Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Wright.
Caroline, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was never not an artist or an entrepreneur! As a young child, I decorated envelopes with my scribbles and walked up and down the block selling them door to door, for 5 and 10 cents. This is before I was even allowed to cross the street! At 7, I can remember scribbling what I saw as different emotions in various colors and showing them to my grandma, who was surprised at my bent for abstract expression.
I didn’t think you could just be an artist, though. I figured you had to apply it to something, and I was interested in fashion & costume design, as well as art history and curation. But when I graduated, my interest in fashion took me to Paris, and the light on the Seine and those gorgeous buildings made me want to paint. Why not at least try? Maybe I’ll get bored with it, maybe I won’t like spending my days alone with my own invented problems. I spent a semester in Pont-Aven, land of Gauguin and Breton butter cookies, and discovered a new level of focus for my work.
I lived in Paris for a couple years, in a squat with other artists from all over the world. It was an exercise in humility and courage, and living itself was a work of art. But when I finally figured out how to get a work visa, I had to come home to Austin to await my visa. I painted in my parents’ garage and felt supported in a way I hadn’t in Paris. I realized I wanted to spend a little less energy on living and more of it becoming a better painter.
I was extremely lucky to be raised by parents who value art. My father, Lawrence Wright, has made a successful career in writing and managed to do pretty much everything he’s ever wanted to do, carving his own path. He’s disciplined and hard-working, and not afraid to follow his curiosities to find the story.
My mom is a teacher, but also truly an artist. She can happily spend a day collaging and not notice the world going by. She’s as much of an art history nerd as me and pores over the works she loves. And while my dad is my man for thinking big, my mom holds a space for the part of me who doubts and falters and helps me to honor the time that is not outwardly productive, but necessary for regeneration and making fertile ground for new ideas.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As a painter, musician, and dancer, I paint how something feels, not how it looks. I am chasing the tender line, the odd color, the awkward but humanly wonderful mark, as well as boldness, grace, beauty, & courage.
I work large, and my work is currently expanding, physically.
Because I’m a dancer, I move as I work, and I need space for my gesture and the rhythmic quality of my marks. I love to work for a specific space, considering the light and acoustics and feel of the room where it will be installed.
I also love to perform, and these practices have blended together. I began performing the painting process as part of a dance piece in 2010 and discovered that I could share the interior drama of decision-making while drawing with an audience. This began with painting on a small surface, projected onto a stage where dancers or musicians were performing. I soon became more willing to step onto the stage myself. In the last few years, I have sometimes dropped the medium of paint altogether to perform. It’s terrifying, but so much fun! Sharing paintings with an audience always feels a little past-tense, but performance is in real time. Now I include some form of performance with every exhibition I do. It’s fun to decide what type of performance—dance, singing, interactivity—has the most to add to the work on display.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I don’t think the role of the artist has changed, but I do think artists are being reminded of our importance. We are in a divisive time, a time which seems to be moving faster, in terms of climate change, technology, attention-spans… and also moving backwards on many social issues. The sheer number of things to be upset about or engaged with day-to-day taxes all of us. It pushes artists to ask, what’s my purpose, what’s the unique thing I have to share with the world? For me, it’s about giving myself permission to be real, to be whole, to feel deeply and stay open-hearted and brave. It’s so easy to stand in my own way, but I want to be a model to girls and women who have incredible gifts to share, that there is a place for them at the table.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I currently have an exhibition up in Johnson City, at a contemporary gallery called Texas Arthouse. It will be up until January 20th. This is a great time of year to visit because Johnson City has a spectacular display of Christmas lights! I will also be doing an interactive vocal performance on December 29 at 5 pm.
A new project I’m offering starting in 2019 is an art subscription. Four times a year, I will send a unique package to each subscriber with a small painting, sketch, prototype for a new project, or something else totally unexpected, along with a hand-written letter. This is a great way for a small group of collectors and art enthusiasts to have a look inside my process, and add valuable originals to their art collection.
My studio is in my backyard in Austin, and I welcome studio visits. I also take a limited number of commission projects a year, in which I consult with the client, look at their space, and create something special for them. I may even include a performance for unveiling the work!
I also have most of my artwork viewable and available on my website, and I have some works with Dimmitt Contemporary in Houston, as well as Martine Chaisson Gallery in New Orleans. Houston has an incredible art scene, and I’d love to find new ways of sharing my work with this wonderfully engaged audience!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolinewrightart.com
- Phone: 15129256508
- Email: caroline@carolinewrightart.com
- Instagram: @cwrightart
- Facebook: @carolinewrightartstudio
Image Credit:
1-3. Diego Garcia-Olano 4. — 5. Emily Joffrion 6. Kristen Grant 7. Vincent Roazzi jr. 8-11. — 12. Caroline Wright
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