The Sunday Sunshine wouldn’t be happening if it were not for Carrie Brummer, today’s featured artist. Carrie is my art mentor. She is an art teacher, and covers everything from foundational skills to mindset. She has guided me to where I am today in my artist journey. 
However, I am not featuring Carrie as a teacher - I am featuring her as an artist.

Carrie Brummer is an artist who has exhibited internationally. Her claim to fame is that she’s had her work in short term exhibitions at both The Smithsonian and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

She is drawn to materials and themes that are labelled: decorative, feminist, and craft. Her solo exhibition “Anonymous Woman” at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans, Canada won a grant through Arts Network Ottawa. She is currently working toward a new group of works as an extension of her recent exhibition.

Carrie was starting her Anonymous Woman series when I first started following her. Here is a bit about the series from her website:

I was looking through images on the US National Archives for inspiration when I came across a group of photographs documenting women in the 1940s who started to work while men were off at war. I was caught off guard when I noted these women were worthy of being photographed and labeled by their profession (most of which were cabbies), but not a single one included their names. 

It felt right to spend time painting these women and then using traditionally “female” or decorative materials like embroidery and gold leaf in a way to spend time with them and honor their memory. As I began painting, I realized I would also name each woman as another means of honoring their memory and influence in the lives we live today.

Carrie shares some important perspectives on how so much of the traditionally female world of art is considered craft-making rather than fine art. Let’s start with how her work speaks to this dynamic:

I use traditionally female materials of gold leaf, embroidery, and other 'craft' materials as part of my paintings to question contemporary definitions of fine art and being female.

I want people to consider the way they look at women, talk about women, and rethink their definitions and assumptions about people. I want us to engage in dialogue about how we allow ourselves to be run by internalized definitions of what it means to be female and our own role in perpetuating those systems. Thus, I create portraits of women to investigate the social norms and expectations we cultivate and support around gender.

Carrie, I remember being so surprised to see you take one of your painted canvases off the stretcher bars and embroider into it. That looks very difficult.

Putting my time into these works by doing laborious craft activities is a means by which I discuss value and worth (of art, of women, etc.).

Part of my process is to remove the paintings from the canvas and embroider into them. I am interested in incorporating other craft materials such as beading and sequins into this work. The paintings are then restretched on the canvas, the paintings refined, and real 23 k gold leaf applied to add another layer to the conversation about value and worth.

The importance in your work of this perceived distinction between craft and fine art makes me curious about what kind of art you had in your home growing up.

My parents always carted me around as a kid to fine art and craft fairs, to antique shows, etc. They really valued a curated space in their home. It inspires me today to be mindful about the space I curate for my family.

Did you ever feel like you needed permission to make art?

No. My mother modeled creativity for the sake of creativity since I was a young child. It's part of being human.

 That is a beautiful gift your mother gave you. 
Are you ever afraid to share your art?

Most recently I entered a very new work into a show called, "You are not wonderful just because you are a Mother." It felt very vulnerable to show this work because it deals with my experience of becoming a mother during the pandemic. When I did share the work, I received lovely emails from other artist mothers who shared with me that pandemic aside, many mothers have and do feel as I have felt.

How long have you been purposely creating, and have your goals changed over time?

I have been creating since I was a pre-teen, very purposefully. I received some of my first commissions in high school/early college years. I knew I wanted to make art all of the time. I even found a letter I wrote to my grandmother that said I would be in heaven if I could paint or draw all day.

I also consciously chose to become a high school art teacher because I could share, make, and talk about art all day long and focus my vacation time on personal practice.

Since that step, I moved to online teaching and making my art side-by-side. For the most part I've let my education work fund my practice. I'm more interested now in doing both more equally.

Goal setting is an important part of how you teach. Can you tell us about your current goals as an artist?

I'm a big goal setter and do-er. Recently I've been evaluating my approach. My word for 2021 is SLOW. And I'm determined to focus on goals that really align with my values and vision. I don’t want to get caught up in a culture of busy.

Does marketing or creating for an audience impact your creative process?

I felt so much resistance making art "for others." It felt like that meant I couldn't make the art I wanted to make. Unfortunately, I think that is external messaging we receive from our larger culture. The thing is, when I truly allowed myself to follow my curiosity and passions, that is when the art started to sell. I realized being true to my interests makes room for more people to connect with the art.

How do you feel about selling your art?

For the longest time, I felt selling my art was validation that I was any good at this thing called art. Now I see it as an opportunity to share art with a larger community and bring some passion, inspiration, and connection to others.

Leaving school systems to teach and sell my art means my financial contributions to my family are sporadic. Regular sales of my work can help me literally put food on the table.

Additionally I can invest in the materials that allow me to continue my work.

Lastly, I'm interested in pursuing representation through a gallery at some point. Having work that already sells and is making a mark gives me some added authority that might make me appealing to the right gallery.

Can you tell me what you value about your artwork and what you hope for your artwork?

My art is a means by which to fuel my spirit. It feels like something larger than myself I can contribute to others.

I hope it continues to be a means for me to communicate, share, and connect with others.

You can learn a lot more about Carrie’s artwork on her website, CARRIEBRUMMER.COM

Carrie has generously offered a gold leaf embellished limited edition print as a giveaway!
Ruth, print #4 (out of an edition of only 25!) hand embellished withgold leaf.
This 8x10” print is valued at $75

This Giveaway has ended, but there are more giveaways coming up!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
1. Subscribe!
You can subscribe to Carrie’s Collector’s Circle
OR
You can join my monthly Studio Update.
(OR BOTH)
2. Comment!
Comment on this blog/journal post. Do you have thoughts on the definitions of craft and fine art? Or, just say hello!

This giveaway has ended, but we would still love for you to comment!,

The questions I have been asking artists this year are the questions Carrie helped me ask myself. These questions shape how I work and how I share. I realized that I was developing an awareness and a language about art and myself that is difficult to explain to my family and friends. It is my hope that this series shares the perspectives of different artists and helps to explain how investing in artists helps artists invest in themselves. This is the 5th artist feature for the Sunday Sunshine series in the Artist’s Journal!

If you are an artist interested in exploring these ideas more, I highly recommend you also take a look at Artist Strong, particularly the blog. There are so many great topics for artists.

Tia Sunshine

If we haven’t met, you can read more about me in my journal HERE and HERE, or visit my Welcome/About with the button below.

This series is inspired by the Artists Sunday campaign that started last year. While I am not a huge fan of specific shopping days, I am a fan of encouraging individuals to buy from artists. This series is my way of participating in the spirit of the movement. www.artistssunday.com

Artists Sunday is "a nationwide art-shopping movement with more than 4,300 members. Participants include 500+ local communities, including arts agencies, cities, counties, state agencies, chambers of commerce, and organizations and 3,800+ individual artists." Their mission is "to encourage consumers to shop with their favorite local artists and craftsmen during the holiday season. Artists Sunday takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Think of it like Black Friday or Small Business Saturday but for the arts. New members are joining daily."

The Sunday Sunshine continues next week with Payton Cook!

Remember to leave a comment below & sign up with Carrie or me !