We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marie Cameron. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marie below.
Hi Marie, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I have a body of work called Critical Masses which focuses on the stability of ocean ecosystems, highlighting how we, as a species, are impacting small marine creatures. This series is dear to my heart as I have lived close to the ocean for most of my life, growing up in Maine and Nova Scotia and now making my home in the Bay Area of California where I still love to explore beaches, especially at low tide, where many inter-tidal creatures are magically revealed.
Inspired by the work of such environmental champions as Rachel Carson and Elizabeth Kolbert, my oil paintings take on the form of middens – clusters of discarded shells and detritus with some symbolic central element, representing the human conflict, superimposed in a surreal manner. I try to relay these stories in a colorful, representational way that might invite viewers in with the beauty of these creatures and hope the odd juxtaposition of unexpected elements will encourage curiosity. It has been my great pleasure to exhibit this work in a number of museums such as the New Museum Los Gatos, the Triton Museum of Art and de Young Museum of Art, and particularly exciting when I see children engage with the work and share their own profound experiences of beach combing and hopes for ocean conservation!
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 am an imaginative realist oil painter, mixed media assemblage artist and embroiderer of rainbows working out of my dream studio in Los Gatos, California. Throughout all my series, whether it is Critical Masses, Birds & Teacups, Flora & Fauna, Florilegia or #morerainbows!, I am interested in our relationship to each other, to other species and to our environment. I like to explore narrative in my work try to reveal truths that lie just beneath the surface, through symbolism and loose associations that spark connections. These associations may be dark or playful, but always beautiful because it is though beauty that our hearts and minds are opened and we can access our soul.
After graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, I worked in worked in giftware design and children’s book illustration to help support my art practice. Upon moving to the Bay Area in 1997, I found myself tapping into a vibrant and supportive arts community and pride myself on being an active participant, taking in and exhibiting in as many shows as I can. Recently, I even curated my first show, Lost Wild, at Whitney Modern in Los Gatos and have begun writing about artists for Los Gatos Living Magazine. My award-winning work has been exhibited and collected internationally and featured in many publications, galleries and museums.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love following my passions every day, focusing on work that not only has great meaning for me but the capacity to bring me hope and joy as well. The fact that this is my life’s work and that I am able to share it with others is a real gift!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
There is so much that goes into a thriving creative ecosystem!
Much of it consists of artists who are working multiple jobs to support their art or are barely making ends meet and venues are largely run by overworked volunteers, underpaid staff and institutional professionals working grant to grant to keep their jobs and gallerists who are struggling to keep brick and mortar galleries open!
There are many generous patrons and clubs that are supportive of their local art institutions, but I think the answer has to be more systemic than that. I believe that more financial resources should be made available on a city, state and national level. Perhaps even a universal basic income for artists?
Meanwhile, I have found art organizations on the community level to be very helpful in fostering connections, pooling resources and offering educational and exhibition opportunities. I have belonged to the Palo Alto Pacific Art League, the Art Association of Los Gatos, the Artist Alliance, the Northern California Women’s Caucus of Art and have served on the Steering Committee of Gallery 24 and the boards of New Museum Los Gatos, and the Art Docents of Los Gatos over the years and this is in large part why I feel so connected to my art community today. Being active brings opportunity,
Contact Info:
- Website: http://mariecameronstudio.com/
- Instagram: @mariecameronstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.cameron.334
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-cameron-69967850/
Image Credits
All photographs taken by Marie Cameron