3 Questions

Roughly a year ago, a ragtag group of artists, makers, businesspeople and clairvoyants teamed together to create Dandelion Guild, a co-op events space, maker's boutique and vintage clothing store (among other things). On Saturday July 6 (3-6 pm. Free. 1925 Rosina St., Ste. H, 820-0847), those people are set to celebrate the milestone along with a vegan cake from Danielle's Donuts, readings from Kasandra M, music from Westin McDowell and Greg Butera and more. We found founder Calixte Raifsnider to see what's up.

So, here we are at the year mark—what's the consensus? Mission accomplished?

I think Dandelion Guild is always evolving and changing, and I also don't think of it as a progress model so much as a collaboration or a communication that's happening. It's this thing that basically has a life of its own at this point—I'm very much there and feeding and nurturing it, and it's not unlike a 1-year-old child who needs a lot of feeding and nurturing. But at the same time, there are all of these people who have a relationship with the shop that has nothing to do with me, and it feels successful in that I feel like I'm honoring this process and holding space for it. As far as being the end of a logical goal … it's not really that.

Has anything notable happened you didn't expect?

I think it's always exciting to see something you've been imagining come to life, and in that way, it's exceeded my wildest expectations in terms of the people I've gotten to work with and who've approached me. On a fairly regular basis I get contacted by someone who blows me away with their talent and creativity, so that is surprising and exciting and fun for me.

What does the future hold for Dandelion Guild?

That's part of the conversation, and I'm just trying to hold space for that, and there's definitely a lot of energy around all of it. People seem really excited, they show up for events, to support local makers, they get really excited about the vintage clothing. I think I'm just trying to figure out how to follow those threads, and if there's any one of those that I would like to emphasize more. I think at the one-year mark, it's only natural to get into a place of reflection and think about what's working and what's not working, so I'm open to what's going to happen.