We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aviva Y Sakolsky a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Aviva Y thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Pandemic Art
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I created numerous pieces during the COVID – 19 Pandemic. Life during the deepest part of the Pandemic was frightening, anxiety provoking and socially isolating. Every morning I woke up knowing I would be facing another surrealistic, “Twilight Zone” day. Holidays and special occasions didn’t happen, my spirits were low. Visualizing and creating these pieces kept my mind occupied and gave me hope. This artwork was an expression of my fear, hope and longing for normalcy. The first time I showed my first Pandemic piece, it sold! I was grateful someone understood the feelings I was awash in and we all were experiencing, this validated my artistic expression and hard work.

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?

About Aviva Y Sakolsky
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Making art is a driving force in my life; I create to connect more deeply with myself and with others. Sometimes when I see an image that strikes me, I will photograph it for later reference, sometimes the images come from within. Often, I approach the work from the perspective of reflection and personal restoration of mind and spirit. I enjoy studying and delighting in objects and places that bring a sense of calm, beauty and serenity, but other times I want to express a question or even a quest. There are times when I hope to speak to the “self” living inside all of us by illuminating a feeling or point of view I hope to express, and then sharing it with others.
From a very young age, I was fortunate to have supportive parents so I was able to do a great deal of drawing, painting and experimenting with a variety of art materials at home. When I was nine through the age of thirteen, I took art classes at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, then moved from Queens to Rockland County, where I studied at the Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY through adulthood. I earned my B.A. in Fine Arts from SUNY Albany, then I continued my studies in Art Education at St. Thomas Aquinas, Sparkill, NY to obtain my Provisional Art Teacher Certification. I attended the graduate program in Fibers and Fabrics at Montclair State College, and earned permanent NYS certification in Art Education. I attended Long Island University, graduating with Honors, and earned a Masters of Science degree in Special Education in 2001. I have permanent teaching certifications in Art and Special Education in both New York and New Jersey (K-12) and have taught art on multiple levels from pre-school through senior citizens.
For two years, I painted under the tutelage of Master Painter, Paul Tappenden, in his Garner Arts Center studio, Garnerville, NY. From September through November 2022, my first solo exhibition, “Pieces of a Life” was presented at the Corner Frame Shop, Nyack, NY (now known as The Parker). In an exhibit last year at the Visual Arts Center, Summit, NJ, I won an Honorable Mention for my 24x24x24 inch piece, “Mending a Rended Heart”. I am currently a member of the Arts Association of Roxbury, the New Jersey Art Association, Studio Montclair, and the Montclair Art Museum. In my home studio, I continue to paint in acrylics, watercolors, alcohol inks and watercolor pencils, as well as create fiber works, assemblage pieces and collages.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I am very concerned with the environment and society’s general lack of attention to our planet. About two years ago, I painted a piece named, “Open Your Eyes”. My thoughts were, if only people would open their eyes to objectively see the world around them, perhaps then they would be able to evaluate their surroundings and actually feel some responsibility for the environment. Most of the damage, corrosion, deterioration and dwindling of resources has been and is due to human greed and carelessness. Many people don’t seem to value nature’s bounty and beauty, they believe resources are endless and will always be there for consumption. Each individual’s awareness, conservation and positive actions can collectively make a difference for our earth.

In my personal life I try to conserve, mend, make-do, and repair whatever I can. I have been using fabric shopping bags for over 30 years, and started to recycle before my community offered the opportunity. I have always donated my gently used clothing to a variety of organizations and I never waste food left-overs.

In my work, I attempt to convey my respect and appreciation of the visual beauty around me. When I walk or hike I take photos to revisit later while I consider what to include so I can share my vision. Sometimes it is how the light glimmers over the objects, how the perspective pulls my eyes to the distance, or how the colors lift my spirits, but no matter what the details are, I want the viewer to enjoy the idea of what I saw and my feelings about it. Even the innocence of children enjoying the outdoors, birds flying around a feeder or sitting in a bush trying to take refuge from the weather touch my heart. I hope viewers can appreciate the beauty and gifts of my world through my visual interpretations.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As a creative person, I look forward to sketching my ideas on paper to firm up the direction of my choices. The exchange of energy between my head, heart, hand and the canvas, paper or board is an energizing excitement that transports me into the “zone”. I love to show my work solo, with small or large groups, then chat with guests and/or the other artists about the pieces we are sharing. However, the most rewarding of all is when, after all the thought, work and preparation has gone into a piece, someone falls in love with work I have created and wants to take it home. There is great satisfaction in knowing someone thinks enough of my work to purchase and enjoy it forever!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.avivaysakolsky.com
• Instagram: @avivaysakolsky
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avivaysakolsky.me
• Youtube: www.rocklandartsfestival.org

Image Credits

Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky
Aviva Y Sakolsky