Focusing on the Art, Not the Art Business with Rebecca Welz (#134)

Today’s conversation is a first. In this episode of The Art Biz I
talk with Rebecca Welz, an artist who claims she’s not all that
interested in the art business. But Rebecca, with her many
accomplishments, still had plenty of wisdom to share. Our
discussion centers around how she sees her art as part of the
continuum, and how she encourages her students at Pratt Institute
to think holistically about their careers. We discuss meditation,
biomimicry, her projects in Guyana and Guatemala with her
students, why she’s uninterested in the art business, and what
she thinks artists would benefit from focusing on instead.


Highlights




“It’s like drawing in space.” Rebecca’s sculpture and gallery
representation. (2:44)




Teaching art students and exploring the unknown through
meditation. (6:22)




Thinking is the most important part of the creative process.
(11:15)




Finding art inspiration in Guyana and Guatemala. (17:04)




Biomimicry—innovation inspired by nature. (22:10)




The importance of experiencing inspiration from cultures
outside your own. (25:35)




Taking a holistic approach to your art. (31:13)




Rebecca isn’t all that interested in the art business. Here’s
why. (36:24)




This Week’s Assignment


Consider how your work is connected to forces outside itself. How
is it connected to art history and to other artists? Think of all
the people who make your art possible. Who made your supplies?
Not the companies, but the people behind the companies. Who
gathered natural pigments or precious metals? Who mixed the
paints, spun the yarn, stretched the canvas, stocked the paper,
or assembled the camera?


Who are the people supporting your efforts?


Mentioned




ArtBizAccelerator.com




June Kelly Gallery




Pratt Institute




Patricia Johnson, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)




Jay Harman: The Shark’s Paintbrush




Biomimicry: AskNature.org




Rebecca Welz




Rebecca on Instagram




Resources




Show notes, images, and listener comments




How to Price Your Art free report




Art Biz Connection artist membership




Quotes




“Meditation gives me a lot of peace and equanimity and helps
me deal with being a human on the planet.” — Rebecca Welz




“Good artwork comes from that place of the unknown.” —
Rebecca Welz




“I can’t just focus on my art career because there are so
many other things that I’m interested in.” — Rebecca Welz




“How are you tapping into your own continuum and how’s that
working for you?” — Rebecca Welz




About My Guest


Rebecca Welz makes steel sculptures inspired by natural wonders
and ecological processes that combine to give us biodiversity.
She is represented by June Kelly Gallery in New York City, where
she has had numerous solo exhibitions. She has also shown at
Grace Borgenicht Gallery and Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, also in
New York.


Rebecca’s sculptures have been in solo and group exhibitions in
venues such as the Oakland Museum of California, the Heckscher
Museum of Art (Huntington, NY), Butters Gallery (Portland, OR),
the SciArt Center (Easton, PA), the Cherrystone Gallery
(Wellfleet, MA), and Sculpturesite Gallery (San Francisco, CA).
Her work can also be found in private and corporate collections,
including those of Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Merck, Prudential Life
Insurance Corporation, and Sabre Corporation.