Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vicki Somers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Vicki , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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?
The biggest risk I’ve taken in my artistic career thus far is my decision to open a brick and mortar studio storefront. I had grown exhausted working from home, my work/life balance was in shambles, and I never felt like I had permission to “turn off.” I was losing touch with my other passions, and my artistic work was suffering for it. I was definitely earning enough to make things work financially- I was realistic enough to accept that while I had been working from home with virtually no overhead, enjoying the extra income, that I would have to tighten my belt and be prepared to make those big changes that come when you’re paying rent and expenses. But it’s been worth it! Even though I don’t have as much discretionary income right now, having a dedicated public space where people can access me easily has lead to an uptick in commissions and the donations that drive my creative process. I’m making time each day to work, and I’m enjoying downtime at home. My risk of opening up a studio storefront has translated into so many positive changes in my life, and it’s given me the space to live authentically and joyously, which is something no person can ever assign a dollar value to!
Vicki , 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?
After a nearly twelve-year hiatus, I graduated from William Paterson University in May of 2020 with duel BAs in Studio Arts and East Asian Studies. Against the backdrop of the rising pandemic, I spent my final semester of college in uncharted territory, wondering what the future might bring. It was during this time that my favorite professor, Dr. Ted Cook, was teaching a class on disaster management. While his original plan had been to focus on nuclear disasters, we found ourselves watching the pandemic morph from a curious tragedy overseas to a very real threat within our own communities. I’ll never forget the question he posed to our class at the start of the semester: “If a disaster were to strike our community, what could we, as private citizens, do to aid relief efforts?” I knew then that I could use my artistic talents and the network I had built within my community to sew masks. What started as a modest donation of 25 reusable masks to include in care kits to provide to homeless individuals grew into a thriving project that spanned over 12 months and two thousand handmade masks. Utilizing a “buy one, donate one” model, I was able to keep the project self-sustaining, and ultimately donated one thousand masks directly to organizations that work with at-risk demographics. I called my project “Masks for New Jersey.”
My mask project sparked the realization that my purpose was to bring the messages of sustainability, visibility and inclusion to my community through art. Building upon the network of fabric donations I had received throughout my mask making project, I began collecting a broader array of donations: unwanted art supplies, broken jewelry and old clothes. By combining these reclaimed materials with intentionally procured elements, I create new artifacts meant to imbue my clients with a sense of polish, playfulness and mystery all while reminding them that there are alternatives to the conspicuous consumerism that harms both our environment and members of our community. My studio works diligently to highlight the works of artists often marginalized by the mainstream, namely those falling into the demographics of fem-identifying, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+. I provide them space to sell, exhibit and teach, and provide them a high commission on their works because sustainability in the arts isn’t just about materials matters, but the ability of those creating to be able to sustain a living derived from their passion and expertise.
My belief in the power of activism often places me out in front of many members of my community. Some know me as “Miss Vicki” from the Boonton Holmes Public Library, where I taught arts and crafts classes both virtually and in-person before transitioning to a leadership role as a library Trustee in 2022. Others recognize me as the queer artist vending weekly at the Boonton Farmers Market that I help the local non-profit Boonton Main Street to manage.
When I’m not making art, I enjoy baking, gaming, being out in nature, and spending time with my loved ones. Most days you can find me puttering around my studio on Main Street, making big plans for my ever-evolving window displays, or tearing through my stash of donations dreaming up new creative possibilities for projects and classes to share with the community.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of owning an open public studio is that I am able to help people engage in their creativity in often unexpected ways. The sad reality is that there is a lot of gatekeeping that goes on in the art world, and many people think that the only “valid” art is the high art of the gallery and museum world. This simply isn’t true! Art, and especially the making of art, is so intrinsic to the human condition; I’ve worked hard to cultivate a space where people can come to shop, to make, to linger and learn. There’s nothing more beautiful to me than seeing that “Aha!” moment light off in a person’s eyes when they realize that they too are capable of making something wonderful happen with their own two hands, it’s as though I’ve just assisted in a birth, and now there’s this person before me who’s life has been fundamentally altered for the better. Art just makes life so much better!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Finding my voice was *really* difficult for me. I’m queer, and I spent a very long time trying to make myself more “acceptable” to society; I muted my voice and shrank myself and contorted myself in ways that made me feel invisible and impotent, all in the name of trying to make other people comfortable. Coming out was a long process, but the more comfortable I’ve become with presenting the world with my authentic self, the more enmeshed I’ve become in speaking my artistic truths. My art is a reflection of me, of my inner life, and when I wasn’t being honest with the world, it was very difficult to create anything that I felt proud to share. Making art is an act of courage, and I cheer for every person who dares to be creative. There’s no bad art, but we can make art that we don’t feel good about, and those feelings are usually rooted in feelings of inadequacy, inauthenticity, and fear. Finding a space of love and support is vital to making art that nourishes the soul of its creator. Don’t be afraid to be yourself! And if you’re currently living in an unsafe situation, know that there are people out there who’ve never even met you that love you and want to help you move into a better space. Don’t be afraid to name the elephant in the room- you’ll grow as both a person and an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.urbanegypsyarts.com
- Instagram: @Urbanegypsyarts
- Facebook: UrbaneGypsyArts
Image Credits
Urbane Gypsy Arts, Vicki Somers