The Beginning
The word 'Renaissance' has reemerged in my life this year. I'm not sure if that is partially due to Beyonce's summer album, creative outlets making a renewed interest, or the fact that I'm turning thirty this month - but I am welcoming in this Renaissance.
Earlier this year, I felt a revival regarding the original content by The Contemporary Creatives. I started taking time to focus on writing, first releasing The Artist's Guide to Digital Marketing to this summer's release of the Social Media Guide and Workbook for artists. These guides and those forthcoming focus on helping artists amplify their digital marketing on their own! The news of Italy came as a second way of inspiration and gave me the push I needed to bring me through the summer into early fall.
The Contemporary Creatives' clients were also reaching their milestones. The Contemporary Creatives was there helping artists with new websites, assisting them in creating passive income channels for themselves to developing marketing strategies around upcoming releases of new bodies of work. We continued with our work with art consultants connecting them to emerging talent for commercial projects and helping launch a non-profit's new and innovative art rental program. I continued with several energizing coaching sessions with artists at various stages of their careers. {yeah, it's been slightly chaotic these past months, but worth it.}
During the height of the pandemic, IN THE STUDIO project provided an opportunity for those less familiar with the art world's proceedings to experience one of the many nuances of the industry, the Studio Visit. Since the start of the ITS project, my wheels have been turning on how to expand upon the series. This seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce you to Claire McArdle, the artist who is honestly THE reason why this Italy is happening! Claire's sculptures synthesize elements of traditional classical sculpture with aesthetic qualities found in Cycladic sculpture and cave art. Her energy for exploring these mysteries and an insatiable passion for working with marble, clay, and bronze combine to create forms with harmonious balance and ethereal quality.
I first met Claire in the fall of 2016; I was less than two years out of undergrad and had just started working at Artist's Proof, a contemporary art gallery in the historic neighborhood of Georgetown in Washington, D.C.
During my time at the gallery, I worked with Claire on several exhibitions highlighting her feminine sculptures while placing her work with collectors, both internationally and in the United States. I was always an admirer of her work and was deeply inspired by how she paved her way in the world of marble sculpture. After I left Artist's Proof in the fall of 2019, I started working with Claire assisting her with her digital marketing and the redesign of her website late summer of 2020. She has been a pillar of support through these early years of Contemporary Creatives, providing me with guidance to being there to bounce ideas around the growth and direction of the business.
Before Italy was a twinkling in my eye, Claire would tell me about the earlier years. She first went to Studio Nicoli, in Carrara, was when she was K-12 Art teacher. She took a workshop at Studio Nicoli given by an American Italian sculptor, Bernadette D’Amore. That experience inspired her quit her job, sell everything and move to Carrara. She paid a modest fee to work in the studio alongside the artigiani, the Italian Masters of marble carving (video below includes full interview). Those formative years spent in Carrara were essential to her growth as a person and artist. I feel that this trip to Italy will be one of those experiences for myself.
The Contemporary Creatives and my Renaissance continue through film and writing. While in Italy, I will documenting Claire as she works and will release on our YouTube channel a series of short, authentic, imperfect films accompanied by writings this winter and early 2023. It will highlight the artists I meet on my travels, their processes and inspirations, my journey through Italy, and my friendships with other creatives. It simultaneously feels daunting and energizing, as it will just be me running the camera, sound, editing, etc. But I am up for the challenge!