“Doing art I feel at home in my skin.” Siobhan Arnott comes to her work in printmaking and lithography after a full career already. With a varied background in consulting, Indigenous relations, environmental policy work, she brings a connection to life and nature to all that she creates. We worked together in various capacities through my nearly 20 years living in Ottawa, and every conversation with her brings me depth for which I am deeply grateful. In this chat we explore the sources of her artistic inspiration, possible sources of resilience for all of us in these changing times – think time outside in nature, and stars, lots of stargazing. We also delve into how her experience having a mother with mental illness, who was also a successful artist, informs her own art. “It’s ok to be… raw and vulnerable to create art that will speak to other people.” I hope you’ll enjoy this meander together, with my friend, Siobhan.
Siobhan mentioned two mentors: visual artist Michael Goodson and Ottawa School of Art printmaking teacher Robert Hinchley (visual artist), as well as a few of the artists who have inspired her approaches to art making: Robert Rauschenberg, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jane Ash Poitras (art: National Gallery of Canada, interview), and Delita Martin.
Her exhibit of linocuts and installation art being held at the Lee Matasi Gallery, Ottawa School of Art. While the exhibit ends on February 23, 2022, you may obtain a behind the scenes look at its artworks and installation in Siobhan’s blog ‘Bed-Lam.’