Heather Polk Interview
Heather Polk | @artcuresall, @artsyandbougie
How Did You Get Your Start As An Artist/Creative?
Everyone should bet on themselves. I just started making what I wanted to hang on my walls. Friends and strangers started making requests and I gave in and set up an e-commerce website. I made jewelry for many years, mostly when I lived in Atlanta. For years I didn’t make any art regularly, but I was itching to paint and make collages. I had set out to make collages and abstract paint many years ago but got discouraged because I had no idea what I was doing with oil paints. There are no mistakes, everything happens when it should. Always bet on yourself and make the art!
What Do You Love Most About What You Do?
I love magazines. I love music. I love making art. It’s all an escape for me. It’s fun sitting down and reimagining found images, playing with the paper scraps, torn pieces of body parts or flowers, and making something new from all of it.
What Do You Find The Most Challenging?
Balancing all of my responsibilities is a challenge sometimes because I am passionate about doing my best. I have a 7-year-old son and I love showing up for him and being present for the things that matter to him. I enjoy my career in healthcare and would describe it overall as very rewarding. Some days making art feels like an impossible 3rd task. When I’m trying to rush an artistic idea or a concept it doesn’t go well. I have learned to take my time. Making is art a personal necessity, almost like showering. It’s my place of refuge and where I contemplate ideas, personal experiences and sometimes allow the work to serve as a visual journal. Art making is my way of unwinding.
When Things Get Tough, Where Do You Find The Inspiration To Keep Moving Forward?
I won’t allow art to get tough, it’s a joy to make art and I have learned to protect that joy. I have always heard my dad say, “It could be better, it could be worse,” and that has always given me some perspective on keeping the positive in the forefront of my mind. Most importantly, my faith is an anchor, I believe God is always working things to my advantage.
“Always bet on yourself and make the art!”
Who Is Someone You Admire Most And Why?
My son, he is resilient, very passionate, and sometimes fiery. I love his competitive spirit. But he has a gentle and compassionate side that melts my heart at times. Your kids teach you a lot about yourself. I tell him I pray and ask God to make sure the angels protect him and that he uses his power for good and find much success in all the good he chooses to do.
Tell Me Something Unusual That Makes You Happy.
Unusual... I like going back home to Akron, Ohio, where I was born. There are a few things that I experience while visiting that make me remember certain good times before we moved away. My grandmother’s kitchen is one place in particular that conjures many happy memories. I fondly remember sitting at the table watching her cook, drinking coffee as a little girl late at night and hating the taste, but it allowed me to stay up as late as she did. I remember eating the desserts and other foods she would cook, playing cards with my cousins, and picking greens in her kitchen at the table. Her kitchen was like the main stage in my life. My experiences in my grandmother’s kitchen really endears me to a series of work by Carrie Mae Weems, The Kitchen Table Series. It made me realize the commonalities of all of our lives and shared similar experiences.
Anything Weird On Your Bucket List?
I don’t really have a bucket list. I try to stay curious and consistently explore. I have two places that are very important for me to travel - Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco, Ghana and a few other countries ) and Tokyo. There are several National Parks I want to visit, I think US travel is underrated.
Top Three Songs You Keep On Repeat?
This is hard.... it depends on my mood. I would say, my top 3 genres are R&B, Rap, & Gospel.
Podcast You Can't Get Enough Of?
Studio Noize
Earn Your Leisure
Cerebral Women Art Talks
I’m an NPR junkie, Kai Risdol has an amazing personality that comes through wonderfully on radio and my son enjoys Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Terri Gross is an amazing interviewer, it’s the best news and I really enjoy all the local Chicago NPR journalists as well.
There are too many GREAT podcasts. I enjoy listening to music and podcasts when I’m in my studio.
How Do You Fuel For The Day?
Pray, meditate, take deep breath’s throughout the day and be intentional about what I want to accomplish. I like to daydream too!
Tell Us About Your Vision For The Future? Go Big! We Want To Root You On!
Whenever I retire from pharmaceuticals I want to “work in art” full time - making art and doing something fulfilling within an art organization. In the meantime, I want to get better at painting, take some printmaking classes (Covid ruined all my plans for classes in 2020) and make more mixed media pieces. I don’t like getting too prescriptive about life, just look at big and small miracles every day. Things often have a beautiful way of happening far better than I could imagine. I trust my experiences and opportunities will continue to be enlarged as long as I stay true to myself.
Heather Polk | @artcuresall | @artsyandbougie
Collage Artist
www.artcuresall.com
