Letter from the Founder (@originstory )

Today we are sunsetting The Gallery DAO in its current form and transitioning into a creative studio. Much of the initial vision, goals, and ethos, however, will remain the same.  We were early with this concept and there is still a lot that is needed before these kinds of ideas of new collectives can truly thrive.

In the beginning of any “idea” there’s always at least one person who will give blood, sweat, and tears to make something work. But for a DAO to thrive you need more than one, you need a small army.

I am here because of art. To make, shape, learn, and transfer knowledge as every maker and creator does throughout their career. Since an early age, I have been studying the arts across multiple disciplines and have worked professionally in almost every creative environment from film sets to Broadway stages to art galleries to Berlin nightclubs. 

My first start-up was an arts education non-profit between NYC and South Africa. I taught a student to write a screenplay on a napkin during lunch in a township in Durban and that child is now an adult who works as a script coordinator at Netflix.

I entered the space because I wanted to make a disruptive change and I could see real solutions for challenges I have faced in my career and challenges I saw others facing. And I stay because of art. I’m more sure than ever that creatives at the tech table will bring us new products and ways of thinking that can allow us to use technology instead of just letting it use us.

Many of the bigger ideas: Metaversité (Education) and Refusés (Experience) were part of my original plans in this space and this is why I will continue to build them. In this next chapter, I will be an artist and a builder, merging my creative core with my passion for technology. I will also collaborate with some previous DAO members to bring these concepts to life.

Thanks to all the supporters, members, and partners who helped us make such a strong initial impact in the space. I’m excited to share the next chapters.

Be on the lookout for Metaversité which is part of this season's Artizen Fund, and Refusés which will be submitted as part of the We ❤️ the art campaign (and we aim to premiere at ETHCC Brussels).  And I hope you will follow along for what's next. 2024 is going to be something special.

Happy New Year ✨

🖌Good Morning Lens Fam.

The Artizen Fund just began today and we are competing in Season 3. The funds we make are going to Metaversité which we are aiming to make happen for Devconnect in Istanbul. Every artifact is collected is 0.01 ETH will be matched by both the Funding the Commons and Monaverse match fund

www.artizen.fund/project/metaversite

What's the plan? A 2-day workshop on storytelling, AI tooling, and tech stacks

• a wonderful party just like the ones we've hosted in CDMX and Bogota

We will also be experimenting with spaces on @monaverse.lens

While Metaversité will be a public good (free) - we've also decided that every artifact holder will immediately go onto the guest list for the Devconnect.

Your support is incredibly valued. If we are able to sell 75 artifacts we will cover most of our budget.

Artwork made by @originstory.lens with music by @davidgumm.lens