We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcy Stagner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marcy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My art career began at a very young age and has evolved greatly over time. Currently, my work is painting-centered with mixed-media materials including acrylic, gouache, gold leaf, and resin. In addition to my painting endeavors, I’ve been fortunate enough working as a Director in the non-profit world to bring my creativity and vision there as well. One project I worked on a few years ago that was particularly meaningful was a huge chuppah, which is a canopy used in a Jewish wedding to symbolize the joining of families together. It symbolizes welcoming and creating space together. This chuppah was made from PVC and had the word “inclusion” laser cut in 13 different languages all around it. It was then suspended from the ceiling in the lobby at my place of work at the time. I was able to create a vision and work with the folks at Holliday Flowers and Events to help me execute the idea. It was hugely meaningful for the community and helped me continue on a pathway of creating “socially-aware artistic experiences” for Memphis that feeds my soul in addition to my painting work.
Marcy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a single-mom of two boys who are just the best. I have always been an artist and have dabbled in many forms including painting and metal work. I currently create abstract and mixed-media paintings and work on commission as well. I’ve recently started a series of bugs I’m painting that are inspired by my boys. When they were little, they were both obsessed with bugs and would bring them in the house, much to my chagrin. That became the impetus for the bug series that is about to be released! My work is meditative with a heavy focus on color and expressionism. I love working with my clients to create the perfect piece for their space. In addition to being an artist and the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Opportunities at Church Health, a local non-profit health care organization that provides top-notch services to those facing social and economic challenges, I am a yoga instructor, which lends itself to the mindfulness in my work. I will often practice before I start painting to center myself and see what unfolds from there.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Our communities need to continue supporting local artists and creatives. Shop for holiday gifts at your local markets, buy local coffee, hire local artists to commission work for your home and office spaces. Celebrate local artists on social media and tell your friends. By supporting local artists, we are keeping creativity alive and supporting our own local financial ecosystems while helping local artists make a living and keep money in our cities!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Not everyone is going to like your art and that’s ok. Your art is not for everybody and YOU are not for everybody. Gaining the confidence to be ok with rejection is a learned skill.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marcystagner.com
- Instagram: @marcy.stagner.art
- Facebook: Marcy Stagner Art
- Linkedin: Marcy Wurzburg Stagner