#sparkchamber 030821 — International Women’s Day
Wishing each and every a happy and empowerful International Women’s Day from #sparkchamber today. International Women’s Day is celebrated around the globe, honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. In their words:
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions — all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.
In that spirit, we want to remind everyone of self-taught contemporary artist and activist, Amy Smith. Born in New Jersey, Amy moved to Los Angeles where she found inspiration, mentors, and support in the Street Art community.
In her Collage Portrait Series, Amy uses photography, layers of hand-cut stencils, and torn, recycled fashion magazine pieces to deconstruct self-identity from brand identity. Using up-cycled magazines gives an added importance to the environmental while focusing on a new narrative showcasing women with the goal to unify. These portraits create a space to feel connected to oneself and to each other in authenticity.
Amy’s mixed-media collages have been shown at Saatchi’s The Other Art Fair, Wallspace Gallery, The Whole 9 Gallery, and have been part of auctions such as revered Julien’s Auctions with artists like Mr. Brainwash, Shepard Fairey, and Andy Warhol. Her works can also be found on online galleries like SaatachiArt and Artsy.net, as well as featured in a number of private collections, residences, businesses, television shows, and films.
She is currently exploring a new series of collage with neon elements, and a series of stencils on natural wood.
This is a great interview with Amy from May 2020, and there’s a lot to love on her Instagram.
Her thoughts on the creative process, originally posted April 27, 2020:
1.] Where do ideas come from?
I like to brainstorm and look at a lot of research. I get inspiration from things I read, issues I want to share, or ways I want to empower people. I try to think of how I want the viewer to feel after they look at my paintings.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
Right now I have a couple things going on. I am focusing on a Powerful Pop Culture series dedicated to women that have made significant change in our world to showcase the importance of using our voices for change. And how that can be translated into the popular culture if that’s what we deem valuable.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
I work best at night. I have a 3-year-old as well so most times I’m working during his nap or after he goes to bed. I try to carve out and schedule my time. I definitely use a to-do list as much as I can. I have things written down so I know where and what to focus on. As an artist you have to be the creator and promoter of your work. I spend most of my time creating though. I work with galleries and promote my work on social media. I love collaborating with other artists too. That’s always a fun way to get your work out there in a different way.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
I just recently really paid attention to when I thought I was finished a painting, I was still anxious about it and took some time away from it. I realized I was not finished. But when I was done, I felt calm. So I try to pay attention to the calm feeling and if it’s not there, try and figure out why.
