Zoe Lowry is the artist whose work adorns the front and back covers of issue three. She's the first of the Stanchion family to be featured in the Stanchion Spotlight. Let's learn more about this talented artist. |
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Jeff: Talk to me about your artwork featured on the front and back covers of issue three. How and where did these pieces originate? Zoe: About 5 years ago, I was going through an "existential crisis" of sorts. I had a steady job, was financially stable, was around family and friends consistently, and was in a healthy relationship with my now-husband. However, despite all of that, I wasn't happy. Even more than that, I literally felt like I didn't have an identity - as if everything I was doing was just an imitation of what I saw other people doing or following some imaginary idea of what I "should" be doing - it was actually quite tormenting. All that being said, I had to go through a process of figuring out why I felt that way, because simple questions like "what am I good at?" "what am I passionate about?" "what brings me joy?" were all mixed and muddied up with fear, insecurities, or ideas that were not really my own, but were prominent in my mind. |
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So, without knowing where to start, I fell back into doing something I've always had a talent for since before I was 2 years old - draw. I forced myself to draw one picture every single day as therapy, and let me tell you, it sucked in the beginning, because I had suppressed my creativity for so long, that that muscle was way out of shape. However, after doing this for about a month, it got easier and as more weeks went by, I began completing a series of pieces I was happy with. However, even deeper than that, I realized that the pieces were all connected and were telling me a story right before my eyes - it started the process of revealing to me who I am and what I'm here to do. |
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These two pieces came from that series. I really love using symbolism in my work, because it can carry such deep meaning without being so explicit that it takes away the viewers' right to their own interpretation. I always want people to have their own interpretations, because art is multi-dimensional and can carry multiple meanings simultaneously, and honestly I have gathered new meaning MYSELF from these drawings years later. However, when I first created them, the "head wrapped" women were representative of a sort of mummified state that many of us can experience, disconnected from our own emotions or self awareness. The woman on the front has been in this "blinded" state for some time, but by the grace of a small opening or tear in her blindfold, she gets a glimpse of all the glory that lays ahead of her, if she is only brave enough to choose to see more. The woman on the back may still be in a state of self-suppression or confusion, however, the key to untying her blindfold is right around her neck, and with just one more little movement of her body, it will fall right into her hands. | | |
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What are you reading right now? "The Holistic Self Assessment" by Derrick Broze. What's your go to reread whenever you need a boost/cry/etc? Hm, "1984" LOL! I don't know whether that's a boost or a cry during this time. Also, I love Toni Morrison's poetic, fantastical historical fiction style of writing, which is very inspirational to me. "Song of Solomon" is a book I've read a few times. Describe yourself in 10 words or less. Deep, but light-hearted. Eager to learn, love, live, transcend. |
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Where do you create and how does this space/environment impact you and your art? If I'm doing digital illustrations, I usually work from my desk at home, however I start most ideas as a sketch, whether they end up as line drawings, paintings, or digital art - and those sketches are drawn on whatever I have, whenever I get the inspiration, and wherever I am at that time. I've drawn on napkins from coffee shops, the backs of meeting agendas at my work desk, and also in traditional sketchbooks on a table or even on the floor. What role, if any, does your home (actual residence, or town, state, country) inform your art? The space I live in has to be clean and organized and peaceful. That's not to say that my creative spirit does not leave a million papers and materials all over the place sometimes, but when it is time for me to create, I need to be in a space that is free of distractions.
What/who inspires you?
Anyone who is brave and determined enough to fail only to succeed later! The list includes Bruce Lee, Jimi Hendrix, my husband, my daughter, my parents, and many others. In your experience, which emotional state provides the biggest impetus for creation? I would have to say passion, which can translate to either joyful passion or impassioned sorrow/grief/etc. I think passion is like a rich palette of deep colors, there's so much information that it holds about my (or someone else's) purpose and motivation in this life that I can really dig deep and pull out images or even words that are so vivid and striking. |
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What's next for you? I currently have an art installation on display at One For All gallery in West Philadelphia which can be viewed in person through February 28, 2021. It is an interactive sanctuary of sorts that stems from the same theme of my work in Stanchion and encourages participants to engage in self reflection as a means to gain clarity, minimize insecurities, and ultimately improve our relationships with others and the world around us. I'm also excited to have worked on branding and design for the Leaders and Legends of North Philadelphia Black History Month exhibition at Smith Memorial Playground. This is a free, outdoor exhibition that honors 12 inspirational African American leaders (both living and deceased) who have become a part of North Philadelphia history. The exhibit will be on display for socially distanced viewing from February 6 through 28 with an "Opening Day Hooray!" (Playground open for the kids!) on Saturday, February 6, 2021. | | |
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