We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amelia Currier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amelia below.

Amelia, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up, art was all around me. My mother always kept a little studio going, and to this day is still painting and showing her work at age 91. Her father was also a professional artist, he graduated from the Chicago Art Institute and made his living as a touch up artist. This atmosphere and the message – that art and creativity were a natural and enriching part of life- paved the way for me to nurture my own creativity, and find ways to make it possible. In high school, I attended a small private school in which we artists worked up in the attic of the mansion the school was housed in. My teacher took our curiosity and devotion to the arts seriously. He showed us his studio, educated us about modern artists, and put together exhibits in the school cafeteria. During this period my identity as an artist solidified. I earned my degree in printmaking , took art history classes, and broadened my knowledge of color theory and composition. I contemplated trying to live and work in my studio, while barely making a living- but didn’t have the temerity to keep at it. I eventually got a job as a paste -up artist ( before computers) and worked my art on the weekends. About 25 years ago, through a change in circumstances, I was able to work full time in my studio. I have since continued to proudly carry my torch as an artist.

Amelia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have devoted myself to the arts as a means of expression, exploration and enlightenment my entire life. As I illustrated in my personal history, it was not an endeavor I ever questioned, despite the occasional periods of of doubt and dry spells that come with being an artist. What service does an artist provide? The ever important and vital offering of enlightenment and solace, and the opportunity to question and shift one’s life perspective. When worthy art is presented, I believe, it can jog your consciousness. This is an invaluable means for personal and spiritual growth.
I am most proud that I have never quit ,- that I believe in my vision and take risks that may not garner me any profit. I hope you all will take a look at my portfolio and feel free to reach out to me.

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.

It is a scientific fact that the artist’s brain is different than the non-artist. There is a nerve pathway called the corpus callosum, it allows the two hemispheres to communicate with each other. An artist’s brain has a thicker pathway. The theory being that more information, (sensory, intellectual, cognitive) is passing back and forth. My own interpretation of this phenomenon is that it allows for a greater scope of imaginative play and a deeper sense of interpretation of the world around us. Besides the physiological aspect, -from my own experience knowing artists intimately for years-, I believe we are looking for some intangible answer, something deeper in our existence . Creating gives us the means to find and translate our observations to those around us. For myself, -since I work only abstractly- the work I create cannot be translated in any other medium, and the riddle of its existence is for the viewer to interpret.

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

When I was in my twenties, I knew artists who were able to live rough. They had no health insurance, nor any stable income. Yet, they persisted and kept working, having utter belief in what they had to offer the world. When I look back , I wish I had had more confidence in myself . I wish I’d had the guts to sacrifice some safety and stability in order to devote myself entirely to my work. As a young women in Detroit, it was a risky life style. Instead, I had a job, and worked on the side. Once I became a mother, I made a conscious decision to devote myself to that role, something I wholeheartedly do not regret. My son is also an artist , which fills my heart with joy. Now, I am full steam ahead, but I do have a faint regret about those early days. Now, as a seasoned artist, I create what I like , I rarely question myself and am not concerned with getting anyone’s approval. So, that’s some solace!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ameliacurrier.com
• Instagram: ameliacurrier77