We were lucky to catch up with Kathryn Rodrigues recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kathryn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I remember always being drawn to creativity and art as a child though I didn’t feel particularly good at it. It wasn’t until I took my first photography class in high school that I felt it was something I could pursue professionally. I fell in love with the process of shooting, developing and printing film in a darkroom and how it combined technical and creative skills. The combination of close observation and personal expression really clicked with my personality. While pursuing a BFA in Photography, I also became interested in teaching and decided to go to graduate school for Art Education. I wanted to continue to develop as an artist but I was also drawn to the collaborative, thought-provoking and inspiring atmosphere created when teaching in a studio art environment.

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

I am a Chicago based artist and educator. Growing up in a military family, I have repeated the process of disassembling, moving, reassembling and acclimating my home, community and sense of self across different countries, contexts and cultures. This pattern has led me to feel most at home when I am transitioning between layered identities. I am fascinated by the ambiguity of simultaneous belonging and longing, separation and closeness, the known and unknown. Due to both my Portuguese family heritage and the experience of living in three Lusophone countries, I feel a deep connection to saudade, a Portuguese word considered untranslatable, that denotes a nostalgic remembrance of certain people, places or things, absent or forever lost, accompanied by the yearning to see or possess them once more. My work explores the emotional relationships we form with the spaces we inhabit. The focus, time and resources I pour into my work all serve as tools for remembering, honoring and understanding my past and present. My experience growing up outside of the U.S. as a third-culture kid left me with a deep interest in identity, memory, domestic life, and the natural world. My work investigates the interconnectedness of these topics through photography and mixed media collage. My current work explores the contrast between my transient, international childhood and current life in the suburbs, ideas of transcendence within a domestic setting, and my experience as a parent.
In addition to my studio practice, I also have nearly 20 years experience teaching studio art courses for students in grades 4-12 and professional development courses and workshops for school teachers and teaching artists. To build relationships and connect with people through art making is a gift that I don’t take for granted. Making art has been an essential tool for me in understanding myself and the world I inhabit since high school. The foundation of my artistic and teaching practice is rooted in a lifelong desire to explore, learn, collaborate and connect with others.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the built in toolkit I have for understanding and processing my life experiences. Because my work is so personal, it gives me an opportunity to deeply observe my relationship to myself and others and my place in the world at every stage of life. Being an artist has encouraged my curiosity and desire to continue learning and expanding my horizons and community. I also know that failure is a part of the creative process and there is generally not one right or wrong way to do things!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal driving my creative journey is to create personally meaningful work and connect with others through my art. I get so much joy from the act of creating on an intellectual and emotional level. Knowing that ultimately time is our most precious resource, I am determined to dedicate my time and resources to creating and supporting other artists. I feel strongly that our quality of life is greatly enhanced by participating in or observing art. It helps us find meaning, comfort, pleasure and hope.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathrynrodrigues.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathryn.rodrigues/

Image Credits
Headshot image by Logan Square Photo All other photos by me, Kathryn Rodrigues