Q AND ART: Nicole Krecicki of Rainbow Alternative
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Welcome to Q and Art, where we ask local artists the same set of questions then they give us the name of the next artist to interview. In this interview, we talk to Nicole Krecicki of Rainbow Alternative.
1) Tell us a little about your background.
I was always interested in art as a kid, but hand cutting stencils and spray painting wasn't even on my radar until I was about 25. Up until then I was working retail/office jobs that I hated, and I never imagined that one day it would be my bread and butter. In 2007, I tried cutting my first stencil because I wanted to make a one-off t-shirt as a gift. I played around with different methods, and started getting really into that process. By 2008, I came up with the idea for Rainbow Alternative, and started vending Pride festivals and craft fairs here in the city. A couple years later I started up an online shop and (I'm SO grateful to say) this past May I celebrated the 3 year anniversary of me quitting my day job to pursue Rainbow Alternative full time! (I really love seeing where my work runs off to, so if anyone out there has a pic of themselves wearing Rainbow Alternative gear, send it my way or tag #rainbowalternative on Instagram.)
2) What are you currently working on?
I started out stenciling and spray painting on clothing, but over the past few years I've started to branch out to different types of canvases (spraying on traditional canvas, as well as old scratched vinyl records, old skate decks, etc). Right now I'm really into using my smaller stencils and spray painting the designs on to my old/empty spray cans. Those have been fun for me because they allow me to play around more. I'm lucky enough to have a pretty healthy flow of online orders, but with those I basically make the same item over and over again. Spraying on cans gives me more freedom because they are all completely different, and I feel better about them ending up on someone's shelf as art vs garbage in a land fill. I sell them at local events for $10 a can, which is about what it costs me for a new can of the spray paint I use. Win, win!
3) What's your favorite thing to eat locally?
Oh, man. I have a few... Four Rivers restaurant in Chinatown because it's ridiculously delicious . Hot Diggity on South Street because they have kick-ass vegetarian options. And Tattooed Mom on South Street for the best, most perfect tots in America (fact).
4) What's your favorite thing to do in this area?
I love setting up for First Friday (free artwalk on the first Friday of every month). My lady and I try to score a spot in Old City (on 2nd St. just north of Market) when the weather permits. It's always a fun, easy going night with tons of artists on the street showing their work. We travel for events pretty often, so it's nice to set up shop right here at home.
5) Give us your insider tip to the city.
If you're coming in from out of town, walk around once you get here! You miss way too much of the city (people, art, music, Rollerblading Trumpet Guy...) when you're just driving from A to B.
6) And finally, pick the next local local artist for us to interview.
Nicole Wiegand of Night Owl Designs.
Where to find Rainbow Alternative
Keep an eye out for us at local events like craft fairs, Pride fests, horror/comic-cons, etc.
Web: www.rainbowalternative.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/rainbowalternative
Twitter: @lgbtshirts | Instagram: @rainbowalternative
