We were lucky to catch up with Sapira Cheuk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sapira, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The project that has been most meaningful recently has been curating the exhibition Along the Colorado. This exhibition brings together artists, scientists, and advocates to share work about the drought declared on the Colorado river. Here’s a short description of the exhibition:

On August 16, the US Bureau of Reclamation announced the first official shortage declaration for the Colorado River. For the seven US states along the river, this means new restrictions and a changed relationship not only to the river, but also to each other. The exhibition Along the Colorado highlights artwork that explores issues around water; its scarcity, use, commodification, conservation, legality, and other issues through the lens of artists who reside in these states.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Sapira Cheuk is an ink painter and installation artist interested in proprioception, ways of knowing through the body, and how these modes of knowledge reflect or internalize external experiences. Cheuk has exhibited in numerous exhibitions, including those at the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Orange County Contemporary Art Center, Center for Contemporary Art Texas, Masur Museum, The Netura Museum, Yellowstone Art Museum, Rochester Contemporary Art Museum, and Culver Center for the Arts. Cheuk works for the Nevada Arts Council, serves as the Art Editor for the museum of americana, and has taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She received her BA at University of California, Riverside and MFA from California State University, San Bernardino.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

This work has allowed me to connect and share the stories of so many. While it has many challenging moments, the connections I’ve made and the mutual support I’ve experienced are priceless.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Allowing myself time to discover, grow and focus on the WHY I make art. Many very talented folks I’ve met get caught up in trying to achieve a specific status, which often results in feeling like a failure when they are trying to reach the impossible in a short timeline (say getting a solo exhibition or gallery representation right after starting their art journey). Don’t try to tie success and fulfillment to external validation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sappycheuk.wixsite.com/works
• Instagram: sappycheuk

Image Credits
Peter Bugg