Mary Welcome
WORK SAMPLES︎Neighbor first, all else follows
Mary Welcome is a rural cultural worker and civic designer collaborating with people and places.
CLIENT COMMUNITY
My client base is intentionally atypical—I prefer to work with non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs in rural communities, public services (schools, libraries, government), local political campaigns, and creative elders. I believe in making design projects accessible and flexible, on a hyperlocal and personalized level. I know that most people don’t have the tools, technology, or time to access custom design. I create frameworks that meet both their need and their skill level so that they may have autonomy over their projects moving forward.
My base rate is $150/hour. I offer a discounted rate of $125/hour for non-profits or rural clients. I am open to equitable trade if you are interested in non-monetary exchange. Drop me a note to schedule a project consultation.
My client base is intentionally atypical—I prefer to work with non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs in rural communities, public services (schools, libraries, government), local political campaigns, and creative elders. I believe in making design projects accessible and flexible, on a hyperlocal and personalized level. I know that most people don’t have the tools, technology, or time to access custom design. I create frameworks that meet both their need and their skill level so that they may have autonomy over their projects moving forward.
My base rate is $150/hour. I offer a discounted rate of $125/hour for non-profits or rural clients. I am open to equitable trade if you are interested in non-monetary exchange. Drop me a note to schedule a project consultation.
Experience
Clients
SAN FRANCISCO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT COALITION
Website, Website Migration, Facilitation Graphics, Advocacy Campaigns
ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, AND PLANNERS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Website, Website Migration, Newsletter
BLUE SKY CENTER
Website, Reports, Infographics
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSFORMATION
Website, Reports, Presentations
PALOUSE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Graphics, Grant Administration, Social Media, Newsletter, Reports
SWALE
Branding & Identity, Website, E-Commerce, Social Media Graphics, Production Graphics
THE OPEN EYE
Website, E-Commerce, Social Media
PALOUSE RURAL LIBRARY
Website, Graphics
ALSO
Berkely Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, Trust for Public Land, National Endowment for the Arts, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, Art of the Rural, Springboard for the Arts, Library Services, Wing Over Farm, TLC Animal Care, Full Moon Yoga Co-Op, Tony Kettle Skate Gardens, Michele for MN, Jess Call Me, James Lee Harris, Ann Christenson, Chris Watts, Lauren McCleary, Cara Despain, Feminist Summer Camp, Davey Foundation, Steve Bob (Sonos, Burgerville, TOMS), Looking Glass Creative, Rural Environments Field School, M12 Studio, Office of Virtue, Homeboat, Shared Space Studio, Old Ways Traditional Crafts, Elsewhere Museum
Proficiencies
SOFTWARE
Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
Microsoft Office Suite, Apple iWork
WEB PLATFORMS
Cargo, Persona, Squarespace, Wordpress, Weebly, Wix, Polylang, Avada, Indexhibit
Shopify, Squarespace, Square
Instagram, Facebook
COLLABORATIVE PLATFORMS
Canva, Mural, Notion, Slack, Asana, Harvest
Google Drive (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Photos, Maps)
Dropbox, Paper
Affiliates
Hi-Vis Agency
Golden Nature
Flannel & Blade
M12 Studio
Homeboat
Camp Little Hope
Cabin-Time
︎ WEB DESIGN
Visit Palouse!
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Visit Palouse! is the digital community hub for the town of Palouse (pop. 900) in eastern Washington. Developed by the local all-volunteer Chamber of Commerce, the website includes a comprehensive community calendar, business directory, local cultural highlights, and regional tourism information.
God Bless the USPS™️
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTS, ADVOCACY︎ UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
︎ VISIT
︎ God Bless the USPS is a longform visual documentary project about rural communications commons and the vernacular architecture of post offices across the United States.
Gay Baseball™️
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTS, ADVOCACY︎ UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
︎ VISIT
︎ The World Famous First & Only Gay Baseball™️ League in the Pacific Northwest was founded in 2021 and continues to cultivate backyard baseball, gay athleticism, and rural queer community every summer.
Kirsten Bauer
︎ ARTIST︎ PORTLAND, OREGON
︎ VISIT
︎ Kirsten Bauer is an artist and signpainter serving the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We used hand-drawn elements from her practice to build a website that feels like the work she does everyday in the world.
Woodstack
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ MOSCOW, IDAHO
︎ VISIT
︎ Woodstack is the creative studio of David Herbold: an artist, builder, and land steward working for neighbors and communities in the great Palouse Prairie.
