ARTIST STATEMENT
Meditation in my art practice has been an important part of my journey in taking care of my mental health. Whether dealing with a past trauma or simply trying to process an uneventful day, I find that both writing and visual art provides and outlet for me to take the boring and the ugly, and create something new with those feelings. Most of my paintings from the end of 2021 and into 2022 were made for the sake of this kind of meditation. My writing practice bled into my painting practice, sometimes obscured by the paint and sometimes seeping through. Mark making was brought to the forefront as I layered my current interests with past questions. Setting aside time each day to make these pieces gave me a sense of routine, and allowed me to digest and take notes on the events of the day that happened prior to sitting down and painting. I believe that repetition gives both stability and also a space to think, which was why I found this practice especially well suited to tackling these larger issues I encountered.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sami Mark is a current student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They are interested in the connections that are made between humans and nature. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, their childhood summers were often spent at camp in the local forest preserves, forging interests that are still visible in their art today. An interest in fiber art guides their most recent work, but they come from a background in painting and drawing. They find going out and interacting with nature to still be the guiding force in most of what they create, so when they aren’t painting or sewing they can be found going on mushroom forays, hiking, or raising monarch butterflies.
© Sami Mark