Industry City; a Growing Ecosystem for Makers, Creators, and Entrepreneurs

“You never know who is connected to your next yes,” said gallerist Tanya Weddemire. The multi-hyphenated creative is the founder of Tanya Weddemire Gallery which calls Industry City home. However, the journey to Sunset Park was not a solo endeavor. Weddemire sought counsel and mentorship from Niya Bascom, a long-time Industry City tenant, and Creative Director and co-owner at Ishka Designs.

The two met just over a year ago in Williamsburg at an exhibition opening curated by Weddemire. “She spoke more about the artists than herself or the gallery. That’s what really touched, moved, and inspired me,” said Bascom. 

Since the two creatives initially met, a lot has developed, including a mutually beneficial professional mentorship. We sat down with them to discuss how the evolving ecosystem at Industry City has influenced their work.

Proximity, Relationships, and Growth

Weddemire and Bascom reflect on an event hosted during Industry City’s Design Festival. Weddemire led a panel discussion at Camp David, Industry City’s co-working space. Afterward, over 100 guests visited Weddemire’s gallery and enjoyed cocktails at Standard Wormwood, a local distillery in Courtyard 5/6.

“Having this space has given us the opportunity to bring new people to this space, to share in art education, and to share the art of art collection,” said Weddemire, reflecting how the evening was a moment for community gathering and also business, as she sold several works in the gallery. 

Outside of more formal events, Bascom notes how day-to-day, on-campus happenings such as lunch or coffee lead to opportunities for collaboration.   

“You can walk from building to building as opposed to block to block to meet and talk with different millworkers, gallerists, designers, rug makers, and even bar owners,” said Bascom. Having access to a collective of tenants has led to several professional collaborations for Bascom’s design firm, Ishka Designs. Ishka Designs collaborated with Busboy to produce a furniture piece and teamed up with Kajiha to create floral arrangements for an exhibition. The team even worked alongside Standard Wormwood to host an on-campus social gathering.

“We’re blessed with so many people we can connect with on a daily basis,” said Weddemire. “The cross-pollination is thick.”

Tenant Community

With over six million square feet and 550 businesses, a wealth of talented people are never more than a building away. To harness tenant relationships, Industry City hosts quarterly meet-ups, offers a bi-weekly tenant newsletter, and has a tenant app to promote exclusive on-campus discounts and weekly happenings. 

“It’s a beautiful hub,” said Weddemire peering at Bascom. Bascom replied, “This is where you go to stretch your wings.”   

Click here to learn more about what makes Industry City a vibrant and supportive ecosystem for makers, creators, and entrepreneurs.