Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Siekman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Gabrielle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
During my Junior year of high school, I was pregnant with my daughter. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future or what career path best fit my needs. It was scary and stressful. I felt a pull towards the arts, but afraid of the financial uncertainty, and with the advice of the adults at my high school, I opted for a more practical and stable future. To scratch the itch of needing to be creative, I took a Visual Arts class. My teacher, Mr. Kunk, was an amazing artist and more than that, he talked to me like a person instead of the judgement I felt from many of my other teachers. There is a stigma that comes with being so young with child: People tend to look down on you, and form negative opinions about the kind of person you are. I didn’t let it show, but it bothered me deeply. Mr. Kunk didn’t treat me any differently though. His class became a safe space for me, and I opened up about my struggles with what to do about my future. I wanted to be an artist, but kept wrestling with the fear of not being able to make ends meet. I told him about my interest in applying for Governer’s School for the Arts, and how I did not have the time to put together a portfolio due to working after school and on the weekends. He didn’t have to, but he offered to allow me to take his class-and instead of doing the assignments, I could work on my own art and build my portfolio for my GSA audition. On top of that, he taught me how to paint with oil paints, and let me use his oil paint for my own work since I couldn’t afford my own. It was a kindness I’ll never forget.
I did not get accepted into GSA, and I was devasted. It confirmed for me that trying to make it as an artist was not the correct path for my future, and I should just give up on that dream. Mr. Kunk’s encouragement didn’t stop though. He told me that this was not a make it or break it moment, that I didn’t need to be accepted into this program to have permission to be an artist. As long as I was passionate about what I wanted to do, I would find a way to make it happen. His encouragement and belief in me is a big part of why I am a successful artist today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
It has been a long and difficult road to get to where I am today, but I can proudly say that “I am doing the thing!”
In 2019 I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus in Painting, from Northern Kentucky University. Since then, I have shown art in galleries around the tristate, worked on several public art projects and murals, sold original paintings, and completed many commissioned works. My personal work has focused on the negative impact humans have on the environment, such as pollution and deforestation, as well as human rights issues. Having experienced injustices throughout my life, I have made it my mission to be a voice against the many injustices I see happening in this world, and open up a conversation on what we can do about it. I make art about these topics, but I have also implemented many changes in my daily life to help create a better and healthier world for my daughter to grow up in. One of these changes was to begin growing an organic vegetable garden. There are so many trials and errors to growing your own food, but I believe it is something that anyone is capable of. Sharing the knowledge I’ve gained along the way is important to me, so I began a YouTube channel called “Gabby’s Garden,” where I do my best to not only be educational and share what has worked for me, but also to create wholesome and inspiring content in an age where you see so many people on the internet doing whatever it takes to get the clicks. Spending so many hours in the garden definitely influences the art I create, and I have made many paintings of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects! I am comfortable and at home with the sun on my skin, wind in my face and surrounded by my garden, but I have also pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. You see, I struggle with public speaking. It was never an issue for me to perform at drama competitions throughout middle and high school as a character, but when it comes to speaking as myself- being vulnerable and putting the true me out there- I have a very hard time. (When I gave my artist talk at my Senior Thesis Show, you would have thought I was fanning myself with how bad my hands were shaking!) For over a year now, I have been teaching painting and drawing courses at Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center in Covington, Kentucky. It was scary at first, but being in front of a class is much easier now and it is so fulfilling to help others develop their skills. I have found a love for teaching there. Currently, I am working full-time as a lead artist on a large, interactive public art project called “Immersion Alley.” It is a one-of-a-kind mural that will completely immerse the viewer in the art and challenge them to go on a treasure hunt! We have an Instagram page, (@Immersionalley) where you can keep up with progress, the silly videos our team of artists put together, and updates on the big unveiling event.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the fact that I get to do something I am passionate about as my job. I have been in other fields such as lifeguarding, working at a daycare, and waiting tables at restaurants, but it was always out of necessity for making ends meet. I’ve had coworkers along the way that I am still friends with today, but the job itself was never something I loved to do and looked forward to doing every day. As an artist, I’m doing what I love and showing my daughter that following her dreams will pay off in the long run.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I just want to be happy. Over the years I have struggled with my mental health, and art has always been a therapeutic way for me to process my emotions and say what I need to say. The world is hurting, and I’ve always found it confusing how our culture perpetuates so many of the issues. I make art that points these problems out, encourages conversation, and has a call to action for change. I make art to convey love and joy and pain and worry and so many other emotions.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gabriellesiekman
- Youtube: Gabby’s Garden