Plum Indie Impetus + Ethos
Martha’s Vineyard is home to Conrado and the continuing allure of Steven Spielberg’s creative genius…even the clouds look like Jaws
Impetus
Why “plum indie”? Plum has been kicking around in my head for a while now. It’s an inkling and a tome. It’s a dewdrop and a tsunami. It continues to grow and sprout new ideas as I nurture it. “Plum,” both literally and figuratively, is a feast for all senses. To utter the word “plum” is phonetic fulfillment: your ears enjoy a mellow plosive “p”; an “l” that lilts light-heartedly off the roof of your mouth; and a smooth, almost meditative finish, in “um,” a close relative of “om,” the original vibration of the universe, according to Hindu scripture. To look at the word “plum” is to gaze upon four pleasing letters that inch gracefully up one side, reach their peak, and descend gently down the other, like an invigorating mountain hike or how I feel when I finally get an idea to flow from mind to paper, after it has been sidling around in my head and gumming up the works for too long.
When “plum” represents a tree in the genus Prunus of the rose (Rosaceae) family, it is flowering and beautiful and scented with an aura as sweet as honey. When “plum” refers to fruit from that tree, it is a juicy, succulent orb with a fleshy exterior; its rich, mysterious color tucked in somewhere between midnight blue and Prince’s Purple Rain. It’s like a breezy summer day manifested in a tiny, handheld package. Plums are cultivated throughout the world, so they can be shared and enjoyed nearly everywhere.
Mill No. 5 in Lowell, MA, is an “indoor streetscape of salvaged storefronts,” complete with indie shops, a movie theatre, and artistic community vibes
Ethos
The definition of plum in a figurative sense—an excellent or desirable thing per dictionary.com—speaks to me of all of it—the tree, the fruit, the vibrant hue, the phonetics, the aesthetic quality of its written form—this is the inkling and the tome. Plum in all its meanings represents an inclusive circle of expression. It inspires me to find and create, to discover and share. That’s plum indie: a singular thought and a whole community. Plum indie is:
Creative. I’ve yammered on about creativity in Plum Indie Blog #8 and #16, so I won’t go deep into here. And, anyway, Ethan Hawke sums it up well in a 2020 Ted Talk, which is worth a listen. To paraphrase Hawke, human creativity is vital. It’s how we connect with one another. When I discover someone doing something in a unique and unexpected way, I am stimulated and intrigued and my whole body tingles, as the pilot light of my internal creative furnace catches fire. Art and music and poetry and everything that encompasses creative expression are quintessentially human. Plum Indie is about fostering and encouraging creativity in ourselves and others.
Independent. There is a place for large corporations and people with names we all know, but this is not that place. The world below the radar—of DIY artists and indie musicians, small businesses and street fairs—is where we share our creative expression. When we support independent enterprises, small businesses, and lesser heard voices floating up from the underground, we support our friends and family, our neighbors, and our global community. Plum Indie is about finding gems in unexpected places and shining a flashlight into the hidden corners.
Sustainable. I’m not going to spout off statistics, numbers aren’t my particular forte, but let’s talk about the elephant in the room—our planet. I’m not sure who said it originally but “nature is pissed.” Since getting a degree in environmental studies and sustainability back in the 1990s, plastic production has doubled and most plastic products are not reused or recycled. Moreover, plastics have been found everywhere, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench. In addition, textile production is a huge polluter and the amount of clothes being produced and tossed away is off the charts. This bums me out, but rather than hunkering down in the gloom, I can do something. I can seek out “better” rather than “more” and share my search results with you. Like the circular shape of a plum, the circular approach to producing stuff—making durable, repairable things that can be reused, shared, and recycled—extends a product’s life span and that of plants, animals, and us. Small indie businesses and enterprises, in particular, are more likely to use sustainable practices and make really cool stuff from existing things, finding innovative ways to reuse the old, so there is less need for the new. Plum Indie is about supporting and sharing creative approaches to sustainability. I’ve started a list of indie and eco-friendly favorites from the music world and beyond…what I call Plum Picks. Check them out.
“Plum in all its meanings represents an inclusive circle of expression. It inspires me to find and create, to discover and share. ”
Ta-da—the Plum Indie logo
Plum Indie is the inclusive, circular approach to the road less traveled by and I believe it will make a difference. Join the Plum Community and let’s see where the road takes us.
Nestled in this old stone bank building is the new Conrado, a small sustainable shop + design studio with infinite cool, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Plum Indie Blog Pairing: Left Out by Darkometro