Erika Barker and Gray Owl Collective
Our friends at Gray Owl Coffee are currently becoming a worker-owned business so we decided to feature them in our T-shirt preorder series! Erika Barker, part of Gray Owl Collective and the artist behind their t-shirt design, gives us some insight on the process.
What's been going on in your world lately?
Honestly just tryin’ to survive the tail-end of this pandemic! I know I’m not alone when I say it’s been a really tough year. Projects like the Gray Owl t-shirt, and making our worker-ownership dreams happen, have been keeping me afloat until some normalcy returns.
Other projects/organizations happening in your area that are cool?
I’m based in Norman, but I’m getting ready to participate in my first art show, the Cat Castle Spring Art Market, at Edison Studios in Tulsa on May 1. I’m not sure who else is participating, but I bet it’s going to be a lovely, outdoor, socially-distanced time!
How did you and the Gray Owl Collective arrive at the idea of becoming a co-op?
Gray Owl has always been a place that encourages personal autonomy and teamwork from its workers. When the former owner decided to sell, we all wanted Gray Owl to stay in the hands of people who would carry on those parts of it, along with everything else that makes Gray Owl a quirky and special place. The best way to ensure that was for us, the employees, to step up. A couple of my coworkers came together to suggest it and lead the charge. Our current team fell into place from there. Our former owner was super supportive too, so that really helped.
All images in this article are from the IG accounts of Erika Barker and Gray Owl Coffee
What is something you have learned from your experience of becoming a worker-owned business?
Teamwork really does make the dream work! Having six people as our team has been so essential. We all bring different strengths to the table, from creativity to mechanical know-how to finances. Embracing one another’s unique talents and depending on each other to share the workload has been the best part of the transition. It’s been really cool to learn to depend on the other worker-owners throughout the whole process, especially when my mental health hasn’t been the best during the pandemic.
Something you are looking forward to in the future at Gray Owl?
Events! We’re really looking forward to expanding the kinds of events we have at Gray Owl, whether that’s live music, Drag Queen Story Hour, or just interesting art shows with work from local artists.
Links to anything you're involved in you want to share?
I share my art and anything else I’m working on on my Instagram. That’s @erika___art
A short poem?
Tiny frog, new legs
hops oddly, scared of the sky
Be brave, little frog!
:)
Check out what Gray Owl is up to on their Instagram as well: @grayowlcoffee
Gray Owl Coffee T-shirts are currently up for preorder until the end of April 12th! click here to order
