The Art of Sticking with It

In many ways, Mitch and A.me Alamag are very different people. Yet, they chose to pursue the same dream—working for themselves and making art— and do it together. Their career has taken them from jewelry to woodworking and from fashion to functional home accessories. They charted a path from Providence to Chicago and from California to New Mexico and have gone from young artists unsure if they could make it work to professionals with a passion for art for art’s sake whose latest dream is to support students who want to go their own way.

In 2024, the Alamags made the decision to include RISD in their will and create a bequest to establish the Rokoko Fund. Named for their company, the fund will support career services programs and entrepreneurship initiatives. A.me says, “In the beginning, you really put yourself out on a limb and sometimes you don’t know if you’re going to survive. It’s not every artist’s path, but it certainly was ours. For the artists who want to do that, it’s such a beautiful life. We want to help them stay in the game.”

Kevin Jankowski 88 IL, director of the RISD Careers Center, says that supporting life after RISD can make a big difference.

“Our students now have an exceptional range of career workshops, advising and other resources to help them prepare for their careers,” he says. “Taking advantage of them expands their creative opportunities, entrepreneurial interests, and ability to achieve the beautiful life that A.me describes.”

Mitch and A.me met toward the end of their RISD careers. A.me laughs, saying that architecture and painting were like two different worlds, and Mitch adds, “artistically and aesthetically, we are complete opposites. But there is something in our natures that allows us to work well together.”

After graduation, A.me started making jewelry with a friend while Mitch was working as an architect. After work, he would help produce the pieces that A.me designed. Thus their collaborative mode was born, with A.me channeling a vision and Mitch developing techniques to produce pieces efficiently and effectively. Their collaborative approach has allowed them to put their individual strengths towards something greater. They sell their work to art and craft galleries and at festivals across the country.

“If we stayed in my mode of ideas and emotion, we wouldn’t reach as many people,” A.me says.

“When we started, if something was selling, I would want to move on and create something new. I was so attached to the starving artist idea, but Mitch taught me to stay with it and that it doesn’t become less ‘art’ because you can support yourself.”

Mitch echoes that, saying, “Being self-employed and supporting yourself is a wonderful way to be an artist.” With the Rokoko Fund, they will help support students ready to make the same bold move that they did, to trust themselves and see where the path may lead.

Words by Lauren Rebecca Thacker