Lauren McCleary
︎ ARTIST, EDUCATOR ︎ MOSCOW, IDAHO
︎ Lauren is as artist, community organizer, and arts educator living in Moscow, Idaho.
Sawbill Surf CLub
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTS︎ ELBERTA, MICHIGAN
︎ VISIT
︎ Sawbill Surf Club is a creative residency program hosting artists, writers, scientists, musicians, makers, surfers, and sailors for personal practice on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Roving Studio
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTIST, SAILOR︎ THE PACIFIC COAST
︎ Roving Studio contains the multidisciplinary practice of artist, architect, and sailor Kelly Gregory. From sea voyages to multi-family housing, visitors explore the oceanic range of a modern creative practice.
Old Way Bookarts, Tools, and Workshops
︎ RURAL CULTURE, EDUCATOR︎ SANTA, IDAHO
︎ VISIT
︎ For 36 years Jim Croft and Melody Eckroth have opened up their homestead in rural Idaho to students that want to learn the traditional crafts of bookbinding, basketry, papermaking, and more. They needed a website that would be free forever and easy to update via dial-up internet at local library.
Palouse Rural Libary
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ The Palouse Rural Library is a one-room commmunity hub for information, conversation, a free forever book lending. They needed an e-commerce site for fundraising and hyperlocal merch that could operate without paying a subscription fee.
Swale 2.0
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Website renovation for rural business transitioning into local economic advocacy, custom screenprinting studio, cultural programming, and creative economies.
Architects, Designers, and Planners for Social Responsibility
︎ NON-PROFIT︎ SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA and NATIONWIDE
︎ VISIT
︎ ADSPR is a architectural non-profit working for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities. They needed management and migration from an out-of-date website that housed all of their advocacy archives.
San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition
︎ NON-PROFIT︎ SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
︎ VISIT
︎ The SFADC is a non-profit organization working with tenant rights organizations and allies to fight for housing justice in San Francisco. They needed a fully multi-lingual website for housing and COVID response data that would not burden the org with monthly or annual fees. This six-language website functions on free wordpress platform.
Department of Public Transformation
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ MINNESOTA, NATIONWIDE
︎ VISIT
︎ DoPT is an artist-led organization that works to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic pride, and equitable participation in rural places.
Blue Sky Center
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ CUYAMA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
︎ VISIT
︎ Blue Sky Center is a rural non-profit organization working in housing equity, food justice, rural business models, tourism, and cultural advocacy in the Cuyama Valley. Their website fuctions for two particular audiences—information for potential visitors and resources for local neighbors. I built out this website under creative direction from The Office of Virtue.
Swale 1.0
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Swale is an female-owned online shop, downtown storefront, artist studio, and community creative space for regional cultural workers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. To manage the effects of the pandemic, the entire business was forced to shift to online sales.
Library Services
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Library Services houses the professional and creative projects of Sarah J. Bofenkamp, a queer reader/writer/librarian working in her hometown of Palouse, Washington.
Jess Call Me™️
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Jess Call Me is a rural entrepreneur and expert level helper bringing skilll, care, and empathy to projects large and small.
My Treat™️
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ My Treat is a community catering service and small-scale kitchen serving rural communities in the Palouse region, with special attention to sourcing local ingredients and scalable menu planning.
Ann Christenson
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTIST, ELDER︎ PULLMAN, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Ann Christenson is a sculptor and ceramicist. As arts and culture organizations take their applications process online, it has excluded artists without the training or technology to manage an online presence. Ann uses this portfolio site to apply for grants, awards, exhibtions, residencies, and other opportunities to continue her decades-long career.
An American Forrest
︎ RURAL CULTURE, MUSICIAN︎ JOSEPH, OREGON
︎ VISIT
︎ Forrest Van Tuyl is a singer, songwriter, and honest-to-goodness cowboy.
Chris Watts
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTIST, ELDER︎ PULLMAN, WASHINGTON
︎ VISIT
︎ Christ Watts is a painter and a creative mathemetician. Chris uses this portfolio site for translating his process to collaborators, archiving his works and process, and developing retrospective publications.
