Artist Interview: Heather Clements
Artist Interview: Heather Clements
About the Artist
Heather Clements, a professional artist and art teacher, talks to Caleb Jordan on The Mix about her piece, “Sketchbook #43.” Her book is a part of the new exhibit, Quarantine, at the Amelia Center located on campus at Gulf Coast State College.
Heather talks about what it’s like to be a full time artist and the journey that brought her here. As a professional artist, Heather is used to the isolation that is so new to other people. The only difference is not being with her students, and the art exhibits she helped put on. Heather uses social media to connect with others by live streaming her sketches on Facebook every Friday at 9 am.
Heather Clements, “Sketchbook #43.”
Artist Statement
“My sketchbooks have seen me through every major struggle of my life since I was sixteen, from heartbreak, to loses,
to a category 5 hurricane that turned our lives upside down. At times these pages offer a welcome distraction to
focus on something beautiful while sometimes they’re an outlet for expressing pain and anxiety. This time, this
sketchbook has seen me through 5 months of a global pandemic.I have been almost entirely isolated the entire time, turning down professional and personal opportunities left and
right. At the beginning, everyone was stuck at home separately but together in spirit. As time wore on, more and
more of the world stepped outside to play with one another and get back to ‘normal life’ as my family remains
remote, all set to seeing needless deaths and suffering from behind a screen.Sketchbook pages span from hiking and canoe trips with my husband to streamlined writings about the pandemic.
Many pages were even live-streamed on social media as an attempt to stay connected with the outside world.
Some pages embrace moments of peace in solitude while others scream against it. As they always do, this
sketchbook has been the best way to work through thoughts and emotions, while always reminding me to come
back to the present moment.”
More Information:
The exhibit will be on display from October 12th to November 6th, in the the Amelia Center Gallery (Room 112). Open Monday through Thursday 10 am – 6 pm and Friday 10 am to 4 pm. All shows are free and open to the public.
You can find Heather’s personal work at:
More information on Quarantine and to see Heather’s piece go to: Facebook Event
