Conversations with Michelle Sider

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Sider.

Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always seen the world through artists’ eyes. I am fascinated by how light plays on surfaces. Some might see it as an obsession. I wouldn’t disagree. Even as an infant, I played with shadows created by rays of sunlight

I have incorporated art into every phase of my life. I began my art career in my 20s and soon decided to use art to help others by becoming a psychologist using art therapy in my practice. My psychology background has not only helped me to understand how art can be used as a means of healing but has also been used in healing settings to promote recovery and wellness. Throughout my years, I have enjoyed teaching art to folks of all ages including twelve years teaching high school art. Now I spend most days in my studio creating art and teaching art to others.

I began my art career as a painter and started gravitating toward glass mosaic work 20 years ago when I saw a Romare Bearden mosaic at the Detroit Institute of Art. I now work almost exclusively with glass and stone. I have fallen in love with these materials and have been on a quest to learn from the best mosaic teachers in the world.

I am fascinated by how light reflects upon, bounces off of, shines through, and is absorbed into various materials. I play with textures, light conditions, and the angles at which I place pieces to seamlessly integrate various materials into an image that captures a special moment or an idea. This technique allows the glass, gold smalti, metals, and other materials to change color as the light fluctuates throughout the day. A bold use of color, expressive content, emphasis on texture, diversity of tesserae sizes, and a painterly style characterize my artistic sensibility. The contrasts of warm and cool colors, value, a variety of textures, and the flow of the materials, balance feelings of energy and calm in my work. Using these artistic techniques, I aim to create mosaics that evoke an emotional response.

I spend lots of time outdoors photographing my surroundings, looking for interesting patterns and colors as inspiration for my mosaic designs. My goal is to create images that evoke feelings of awe and inspiration, spark important conversations, and encourage the viewer’s curiosity.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Choosing the path of an artist can at times be difficult. This career decision isn’t always valued by society. Looking back, the most important qualities on my journey have been perseverance, belief in myself, and reaching out to others that I trust for help.

As an artist, it is important to believe in myself and persevere when times are difficult. Making money may be one goal, but it isn’t my only goal as an artist. I am grateful that I didn’t allow a lack of sales or discouraging circumstances to dissuade me from continuing with my inner vision and creativity. My mantra is: “You can do everything, just not all at the same time”. This mantra has helped me to maintain my identity as an artist even as I worked at non-artistic jobs and when life took unexpected turns.

I have found it very helpful to find a supportive group of creatives that I can trust for advice and support. I have also learned to avoid unhelpful people. Finding even one or two other artists who are kind enough to care about my journey is a powerful resource and support.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create aesthetically beautiful and technically refined works that evoke emotions of awe and raise questions in the viewer. Beginning with inspired images, I use exquisite materials such as glass, gold, stone, metals, pottery, and even hand-made jewelry that dazzle the eye. My mixed media works are distinguished by their lush colors, bold design, textured and undulating surfaces, and meticulously crafted techniques. From a distance, the artworks look like paintings, but on closer inspection, the viewer can see the individual pieces that create a spectrum of color and texture. An unexpected element of the work is that the pieces change colors as light fluctuates throughout the day.

Thematically, my mosaics explore the subjects of identity, spirituality, and searching for a sense of place. My landscapes express my gratitude, awe, and keen observations of the natural world. Inspired by my surroundings, I create light-focused mosaics as a metaphor for seeking emotional and spiritual light. The contrast of light and dark in my work represents internal struggles of good vs. evil, and actively seeking light amid our complicated world.

I am enthusiastic about my “I am Yemenite” mosaic series. It focuses on the history, heritage, and untold stories of Arabic Jews from Yemen. Reflecting four years of research, each mosaic tells aspects of this rich culture and is used to spark conversations about emigration, religious minorities, women’s roles, emigrant children’s health, discriminatory laws and more. Through this series, I hope to share important stories, spark conversations, increase awareness, and help to preserve this rich culture.

While the subject of my work varies, underlying themes capturing emotions, celebrating light, movement, and spirituality, and provoking thoughtful conversations can be seen throughout my work. I hope the viewers can experience the sparks of my inspiration when they look at my artwork.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learned to find mentors and to consistently seek new learning experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: michellesider.com
• Instagram: @MichelleSider-Artist
• Facebook: Michelle Sider
• Linkedin: Michelle Sider

 

Image Credits
Photo credit of artwork: Eric Law