︎REPORTS + PUBLICATIONS
Transportation Artists-in-Residence Report
︎ NATIONAL, ARTS, TRANSPORTATION︎ FIELD REPORT for Smart Growth America (2024)
︎ The TAIR report offers key recommendations for DOT staff and artists to implement future artist programs, including strategies such as in-person convenings, program readiness assessments, initial implementation strategies, peer-to-peer mentorship, professional development, and clear expectations to support artists to address any unexpected challenges that may arise.
︎ 22 pages, full-color, digital
The Blue Skies are Smiling
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ ANNUAL REPORT for Blue Sky Center (2023)
︎ The 2022 Annual Report from Blue Sky Center used creative program spotlights, financial disclosures, community interviews, and staff perspectives to tell the story of Blue Sky’s work in rural New Cuyama, California.
︎ 96 pages, full-color, digital and print
The Community of Practice
︎ NON-PROFIT, NATIONAL︎ COHORT HANDBOOK for Trust for Public Land and 10-Minute Walk Program (2022)
︎ Created as a reference document for a cohort that included over 100 US cities, this document pulled together research, challenges, learnings, strategies, and spotlights about the integral role of shared green space in our communities. This project was done with the team at Flannel & Blade.
︎ 10 pages, full-color, digital
Under the Umbrella
︎ NON-PROFIT, ARTS︎ RETROSPECTIVE CATALOGUE for Umbrella Collective (2022)
︎ After ten years of collaboration and performances the Umbrella Collective sunsetted their collective practice. This retrospective catalogue documents the stories, screenplays, reflections, and interviews from the creative community.
︎ 62 pages, full-color, print and digital
Cuyama Valley Farmworker Housing
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ RESEARCH REPORT for Blue Sky Center (2022)
︎ In order to raise awareness of local housing issues for the farmworker community in New Cuyama, t his report presented the results of a door-to-door survey administered by Blue Sky Center in late 2020 into early 2021. Through narratives and comparison, the results of these housing-focused questions are contextualized within the broader Cuyama Valley community.
︎ 32 pages, full-color, print and digital
The First Four Years
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ ANNUAL REPORT for Department of Public Transformation (2022)
︎ This document told the story of the Department of Public Transformation, an artist-led nonprofit organization that works to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places. The report includes milestones, narrative by numbers, artists supported, and lessons learned along the way.
︎ 36 pages, full-color, print
Event Feasability Study
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ RESEARCH REPORT for Blue Sky Center (2022)
︎ This report served as a data and resource guide for clients and visitors of Blue Sky Center that were interested in putting on an event in the Cuyama Valley. Beyond giving perspective on the existing culture and community of the Cuyama Valley, it also detailed venues, facilities, capacity, images, prior events, and case studies from other rural communities.
︎ 52 pages, full-color, digital
The Cost of Costa-Hawkins
︎ NON-PROFIT, HOUSING JUSTICE︎RESEARCH REPORT for San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition (2018)
︎ This report examines the impacts of The Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a statewide law that limits rent control. Featuring a history of the context in which the law passed and stories from tenants who have been impacted by the legislation, the report also contains in-depth analysis of data detailing the impact that this state law has had on San Francisco and other cities’ ability to stabilize rents and stem displacement of long-time residents.
︎ 36 pages, full-color, print and digital
Winter 21/22 Program
︎ CULTURAL INSTITUTION︎ EXHIBITION GUIDE for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (2021)
︎ Calendar, features, film introductions, and exhibition guide for the seasonal content at BAMPFA
︎ 32 pages, full-color, print and digital
School of the Arts
︎ CULTURAL INSTITUTION︎ RESIDENCY CATALOGUE for ArtStart Legacy Program and Arts Wisconsin (2018)
︎ This catalogue featured writings, artworks, and photo documentation of the ArtStart program, to be printed as a supplement for the local newspaper. Graphics and typefaces were developed from the historical collections at Treehaven, where the residency was held.
︎ 8 pages, full-color, newsprint broadsheet
Healthy Housing Handbook
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT, HOUSING JUSTICE︎ COMMUNITY HANDBOOK for City of St. James and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (Year)
︎ The Healthy Housing Handbook functioned as a workbook for city officials, community organizers, and community leaders to tackle housing equity issues in St. James, Minnesota. The Handbook is broken into four sections: Engagement Tools, Implementation Strategies, Handyman and Advocate Programs. The St. James Housing Committee strategically worked through the implementation strategies and engagement tools to build a robust housing program for their community.
