Interview with Vee Hua (Redefine Magazine) and thoughts

''Central to Rowe’s paintings is her ability to represent the universality of different beings. Self-professed as someone who “can’t stand superficiality,” Rowe avoids paintings of the traditional human form. Instead, she explains, “I try to focus on spirit, energy, nature and all of the complexities [of] a human being that tends to be compromised.” Her figures are emotive and evocative, yet don’t possess traits that ascribe them to any particular racial group or demographic. They don’t wear recognizable clothes or bear specific cultural markings; they are also rarely placed in settings identifiable as a certain time or place.'' (Full Interview) 

— Vee Hua, Filmmaker and Editor in Chief of Seattle, Washington based Redefine Magazine.

Vee is an extraordinary interviewer. She has the rare gift of listening and caring. You can find more of her work here: https://redefinemag.net/author/vivian-hua/

As an artist it is important to tell the truth. Without truth in art, what is there? Sometimes truths sting and sometimes there is a stigma attached to being honest, almost like being honest isn't ok if it makes someone else uncomfortable. Everyone has a different experience during their teens. Regarding the above reference of school, this concerns my teen years during middle grades 7-8, it was a tremendously difficult time for me, one that I don't feel the need to downplay or embellish but a few cruel kids aren't the whole of the world and one must keep an open mind. The most uncomfortable conversations are the ones you grow most from and there's no harm in sharing a dark period to give a broader look at the reasons behind my art. With that being said, it is paramount that one not dwell on things. It is paramount to understand that everyone, at one time or another, has had similar experiences and it is crucial to understand that a handful of crappy, terrible people are not the whole world and should not be used to judge others. Part of healing is talking and part of art is healing. 

  

Redefine

It was a great pleasure and privilege to sit down and talk with writer and filmmaker, Vee Hua (the Editor in Chief of Redefine Magazine ) about my background, my art and many of the reasons behind my paintings.

It is not easy to open up and talk about things that I repress; Those things tucked away in the deeper recesses of my mind that I've tried to desensitize myself to. But to better understand the new direction of my art, I felt it beneficial to open up. I mean really open up. 

I have never ever done a zoom interview. Lol I remember feeling a slight panic when the idea of being interviewed via Zoom came up, because it was so new to me. Like, you always think ''what if I start rambling?, what if what I say makes no sense?'' I write alot but speaking is different and sometimes when I'm really nervous my words don't come out right. I have a clinical history of anxiety that I don't really talk about and it can be hard sometimes when speaking with someone new. But Immediately, I was put at ease by Vee's presence and that prior nervousness dissipated completely.

Once they began interviewing me, I didn't feel anxious but felt calm because I could tell that they were going to actually listen to me. Sometimes you can just tell when someone cares. There are signs when someone is truly hearing you. It felt so good to be able to just speak honestly and know that I was being heard and know that my feelings and words actually matter. What's more, I was able to hold it together when speaking about the deeper, more troubling aspects of my background and sincere reasons behind my newer paintings. It feels good to be able to talk about something honestly, without constraint and from that hidden place inside where the truth is.

I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to speak from the heart and open up about my art in a way that I haven't done. To have people willing to listen to you, as an artist, as you dig deep and touch on things that you've not touched on before about your art is humbling. Vee is a gifted, natural interviewer, they have a sincere way of listening to you and allowing you to speak while also posing questions that haven't been asked before.

I think that by sharing so much of what has gone into my newer paintings, I was able to shed light on my background as an artist, beliefs and many of the whys and truths behind my art, identity and individuality. This means a great deal to me, even saying that doesn't capture what this means to me. I am so grateful. There are so many artists out there, likely billions and it's very humbling to have what I do, and all that I put into it, acknowledged in this way. Thank you so much Vee and Redefine Magazine. 

Read full article: https://redefinemag.net/2024/cierra-g-rowe-artist-interview-spirit-energy-nature-kentucky/