Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Zito

Hi Stefanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I’ve always known myself to be an artist. As a child, I had an insatiable need to create, whether drawing or constructing with any material on hand. My family moved around a lot during my childhood, so while many typical extracurricular activities were less consistent or available to participate in, art making of some kind was always within reach.

As I grew older I struggled to understand how this way of being could sustain my own livelihood, and wondered if I should be doing more straightforward in practicality to contribute to the world. Upon going to college, I mulled over many ideas and changed majors a number of times, even changing schools a few times as well. I found myself just wandering the art departments even when I had no classes there just to get close to this space and the sights and smells of it. It took me a couple of years to realize that for me, it had always been art and I’d need to stay true to that and figure out the rest somehow.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It’s not been particularly smooth, but looking back at my trajectory, it feels clear that art has always been the best suited path for me. A lot of my initial struggles had been internal, grappling with purpose and direction. Even since getting my art degree I have had a pattern of derailing myself from my making. I fell for a narrative that art is self-serving or selfish, and I wanted to be someone who could make a tangible difference in the world. But the reality is that “making a difference” necessitates making at a fundamental level. What’s more is that creativity involves thoughtfulness and attention, leading to intention and connection. These are attributes that can play out in a generous and generative way in the world, and are aspects in my life I want to sharpen and cultivate. Even though struggle and stress dance with flow in the making of my work, the reality is that when I am creating art I feel more whole. Making art, however bizarre and tedious is the truest thing I know to do with myself. It requires intentional creation and cultivation, material care, humble inquiry, and mysterious encounter. Both the making and viewing of art require us to pause. Probably now more than ever we could collectively benefit from opportunities to reflect and hone our attention. I now view art making as a generous act–somehow we all benefit.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

My work involves the use of natural materials and found objects. Drawing inspiration from ecology, my work is process-driven and materials-led, exploring ideas of home and the substance of time. I utilize slow and traditional domestic practices like spinning, stitching, cooking, gardening and weaving. In the deconstruction and reimagining of both natural and commonly discarded materials, I explore what it means to inhabit space and cultivate growth. Part of my practice involves the use of natural dye from plant matter that I grow from seed or collect from kitchen food scraps before they hit the compost. Upon extracting the natural dye from these materials, I apply them to yarns and other fibers from my own material ecosystem (such as retired bedsheets). I most commonly construct soft sculpture with these materials through sewing and the exploration of doubleweave techniques on my looms.

How do you think about happiness?

What makes me the happiest is to be in nature with people I love. To me there is nothing better than a long walk with others in the forest—especially a walk that can lead to a viewpoint. Naturally, the act of making brings me immense joy as well— whether it is a woven sculpture, or simply baking a tasty pie.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stefaniezito.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stefaniezito_studio/

Image Credits

Photo credits: Kaylan Buteyn, Christine Lorenz, and Jonathan Zito