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

Stephen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

If there is one thing that many artists cultivate it is kindness (at least in my experience). As a creative we know how difficult it is out there. Kath Caraccio- Master printer in NYC. stands out in my mind as one of the best exemplars of kindness in the art world. I was just out of graduate school in 1991 and looking for work. Kathy didn’t have a job for me but she allowed me use of her studio to continue to make work when I was too broke to rent a studio… I still call her the Patron Saint of Printmaking for the generosity she has shown me and countless others over the years. As artists we need to pay it forward…

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have taught art at the college level since receiving by MFA from SUNY Purchase in 1991. I take pride in the fact I have guided so many young people in artistic expression over the years. I was recently promoted to the rank of Professor at the University of New England and also received recognition of my accomplishments in scholarship and teaching in the form of the Ludcke Chair Award. The Ludcke Chair recognizes College of Arts and Sciences faculty members who connect and infuse their scholarship within the teaching mission of the college to a level of excellence beyond the typical use of scholarship in teaching and who model that activity for their students.

All the while I have been making and exhibiting art. I have exhibited in both international and national venues including most recently at the George Marshall Store Gallery-York, ME, Bristol Art Museum-Bristol, RI, Zero Station-Portland, ME, the LC Bates Museum-Hinckley, ME, and the Aomori Municipal Art Pavilion, Aomori, Japan. My work has been acquired for inclusion in many public collections including those of the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Portland Museum of Art, the Fogg Museum at Harvard, the New York Public Library, and the Library of Congress.

My work has been supported by awards from numerous institutions among them, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, and the Ruth Chenven Foundation as well as multiple faculty development grants from the University of New England.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. To prompt others to reflect on the beauty and resilience of the natural world and with climate change realize we are on the precipice of environmental disaster. It is time to wake from our fever dream and take action in whatever form best employs our skills. For me that’s visual art.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Fortunately I had the support of many people along the way- people who wrote letter’s of reference, gave me tips on gallery/ exhibits and opportunities. However despite this help and my efforts to pay assistance forward I did not realize till later the absolute necessity of building a network of professional connections and keeping everyone in the network up to date–of course the work you make has to be good but it also has to be seen by others.

Contact Info:

• Website: stephentburt.com
• Instagram: stephenburt9699
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.burt.7355
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB-jtoEPSn4