We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Vickles a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I have learned to do the work I do through hands-on experiences and applying the knowledge learned through various fields of studies – not all arts-related. Knowing what I know now it is so important to enjoy every moment of learning and the different experiences that come into one’s life. Every project, job, and field of study has provided me with a variety of experiences resulting in my unique skills and knowledge. The most important single skill is to stay curious, followed by being open to always learning.

The obstacles I have faced are ones that I think a lot of people can relate to, if not understand. There are of course the larger systemic issues that we are all facing – colonialist and imperialistic oppression in all its forms, which includes unchecked global capitalism. I am a Black woman in a world society that is still learning how to listen to and support women, especially women of color. I grew up in Colorado, from humble beginnings without access to wealth and its affiliated networks. I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, my father only completed school up to the ninth grade and my mother moved to the United States when she was 27 years old. All of these factors are both challenges but also important circumstances that shaped me into being me. I would not trade any of it for another situation as I would miss out on becoming the person I am today.

Marie, 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 have always been, and always will be an artist at heart. How I manifest my creativity over the span of my professional career has taken many different forms. I began working during college as a Textile Designer and continued that work for a few years after graduating. I have designed jewelry and worked as a graphic designer and art teacher. In my current role as a museum educator, cultural practitioner, and curator I have the privilege of working with an incredible team of artists and other creatives that facilitate opportunities for people of all ages to come together and experience the power of art and community. I also find myself creating more time for my own artistic practice and I have been making multimedia collage works and photography. Another important aspect of what I do is building and supporting the community through art and creative experiences. That can look like curating art exhibitions, shout out to the Little Haiti Cultural Center art gallery, and supporting artists’ professional development by curating programs at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. I am also expanding into more national and international projects as well which I look forward to announcing this fall!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think one of the things that society can do to best support artists, creatives and thereby contribute to a creative ecosystem is to get involved with arts organisations by showing up. Go check out the museum with friends and family, go see a theater production, go listen to the opera, sign up for an art class – try something creative! We are connected to one another in our ability to see, appreciate and participate in artistic experiences as it helps us to understand, and sometimes see our lives from a different perspective.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think the business aspects of being creative are not discussed and focused on enough within the professional field. The arts exist within the infrastructures that we all are navigating and artists and creatives need to be better prepared – and continuously update their business and administrative skills in tandem with their creative skills.

The other critical aspect of working in the creative field – and any other field for that matter – is the importance of collaboration, partners, and mentors. I could not do the work I do without the incredible people that I have worked with on various projects throughout this journey….folks like artist and cultural practitioner william cordova, curator Amy Rosenblum-Martin, collaborator and writer/archivist Nadege Green, and artist Edouard Duval-Carrié – to name just a few! There are so many more! These folks have provided and shared their resources, knowledge, and experience thereby contributing to my success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marievickles.com
• Instagram: @marievickles

Image Credits
Headshot Credit:
1. Marie Vickles_Photo Credit Passion Ward courtesy of Maven Leadership Collective.

Other image credits:
2. Walls Turned Sideways are Bridges curated by Marie Vickles and william cordova.
3. ArcAthens Curatorial Residency with Tasha Douge and Adeola Naomi Aderemi courtesy of ArcAthens.
4. Local Global – Borderless Caribbean exhibition curated by Marie Vickles_photo credit Martina Tuaty
5. Give Them Their Flowers exhibition curated by Marie Vickles and Nadege Green image courtesy of David Gary Lloyd Photography.
6. Introspective exhibition curated by Marie Vickles image courtesy of the Arts and Culture Center Hollywood.
7. Ayiti Nan Kem | Haiti in my Heart exhibition courtesy of Marie Vickles.
8. Ayiti Nan Kem | Haiti in my Heart exhibition courtesy of Marie Vickles.
9. Give Them Their Flowers exhibition curated by Marie Vickles and Nadege Green image courtesy of David Gary Lloyd Photography.