crosshatch
through the years
The Inception
2004: Pre-Crosshatch
Brad and Amanda meet, talk big ideas over martinis, and hatch a plan for this work.
2005: The Seed
ISLAND (Institute for Sustainable Living, Art, and Design) officially starts March 16, 2005. Brad and Amanda marry in August, 2005, and send the first fundraising letters to the wedding guest list.
2006: The Beginnings
The first workshop is Edible Forest Gardening with Dave Jacke on Jayne Letherman-Walkers’ farm.
THE EARLY YEARS
2007
Sandor Katz workshop on fermentation.
First benefit concert at Short’s Brewing Company.
2008
First skill swap at Wagbo.
First interns hired, Maria Wesserly and Yvonne Stephens, who were also the first to be paid by ISLAND.
2009
Yvonne Stepens becomes ISLAND’s first employee.
Rooting Deep Branching Out exhibition at Jordan River Arts Council.
CONTINUING THE WORK
2010
Hill House welcomes its first artists in residence.
2017
ISLAND becomes Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology.
2023
The Alluvion opens its doors with Crosshatch as a co-owner.
2025
Crosshatch buys 221 N. Bridge Street in downtown Bellaire to open Crosshatch Meeting Place + Mercantile.