Today we’d like to introduce you to Raychel Long.
Raychel, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
When I was younger, the rhyming dictionary was my bible. I never learned an instrument, so I used words to express myself creatively, writing poems and making up songs at 5 years-old. When I got into high school, I latched onto photography and fashion, sewing most of my clothes by hand and repurposing thrift store finds. It’s hard for me to choose just one medium of expression. I love poetry, photography, fashion, music, spoken word, interior design, art projects… I just love creating. After graduating college, I got a job on a cruise ship and traveled the world for almost 3 years straight. I’ve always been fascinated by what connects people. Every person you pass on the street has been through love, loss, loneliness, despair, extreme highs and lows… Traveling showed me just how connected we all are.
Through language and cultural differences, we are all humans figuring out this mad world we exist in. With a clear appreciation for our planet and the people on it, I came back to San Diego because, hey, it isn’t a bad place to live. I started going to festivals and experienced the love and appreciation for life within a community. I understood fashion as a powerful way to connect people. I understood events as an outlet for artists to flourish. What I couldn’t understand is how we live in such abundance in this part of the world, while others are fighting to simply survive each day. Surely, we as humans can do better than this. I wanted to take the love that is cultivated through festivals, put our heads together, and spread it to parts of the world that need it most. And so, Dream Fair was born with the focus of supporting high-impact non-profits through events and festival fashion.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am blown away by the statistic that anyone who makes $50k/year or more is in the world’s richest 1% of the population. We often talk about “the 1%,” but don’t realize many of us are in it. I created Dream Fair to work on shifting the global wealth into causes that create a positive impact around the world.
We have our own ticketing platform that donates the online transaction fee to high-impact organizations. This way, any party from High School Reunions to late-night warehouse gigs, can easily be turned into fundraisers.
Dream Fair events are the glue that assembles the vision and brings it to life. They gather a wide variety of local artists to form a strong (and colorful) launchpad that catapults our good intentions into causes that make an impact. These artists hold workshops, paint live, play dancy music, and offer healing sessions, among many other things! We have everything from laughing yoga to tarot readings to cacao ceremonies at our events. Whenever I see someone expressing their talents and passion, I can’t help but shout, “YES! Do more of that!” It’s important to create a culture where anyone can be whoever they want to be in a space that supports them. This, to me, is human progress.
I continue to make crop tops and take custom orders for Dream Fair festival gear. I love a challenge and will work with ideas for any kind of costume. Fashion gives people something to talk about and makes them feel good. It’s a powerful way to spread information. 10% of these sales support organizations that are making a positive impact in the world. This is all that really matters to me.
There is a scarcity mentality that I see everywhere… We constantly feel that we don’t have enough. My work is to flip this subconscious belief. We have enough. You are enough. Be grateful and give to others. With trust and pure intentions, you will always get back what you give.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Come to our events! We have an ever-expanding network of artists who believe in supporting each other and the planet. We work to support our artists as much as possible, and happily create a network of visionary supporters based on love. Remember, the world needs your art. Get out there and make sure they see it!
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I use Instagram regularly (@_dream fair_) and Facebook. My website is www.dreamfairearth.org. We throw our mini-festival events every 3-4 months. Instagram is the best way to stay updated on the next one, which will be at the end of September. You can also email info@dreamfairearth.org for any comments or inquiries!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dreamfairearth.org
- Email: info@dreamfairearth.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/_dream_fair_
- Facebook: facebook.com/dreamfairearth
Image Credit:
Christian Villareal
Pedro Fukushima
Ashi Fachler
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
