Arts Editor’s note: For this series, The Beachcomber has partnered with Vashon Island Visual Artists (VIVA) to highlight local visual artists and their work during the time of carnivorous. This week, we visit Morgan Brig, who creates sculpture and assemblage. For more information on Vashon visual artists, visit vivartists.com.
Here is Brig, in her own words, talking bout her recent work.
Before the pandemic, I had been craving a block of time to explore creatively. I felt so tied into my schedule of open studio sales, teaching, and shows. Prepping for one right after the other and not making the time to explore, as if that wasn’t one of the most important things I could do to keep me creatively alive and passionate.
When the pandemic hit and the command to self-isolate came, I was horrified and giddy at the same time. I dove into my studio expecting that my focus on experimentation would open exciting new doors. I know I underestimated the toll of assimilating the change and the isolation of a COVID world.
Looking back now after only three months, I see that even though I tried a few new things, my true Inner Creative voice — that subconscious, uncontrollable, irreverent, feisty child — still did its own thing. It was like it knew better, and worked at processing this mass of the big unknown and big emotion that were key parts of the pandemic. Artwork pieces would pop out of me and I’d think, “What the hell”? Then on closer observation I’d realize there were my struggles, put into a visual language, so that my conscious brain could process it. A sort of ‘Harsh Reality Made More Understandable 101’ set of lessons.
I hadn’t clearly realized what was going on until a few days ago. I had thought I was going to use all my “free” time to break new ground creatively, but instead I think my Internal Creative, simply, quietly, and with insistence, helped me stay sane. It’s a rather big job, and ongoing. I could not be more grateful.
