“I’m fully aware that time is fleeting and as an artist I wish to assert my vision now not later. ”
I interviewed Shayam Korey Steckle almost a year ago. You can read about my studio visit and interview with him here. We caught up recently via email and he shared some of the changes in his life since we last spoke, and how he’s handling the big changes brought on by COVID-19.
What did you have planned this spring?
My plans for the spring were preparing for my first exhibit overseas in Athens, Greece in May. I was to accompany my work and connect with buyers and curators worldwide in galleries and museums. There will however be a virtual exhibit online upcoming. My work had been selected to represent the Arts Council of Canada. I also had been working with a p.r. firm regarding my art and journey. It will be featured upcoming in the national papers. My exhibit schedule for the next two years had been fully booked locally and abroad.
Did you feel pressure to move your plans to an online/virtual format?
I'm going to be selling my work online. It's a major step for me. I may have spoken before about my conflict with art and commerce. It's a must now since the physical locations I sell my work locally are closed temporarily.
What else has changed for you?
The most obvious change that has taken place is my relocation from Guelph to Glace Bay (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia) in order to co parent my 11-year-old son Quin who is home and out of school daily. I'm deeply grateful for my familial relations now more than ever. I had been parenting from afar previously and visiting on regular trips. This is a true blessing for me in these uncertain times indeed.
I'm near the ocean so I'm taking landscape photographs daily. I'm influenced by my son and his energy and shared thirst for knowledge. It is truly inspiring my work. I've got a studio set up here and creating daily.
The beginnings of a new studio set up. Mood board in progress.
How do you think this enforced pause will affect your art?
I believe this forced pause will teach me to adapt and express the change and upheaval naturally in my work. The current political situation in America remains a constant influence that affects my collage work in both subtle and not so subtle ways. I believe that now more than ever is the time for artists everywhere to bear witness and report injustices and ideas that will aid in the eventual demise of the current administration.
This pause has also granted me and directors that I respect time to investigate my life, work, and inspirations with hopes of producing a documentary.
Do you have any tips for artists and creatives for getting through this challenging time?
A message to other artists would be to just create. For me it is a means to overcome stress and anxiety as well as a vehicle to express my views and observations that occur in the world and internally. It also helps hone skills I require in my life such as focus, concentration and practicing truly living in the moment. I'm fully aware that time is fleeting and as an artist I wish to assert my vision now not later. Music is also helping me through this time. I’ve been listening to DJ mixes and it’s helping me through this time of upheaval. Café Del Mar 24/7, Chris Coco, Laurence Guy, DJ Boring, Mount Kimbie, and my own DJ Koup Spotify playlist to name but a few.
If you’d like to see more of Korey’s work, you can do so on his website.
Interview by Glodeane Brown
All photos provided by the artist
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