We recently connected with Marcia Reed and have shared our conversation below.

Marcia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I think it’s brave and a risk just to be a creative person! O’keeffe said it best. “To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”

One isn’t always going to find an audience that resonates to your style, personal taste in artwork or the curatorial decisions on what I place in my gallery.

What is good taste to some is not universal. I’m finding this is true, yet taking the risk and believing in the art I paint and also place in the gallery represents an ongoing process.

I was an art educator for thirty five years and always found the time to paint and maintain my practice of wanting to be a painter. The real risk came after retiring and wanting to open a gallery business to promote my own work and other artists. I knew nothing about opening a small business and it was a real learning curve and challenge. I felt strongly I knew art and I was determined in this huge risk of buying a building and opening a gallery I would remain true to myself and keep to my vision!

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 was born and raised in western Massachusetts. Like a lot of painters I had a deep interest in art since first grade! I was encouraged by two aunts who were professional graphic designers in NYC. I wrote a career report in 8th grade about wanting to pursue art and in my Senior year profile in the newspaper I was quoted as saying I would own a gallery on the coast of Maine. Some truth in this but the gallery is located in southern DE!

I received a BFA and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. I taught painting and Design at a private New England boarding school for thirty five years. During this time I was professionally painting from 1978 to the present.

My painting career has taken me all over the world exhibiting in galleries in Seoul, Korea, The Republic of Macedonia, USVI, The North East, CA.

My Gallery 37 business has had success being awarded five times Best Gallery downstate in DE Today magazine. I’m proud of this fact since I never started out knowing how to run, operate or maintain a small business

Since moving to DE thirteen years ago my own painting imagery has shifted. I noticed this by living next to a tidal river. The river became a symbol for the ebbs and flows of life. The seasonal shifts in nature and in ourselves. Painting makes me acutely aware of my senses. All my work is dominated by expressive line depicting movement as I feel nothing is still in nature during any season.

The visual narrative in my work is the borderline between the conventional separation of abstraction and representation. I’m so attracted to that life force that unfolds in nature.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My primary goal as a painter and as an owner of a small female owned fine art gallery is to keep to my personal vision.

It has taken me a long time to find my personal voice and narrative in my work. I’ve been painting for forty seven years and now find that I’m painting authentically my own brush vocabulary and imagery.

I have been a painter first before being a teacher and an art gallery owner. I learned long ago to follow what interests me and not to try and fit into someone else’s definition of art and what sells.

I use this same mission and goal in my gallery business that represents many artists and artisans. The gallery reflects my personal vision of art and to hold up that image to the public. Honestly, sometimes not easy economically or the taste aesthetically! However I stick to my personal vision and I don’t waiver.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I find that after a painting exhibition or show and you don’t sell you can’t fold and retreat.

It’s about your commitment to your painting process which makes you grow as a painter.
It isn’t about sales, it would be nice but you have to push forward. I paint because it is the extension of who I am. It’s like breathing!

I get great pleasure being in my studio for hours. That is what is important. Not that you had a sold out show. I paint even when there is no show on the horizon. It is emotional resilience bouncing back and coming back stronger knowing you are going in the right direction regardless of the outcome. It’s all about keeping to your personal vision!

Contact Info:

• Website: www. Marciareedpainting.com
• Instagram: #gallery37delaware
• Facebook: Gallery 37-A Destination for Artful Living

Image Credits

Melissa Cooperman