Its hard to keep the 'STORY' of Giving Tree Gallery from being just a huge fan letter to my mom, Judith, because the two things are inseparable. Every inch of the galleries two levels of jewelry and home accessories, and the adjoining 4 acres of sculpture gardens and nature paths is the result of Judith's vision, fortitude and perseverance. Here is how it all began.
Judith purchased a run down building and the 4 acres of overgrown untended land in East Sandwich, Mass in 1988 and worked ceaselessly for the next year to build the space around the work of artist Barry Pinske. Barry and Judith together knocked down walls, painted, chainsawed, planted, and toiled until the gallery was ready to be open to the public.
The first few years were beyond hard. Trying to convince vacationing tourists to take home a 12 foot sculpture was a huge task! Still, Judith worked 7 days a week, 16 hours a day. When Barry moved on to open his own gallery, Judith then had to fill the space and gardens again. She turned to the talent of local Cape Cod artists, and over the next 15 years came to be regarded as a champion of the arts on Cape Cod. A tireless patron, and the biggest supporter of local artists.
When the Boston Globe called Giving Tree Gallery 'The only place to stop on Route 6a" it was clear her work was being recognized.
Still, sculpture was a hard sell, and ever forward thinking, Judith decided it was time to explore other options. She started selling jewelry, both locals work and better known national artists. Her philosophy was to know each artist personally, and support their craft with every bit of her energy. She started the website 9 years ago.. WAY before it was 'de rigueur' for companies, and was completely FEARLESS in this regard. She saw potential and possibility in a market not yet tapped.
Meanwhile, I was spinning, surfing, and cocktail waitressing my way through my 20's in Southern California. My first 'real' job out of college (the University of Iowa.. go Hawkeyes!) was working as an assistant to Oliver Stone. On the set for months on end, I experienced 'Hollywood' from a remarkable vantage point... but.. I missed Cape Cod.. and more than this, I missed feeling truly committed to something I really believed in.
I went home for what I thought was a long weekend the summer of 2002. I never went back. Working side by side with my mom Judith on the gallery, gardens, and most extensively, the web site, I had found what I was looking for. A career I loved and the chance to be inspired everyday by the person I believe in most.
Judith still works 16 hour days, but now, I'm by her side. We think a lot about what can separate our business from the thousands of others out there on the world wide web. My answer is us. Just like mom created a business where she knows and loves each and every one of our artists, the web site is the place where we strive to KNOW and love each and every one of you, our customers.
We are always here, always available to help you, and always, always committed to making this business the best it can be. And to being the best to each other. Which is the thing that matters most.
Summer of 2010-"About Us" Update! *And a Mission Statement of sorts!
From Rachel- Proud Daughter, Co-Owner of Giving Tree Gallery and Giving Tree Jewelry:
Going through our site recently, it occurred to me that a sort of 'update' of this page was in order! I still love the story of our Giving Tree, but quite a bit of time has passed since I was the doubting sixteen year old daughter, incredulous- not about whether or not my mom Judith could create something so entirely magical, but rather, just 'how' she would go about doing it. Her only real 'resources' it had seemed to me at the time, was a large but largely neglected piece of land, a falling down 'gallery' and her hands, and her heart.
Ah, but it is this last thing, of course, that made all the difference!
What I may not have been fully aware of at the time, but am completely convinced of now is this simple truth-
LOVE GROWS LOVE.
Twenty-two years ago, my mom 'found' what she loved, and she gave everything she had to it.
Nine years ago, I returned for what I then hoped was a moment, and now, hope is forever. Because I have found what I love too.
Today, Giving Tree Jewelry is nothing if not a testament to the power of love, and the perseverance that is inherently, necessarily and unavoidably present when something is loved so fiercely. Even when times got tough, we never gave up. I say 'we' because when I 'got it', I really 'got it'! "Love is staying power", the wonderful novelist Louise Erdrich once said, and I agree. Through all the ups and downs, changes, growth spurts, dry spells and droughts and rainy seasons, our "Giving Tree" wanted to grow. And it turns out, it had a lot of help.
Just about five years ago, after the 'pull' of "Los Angeles" and all that it represented (or misrepresented) for me and what I thought my 'path' was, had begun to fade and 'pan-out' like the final scene in a beloved film, I found myself faced with this question. How would Giving Tree survive in a market and industry that has changed so dramatically, it is almost unrecognizable? As if overnight, there were suddenly hundreds, if not thousands of 'on line' jewelry stores, not to mention a gift shop every hundred yards along route 6a on Cape Cod. And they all seemed to have more 'resources' at their disposal.
And then it hit me. Hadn't this always been the case? Hadn't my mom felt these very same feelings, two decades ago, sitting on the sloped and broken porch of our home overlooking the gardens, wondering what she could call on to bring her dream to life?
My mom called on LOVE.
And five years ago, So did I.
With a wonderful but teeny tiny staff, (sometimes, just Laura, and of course, Beazie, our cockapoo, who is the worlds best cheerleader!) We began a HUGE on line marketing campaign. Well, we signed up for Facebook, and later, Twitter. We made in house coupons, we created a small line of "Jewelry by Giving Tree". We nurtured our relationships with the artists we already represented, and sought out the new ones that felt 'in line' with our vision. We embraced the idea of 'giving' by launching our 'Giving Tree Giving Back' section. And we forged relationships with our customers. We realized that we had so many beautiful pieces of art that qualified as 'jewelry with meaning', that we decided to make everything we did, meaningful. We began to truly connect with our customers. We got to know them, what they wanted, what they loved. We shared our stories and listened to theirs. We led with LOVE. And the love came back. And it sustained us, and it kept us going. And the Giving Tree grew.
Judith is back in the gardens as I write this, planting, edging and caring for every little blooming flower and curve in the paths. Courtney and Laura are talking to customers, getting ready to open the gallery for the summer season, filling orders and doing all the fun stuff we have initiated in the last year (a weekly give away, a day of giving thanks, our charity projects).
I am in New York City, in between meetings with our artists, and thinking about how much I love what I "do" for my work. The faith and proof I now have, of the power of good intentions and very hard work, honest business practice, and the joy we can impart to one another, just by 'linking' with like souls and choosing to stay 'open' to the possibility to be so moved, (every day) but what a wonderful world it can be...
well, it has changed me. And like the tree, I feel myself growing too. I have new projects on the horizon that I really believe in. I have beautiful friendships that have enriched my life beyond measure. And I have a very, very grateful and happy heart.
So maybe this was an update, or maybe it was a mission statement, or maybe it is just a giant 'THANK YOU' to everyone that believes in the tree. Thank you.
And to Judith, my mom, there really are no words. Just know that anything and everything I could ever 'do', anything good, or right, or true…I learned how to do it… from you. I love you with my whole soul.
Rachel- May 2010