2019 Women’s History Month Blog Post Responses:
1. Can you tell us a bit about your current artistic practice? Any new projects that you are working on?
“My current work is very connected to the community that I have found in Western Massachusetts. I moved here after leaving Franconia in the winter of 2016, and was introduced to the music community that my boyfriend was a part of. Shy and unmusical, I worked on projects at home, such as rughooking, painting and sewing until I started to meet people who were interested in making art with me. I met Beverly Ketch, a fantastic and inspiring poet, musician and ideas lady. We spoke of a magical children’s tv show that we wanted to produce about fairies that live in the town planters. Now we are nearly 2 years into the project, “The Lovelights” and plan to release our pilot episode in August at our 2nd “Fairy House Day on Avenue A” Street festival. This art project is farther reaching than any I have attempted in the past. Not only am I making all of the costumes and props for the show, I am filming it, editing it and acting in it. I am hosting workshops for children at the non profit art space that Beverly and I opened in Greenfield, MA a year ago. I am writing grants, meeting with local arts administrators, and planning and promoting art camps for kids. When I’m not busy working on editing my show, I am editing others at my job at the Montague Commuity Television Station. I also spend a lot of time at our shop in Greenfield, called Looky Here, it is a gallery and we have a lot of openings and events as well as classes such as life drawing and music theory and we also function as a thrift shop for art supplies and music equipment. I still make paintings, and clothing and sculptures at my home studio in Putney, VT, and sometimes get commissions. I’m currently working on building an outdoor chandelier for a local bar, and I frequently illustrate comics for the children’s page of the Montague Reporter.”
2. What project did you make during your residency here at the park?
“I took the opertunity to learn how to weld during my residency at Franconia, and I made a very large sketch of a figure titled ‘Self Portrait with Cucumbers’. I was interested in spas during my residency and also produced ‘Spa Show’ with my fellow intern Nicole O’Malley, which was put on in Minneapolis by the gallery ‘Yeah Maybe’.”
3. Why did you want to become an artist or what made you want to become an artist?
“I’ve wanted to be an artist as long as I can remember. My parents encouraged me and I have been going to museums and art classes all of my life.”
4. What keeps you motivated in the studio?
“I simply have an urge to continue making at all times. Maybe it’s a nervous energy, but it keeps me happy and proud.”
5. What other artists who identify as women influence your artistic practice?
“My friends are some of my biggest influences and inspirations: Beverly Ketch, Sarah Lanzillotta and Abby Rusk are my current collaborators, and are a constant source of encouragement and support in all of our projects, which are Looky Here and The Lovelights TV. The continuing production of my friends from college, Tayler Jones and Becca White brings me new ideas and inspiration. Contemporary artists I admire are Jamie Warren, Peggy Noland, Sascha Brauning, Agnes Varda, and I continue to find new inspiration form the works of Grandma Moses, Alice Neel, Yoko Ono, and Hannah Ryggen.”
6. Any advice for aspiring artists who identify as women out there?
“One thing that I’ve recently realized, is that all of the people I’ve been working with, inside and outside of my close collaborations, are women. The grant foundations are headed by women, the cultural council, the principal of the school I work for, and the local arts center are all female, and are very supportive and encouraging. Their kindness and eagerness to help me makes it easier to do the community art that I see as important. My advice is not to be shy about meeting people and telling them your ideas, so many people care a lot about helping artists!”