︎ Bilingual, 56 pages, full-color, print and digital
Housing Resource Guide
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT, HOUSING JUSTICE︎ COMMUNITY HANDBOOK for City of St. James and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (Year)
︎ The Housing Resource guide connects tenants, landlords, and home-owners to available assistance, services, programs, and resources at a local, regional, statewide, and national level. The guide was designed in both Spanish and English, and with the St. James immigrant community in mind, specifying deliniations for resources that required proof of citizenship.
︎ Bilingual, 36 pages, full-color, print
Community Advocate Program
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT, HOUSING JUSTICE︎ COMMUNITY HANDBOOK for City of St. James and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (2018)
︎ The Advocate Roadmap is a bilingual workbook that outlines a detailed timeline for a pilot year of a focused advocacy program in St. James, mobilizing neighbors to connect neighbors to available resources. It includes estimated budgets, roles and responsiblities, funding strategies, instructions for how to facilitate future workshops, and an appendix of like-minded prorgams across the country.The handbook is broken into four sections: Facilitation Strategies, Implementation Strategies, Program Administration, and a Research Appendix.
︎ Bilingual, 46 pages, full-color, print and digital
Seeing the Stone
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTIST︎ EXHIBITION GUIDE for Cara Despain (2016)
︎ An exhibition guide designed as a field guide and map for audience members exploring public lands in Utah.
︎ 52 pages, full-color, print
The Land of Here and Now
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTISTS︎ RETROSPECTIVE CATALOGUE for Shared Space Studio (2016)
︎ This book documented four years of artists-in-residence in a rural beachside community of west Michigan. It tracks creative projects, local history and relevant events in Pentwater, reflections from the creative community, and photographs of the retrospective exhibition.
︎ 185 pages pages, full-color, book
Tracings
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ARTIST︎ RETROSPECTIVE CATALOGUE for Chris Watts (2022)
︎ This book is a retrospective catalogue of the life’s work and research of Chris Watts, a painter and mathemetician. It includes scholarly articles, early sketchbook processes, finished paintings, and reflections on five decades of work.
︎ 72 pages, full-color, book
︎ BRANDING + IDENTITY
Swale
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Identity development and all design assets for local business and creative studio—including social media graphics, print promotional materials, e-commerce buildout, and merchandise
The Open Eye
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for website, social media, and sales
Palouse Chamber of Commerce
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for website, social media, and tourism advocacy campaigns
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Palouse Days
︎ RURAL CULTURE, COMMUNITY 
︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for community-wide mailers, website, social media, and event publicity
Transportation Artists in Residence
︎ ARTS, TRANSPORTATION︎ NATIONAL
︎ Graphics and design assets for Smart Growth America to use on website, social media, and promotional materials
Healing, Bridging, Thriving
︎ ARTS, NON-PROFIT︎ NATIONAL
︎ Graphics and design assets for use by the National Endowment for the Arts for website, social media, and print materials for national convening
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Friends of St Elmo
︎ RURAL CULTURE, COMMUNITY 
︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for community-wide mailers, website, social media, and local historic preservation advocacy
Tony Kettel Skate Gardens
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for social media and fundraising
Full Moon Yoga Co-Op
︎ RURAL CULTURE, NON-PROFIT︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for social media and membership
TLC Animal Care
︎ RURAL CULTURE, VETERNARIAN︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for uniforms, merchandise, customer experience, and new location
Confluence Quilts
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ KALISPELL, MONTANA
︎ Graphics and design assets for quilt labels, website, business cards, social media
Wing Over Farm
︎ RURAL CULTURE, FARMER︎ MOSCOW, IDAHO
︎ Graphics and design assets for farmer’s markets, produce labels, farm store
Michele Anderson
︎ RURAL CULTURE, POLITICAL CAMPAIGN︎ FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA
︎ Graphics and design assets for social media, mailings, yard signs, campaign materials, and website
Jess Call Me
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for business, promotional materials, and associated product lines
Harris Construction
︎ RURAL CULTURE, ENTREPRENEUR︎ PALOUSE, WASHINGTON
︎ Graphics and design assets for business and promotional materials
︎ Civic Service
I often work as the de facto designer for community programming, partnering with neighbors to produce fun and hyperlocal didactics— flyers, group calendars, window posters, walking guides, parade routes, community data, social media graphics, hometown phonebooks, educational campaigns, local advocacy, bulletin board messages, care network spreadsheets, event itineraries, niche zines, and more.
