time, that art is powerful medicine.” 

After getting out of prison, Malebear began collaborating with others he knew in recovery and started hosting guided painting sessions for recovery organizations and their clients. At the same time, his friends pushed him to open up his own tattoo shop. The idea for both Iktomi Tattoo and Unified Theory Collective – two separate but adjacent businesses – slowly came together. 

 

Willard Malebear, Jr. Photo courtesy of the artist.

 

In order to get funding for the collective, Malebear formed partnerships with several local businesses. Many of his business partners, who purchased memberships in the collective, are also in the recovery sector and resonate with the idea behind Unified Theory Collective, says Malebear. 

Collective members provide support through membership packages that include things like guided on-site arts programming for their clients, creative teambuilding activities, and use of the space for events outside of walk-in programming hours. 

With strong personal ties to the recovery community, Malebear began structuring Unified Theory Collective as an arts programming space specifically for people in recovery, but over time decided to broaden its reach. 

“I want to not only make this a resource for people in recovery, but a resource for everybody,” he says. “This is something everyone can benefit from.”

 

Space for everyone, including recovery resources

There will be a strong presence from the recovery community and many of the collective’s business members are recovery-focused organizations, creating a unique ecosystem that will bring resources together. 

Minnesota Recovery Connection, a nonprofit recovery community organization, is one of the members. Malebear approached Executive Director Wendy Jones last summer, and the two came up with a membership model that made sense for both organizations, and for the benefit of furthering the reach of recovery resources in the community. 

“We’re there to make people aware of our free support services and to provide in-kind support for the collective,” says Jones. “I’m really excited for the collective and glad to provide any support that we can. The most important thing is, how can you show up? How can you contribute? We’re embracing this model and looking forward to providing resources, educational opportunities, and recovery coaching as part of this experience.”

With strong personal ties to the recovery community, Malebear began structuring Unified Theory Collective as an arts programming space specifically for people in recovery, but over time decided to broaden its reach. 

“I want to not only make this a resource for people in recovery, but a resource for everybody,” he says. “This is something everyone can benefit from.”

Jones adds that Unified Theory Collective will also be a space for people of all walks of life to come together, and for groups like Minnesota Recovery Connection to raise public awareness. Not only that, but it’ll be a recovery-friendly space for people to go that isn’t centered around substances.

“I hear quite often a demand for recovery-friendly experiences, because so much of our culture is about substance use,” says Jones. “There aren’t many engaging adult experiences that are truly recovery-supportive and recovery-friendly, where you can be you and engage in your creativity and know that this is an environment where there aren’t going to be people who are using, and that it’s okay to be open about things and be your full self.”

 

Open to anyone looking to make art

Unified Theory Collective will be set up so that, during open hours, anyone can come in and use the supplies on hand. There will be staff members on-site to get people situated, check supplies in and out, and answer questions. There will also be tablets to provide access to instructional videos. To start, Malebear plans to offer painting and illustration materials – paints, pastels, markers, ink, canvas. 

“We want every curious person, who has even a passing interest in art, to use us as a resource,” he says. “Elderly people who are thinking about trying out painting but don’t want to commit to buying supplies. Students who are taking an art class and don’t have space to work on their painting at home. People who are struggling with depression or loneliness and want to work in community.”

Art-making can be transformative for people in recovery and those not in recovery – for everyone, says Malebear, which inspired the mission of the collective.  

“Art is a meditation. It’s a way of letting go of whatever you’re holding onto and being in the moment, being mindful and present,” he says. “I’ve seen people in programming I’ve led go from feeling anxious to relaxed and finding self-confidence. It doesn’t matter how good you are.”

 

Guided programming, starting with arts and wellness 

Unified Theory Collective will also host regular guided art programming for people wanting a more structured environment or introduction to art, led by professional artists. In the future, Malebear hopes to have cross-disciplinary events. For example, a guided painting session alongside a community speaker alongside a recovery meeting.

The name Unified Theory Collective is a reference to art’s role in our communal wellbeing, Malebear says. “I believe that there is a unifying theory between the arts, spirituality, community, health. There’s a perspective that can bridge all of those and, for us as an organization, we want to unify them.”

“We’re starting with the immediate,” Malebear adds, “which is arts and wellness.” ◼︎

 

Unified Theory Collective's grand opening will be June 24, 1 – 9pm, at 1415 W 35th St in Minneapolis. For more information, visit their website or follow them on Instagram @unifiedtheorycollective. 

 

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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.