We recently connected with REBECCA SKELTON and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, REBECCA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Schrödinger’s Diamonds is my current project and it is meaningful to me because of its layers. I knew I wanted to do this project because it was the “3 Fs” — futile, frustrating and philosophical. Futile, because if anyone ever buys one, they will probably break it; frustrating, because it was so time consuming and costly; philosophical, because it asks viewers to question their values even if they don’t buy/break one. Schrödinger’s Diamond is a numbered edition of 50 diamond shaped ceramic capsules which may or may not have a diamond inside.

Until/unless you break it, you will not know. Do you want to own an art object which may contain a diamond? Would you rather break what you have bought only to discover you do not have a diamond?

Schrödinger’s Diamonds evolve from a number of inspirations.
1) Schrödinger’s Cat, a thought experiment from quantum mechanics.
2) Tourist rock shops in the mountains where you buy a geode to break it so you can see if you chose wisely.
3) Opposite of “you break it, you bought it.”
4) Scratch-off lottery tickets.

Each diamond shaped capsule is made of fired clay. I pressed tiny slabs of damp clay into top and bottom molds I had made, fired them, then assembled them. Each one is primed, painted, and numbered. Each contains a tiny black velvet bag inside a very small acrylic diamond shaped box. Each bag holds either a diamond or something that resembles a diamond.

This has been a multi-year project. The idea came in a dream state.

It took a while to decide on the shape of the containers and then to figure out what material and process would work the best. I had to take ceramics classes for access to the materials and kilns. It allowed me to combine unexpected materials and required research as well as working outside my comfort zone of drawing and painting.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My bio is kind of dry: I earned my B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.  I worked in the advertising industry in Atlanta before moving to St. Petersburg in 1985. My work has been collected, exhibited, and published since 1974. I have taught art classes as an adjunct professor for University of Tampa, St. Petersburg College, USF St. Petersburg, HCC Ybor, and Eckerd College as well as for the Morean Arts Center, Creative Clay, Youth Arts Corps, and the Dali Museum. My work can be seen in the Morean Arts Center, Florida CraftArt Gallery, Davidson’s Fine Art, and Articles. As a volunteer, I have participated in many community projects, including for St. Petersburg’s First Night, the Museum of Fine Arts Garden Party series, the Salvador Dali Museum, WMNF, the Humane Society, American Stage, Stageworks, Tampa Aids Network/Equality Florida, Visual Aids NYC, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Katrina/Rita hurricane relief, Family Resources, Family Services, Bayfront Hospital and Southeastern Guide Dogs.
A less specific but more personal translation might be:

I knew from an early age I wanted to be an artist so I got what education I could and tried to gain as many kinds of art experiences as I could absorb. I needed to support myself, (and no one was buying much of my art) so I found work in the advertising industry. In those days, you didn’t need to have specialized training, although it would have helped. Because I felt compelled to pass on my knowledge and experience, I began teaching. All the while I have continued to create my own art without the need to sell it, although people do occasionally buy it. I have been able to pursue my own vision with few constraints. My brand is “Random.”

It appears I am most concerned with donating art to charity. Why not? I have more of that than I have cash.

I think the problem I could solve for theoretical clients is they can display their own independent taste and intelligence.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

There is no such thing as a non-creative. Creativity may not be top of the skills for a particular profession (looking at you, accountants) but creativity is part of being alive. Everyday living requires constant creative thinking. What will I wear, what will I eat, what will I fix out of what have I got, what route/means will I take to/from work, shopping, socializing, what new thing will I learn/see/do? Every choice is a new possibility. How you arrange your living space or workspace, even, how you arrange your time requires creative thinking. We all feel uncreative at times, so, if you need a traditionally creative outlet, there is one waiting for you. Taking an art/music/writing/acting class can make you realize there is more to you than you thought, and you might be unexpectedly good at it. I have seen it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey is blind stupid resilience. I have always found a way to make art even it it was art adjacent, like my work choices. Without connections, it has mostly been uphill. I was only about the 4th best artist in my class, but was only one of two who had the burning desire enough to pursue it. My parents were against it, but did relent, only because, back then, girls were supposed to find husbands in college and we would be expected to quit any career to become homemakers, so an art degree only meant I would be “cultured.” Since I did not get married, (I tried, just wasn’t good at it) I needed to support myself, but being in the middle of Alabama with no real art market, (although I did sell a number of works, just not enough to live on,) I found graphic design and illustration work in publishing/advertising eventually in Atlanta. I did later marry which gave me the wiggle room to do more art and I was able to start teaching art classes. Being unable to secure a full-time teaching position just made my art better. Retirement has meant that I can do just art. I am still not the best, but will never give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: RebeccaSkelton.com
• Instagram: RebeccaSkeltonArtStudio
• Facebook: Rebecca Skelton Art
• Linkedin: Rebecca Skelton
• Twitter: @rebeccazskelton

Image Credits
Brian James Photographer for Phoenix and Dziva, all others Rebecca Skelton