Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ann Tracy . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ann, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I come from a unique place: I’ve always had a natural affinity for the arts, but my training was conceptual. I never planned to support myself through this work. I don’t want to make creative compromises to meet the market. I’d lose the passion. But I’m also an environmentalist with no desire to consume a lot of art materials, and put a lot of commercial things into the world. I try to create minimally and with purpose.
During college I got a part-time job at the newspaper which blossomed into a long career in online media. It was a good fit, and I loved those newspaper years. There was a sense of purpose for our community. My co-workers were overwhelmingly smart, creative and dedicated. But the work didn’t drain my own creativity and I always found time for the studio – even if it was just an hour here and there. Later in life I taught art.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I received my BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and attended graduate school at San Francisco Art Institute. I love being a multi-media artist: painting, installation, and walking art. I’ve started playing piano too.
For this feature I’m focusing on black & white photographs of water. These photos are from a daily visual journal of walking art about relationships in nature. (Please visit my website or social media to see the paintings and installations too!) The goal is encouraging appreciation of our natural world, and perhaps guide viewers into a deeper, more thoughtful relationship with their environment.
Due to increasing climate change affecting my disability, I live in both Duluth, Minnesota; and Tucson, Arizona. For now that’s manageable – I’m fortunate to spend summers along Lake Superior, and winters along Sabino Creek in the Sonoran Desert.
Upcoming I’ll have 4-6 larger paintings in an exhibit about narrative at Stevens Gallery, in the Stearns Center for the Arts in Tucson. The exhibit opens Sept 23, 2023. I’ve confirmed a residency in 2024 at Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland. This will be a repeat trip to Ireland for me, where I feel a connection on many levels.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Since I don’t rely on selling work for my living, I do apply for grants and other opportunities. It’s a bit of work completing written proposals and budgets, and editing image files, but it’s worth it. Early in my career, I belonged to an artist co-op, and we needed someone to do grant-writing. That experience ended up being a gift. One thing I didn’t know is that granting organizations are happy to help you via workshops, tutorials, phone calls and emails. Seek out opportunities and ask for help when you need it.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Whew! That’s a dozy. About 10 years ago, through no decision of my own, I had to take a different, slower path through life. We live in a society that values productivity. Those that don’t measure up to that standard are considered less valuable. You would think an artist would be more of a free thinker, but this is so engrained in our ways that it’s been a struggle. I still have to stop, question and restructure my thinking. And you know what? I’m an artist regardless if I made any (art)work today or not. It’s who I am. It’s a different way of living, of noticing, and of being. I hope as a society we can eventually move towards a more inclusive and sustainable lifestyle.
Contact Info:
- Website: AnnTracyArt.com
- Instagram: AnnTracyArt
- Facebook: AnnTracy
Image Credits
Headshot only: Coco Snell. All other photos by the artist.