JOANNA KONOPSKA

Ever since I was a kid I knew in my heart that I was going to do something that has to do with art. I used to think of art as just some paintings and drawings, but I have come to realize art is way more than a paint brush and a canvas. Don’t get me wrong I love paintings but I’ve learned that art is, more than anything, how you express yourself. I personally think that most things can be art if you are truly passionate about it. I think art is one of the best gifts to give and receive because it comes from the heart. Whether it’s a song, a painting, making people laugh, or a doodle on a notepad, art is a gift from deep inside ourselves. My goal as the Creatives Director at Inspire is to help create a space where people walk in and the first thing they think is, “I want to create something.” I want people to feel the love and joy that I already have for this building and every single person that comes into contact with this place. I see Inspire as a work of art in and of itself and I truly believe that I can make a difference here. I think I can bring a lot of joy to Inspire as well as encouragement to others to be themselves. I want artists to feel the freedom that I personally know that art in any of its beautiful forms can and will bring. I am responsible for many things at Inspire including finding art for the gallery, scheduling studio times, making sure people feel the warm welcomes as they enter, and my favorite part making sure we have live music and comedy! I am so blessed to have a job where I get to nurture these gifts inside of everyone and I am so thrilled to get started.

I always knew I was creative, but I compared my artistic skills to others and came to the conclusion that I wasn’t artistic. That is until I did heart healing through Biblically-based counseling and discovering more of Father God’s heart for me. A piece of me came to life that I didn’t realize existed. In the middle of this time, my young son started having unexplained seizures and it was such a hard season. Around that same time, I discovered abstract art through fluid acrylics. One of the first paintings I created seemed like a failure to me. I hung it on the wall and to my surprise, Holy Spirit spoke to me through it. He reminded me of a prophetic word I had been given about Isaiah 43:18-19, “rivers in the desert.” My painting was white and cracked, just like a desert ground, and blues, greens and golds ran through it, just like a river. It was this incredible invitation to partner with God in my creativity, and I said “yes!” I started painting as a way to worship and process what was going on with my son and life. As I began to share my paintings on social media others were moved by them and began to inquire about purchasing them. Now, I am more than 3 years into this painting adventure as a self-employed artist (and my son is seizure-free)! My paintings are inspired by my relationship with Jesus, my life experiences, and my appreciation for nature. The one-of-a-kind pieces that I create are filled with movement, detail, and joy. Liquid colors frozen in time, my art is a representation of the beauty of life. My family and I have lived in Tennessee for 5 years. As a southern girl, native to North Georgia, I love to adventure outside with my husband, who is also a full-time artist, and our 3 boys, enjoying the beauty of the outdoors and having fun discovering together! I love getting my hands messy while I spend time in the studio. I’ve developed my creative voice over years of experimenting with different paints and materials, playing, and finding that perfect balance of fun and sophistication. I specialize in statement pieces to change the atmosphere of a space, evoking feelings of joy and peace. It’s an honor for my work to be collected in homes and stores across the country, and showcased at the Artificers Gallery.

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I began painting in 2020 when everyone was locked inside from COVID. Amidst a dark and uncertain time, I found light and hope. Painting became not only my worship, but how I heard from God. Since then, I’ve continued to paint, not just for myself, but for others. My desire is that with each painting I create, they would bring hope, joy, love, and encouragement to all that see them. 

Between 6 kids, 2 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, 2 lizards, a hamster, almost 14 years in the army, Ministry school, a flying career, thousands of businesses, inventions, and ideas, Aaron and Anastasia have always succeeded in pursuing their dreams! They have been marked with favor, faith, and making possible the impossible. They never do anything halfway, but to the uttermost fullest, and expertise in encouraging hope when there seems to be none. These two walk into peoples lives and leave them better than they found them. God has blessed them through every low, giving them strength through every hardship, and has never left their side. Aaron and Anastasia are the perfect combination of brilliant and beautiful, wise and warmhearted, gracious and gifted, luminous and lively! The type of people you want on your team!

Hello, I’m Angela! Co founder of Just Cuz. I’m an energetic girl who thrives on embracing life to the fullest. With a contagious zest for adventure and a love for connecting with others, I approach every opportunity with enthusiasm and positivity. Whether I'm pursuing my hobbies, engaging in meaningful conversations, or embarking on new journeys, I’m dedicated to making a difference in those around me. I’m especially passionate about my coffee, my tribe, my Jesus and shopping! I can remember from the time I was in elementary school I had dreams and visions of different businesses I wanted to start. I always knew I would own my own business one day. Fast forward and my life path had landed me in the insurance industry. I spent 23 years in the industry during which I became an agency owner. Although I was a business owner as I long imagined, something was missing! I was craving a creative outlet. So I sold my business and took the leap along with my cousin to form Just Cuz. I’m so excited to begin this new season of my life. Being able to do something that I love while bringing inspiration to others is truly a dream. I can’t wait to meet you in our space and help you enjoy some retail therapy.

Jessica Bullington is a mama, wife, previvor, volunteer and entrepreneur with a caffeine addiction, who loves Jesus. With over 26 years of experience in the retail industry, Jessica has held positions from selling and merchandising, to managing, operations and purchasing for both nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit businesses. In 2020 when most of society acquired the additional position of homeschool teacher, a title she was very anxious to drop, Jessica decided to step back from the corporate lifestyle and focus on her family and dreams. With a desire to create, an attraction to organization, and a passion for merchandising, she was led to combine these attributes and start a small business, called Labeled. Labeled consists of graphic design, retail consulting, and product development, and is fortunate to partner with nonprofits, new businesses, political campaigns, ministries, and schools. Through Labeled, the spark ignited to have the fulfillment of her own retail outlet, while still being able to spend more time at home with her family. Through a God ordained timeline, Jessica and her cousin Angela developed Just Cuz. A marketplace where you can shop for yourself or others, Just Cuz is your go-to for unique gifts, inspiring items, trendy must-haves, and everything in between. Jessica combined her experience, knowledge, and love of retail to provide a fun shopping experience that supports small, local, and upcoming businesses. You can shop with JustCuz at Inspire and online. We can not wait to see you here.