ARTIST RACHEL TRIBBLE
If you’ve been following my interviews, you will know that I am very interested in learning what “ wellbeing” means to each artist we feature on this platform. Today we speak to artist Rachel Tribble, her meditative, dreamlike work is tied to reconnecting to the Earth as a way of healing. Her upcoming exhibition with MartinArts at the Court House Cultural Center in Stuart, Florida is meant to be a sanctuary where people can come relax and get lost.
Tribble’s award-winning watercolor and oil paintings are recognized for their meditative qualities and serene use of color. Originally from New York City, Tribble introduced her multi-media installations and performance work into the alternative venues of rock nightclubs in the 1990’s during the rise of the EDM movement.
A constant champion for the environment, her journey took a deeper turn when she took a hiatus from her creative process and went to live and work within the Native American community. Finding inspiration in the wisdom of the Lakota and Anishinaabe people, she returned to painting and released an entirely elemental portfolio that attracted the attention of the Walt Disney Company and she was approached to create the award-winning Poster for the 2008 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. .
Much of your work depicts what might be described as otherworldly scenes. What kind of worlds do you want viewers to experience?
They are dreamscapes based on the natural elements and act as a gate to connecting with not only our natural reality but also other dimensions we may not consciously be aware of.
My hope is that the viewer steps into a place of deep calm and transcendence of chaos. In that depth of calm, we remember we are connected to our planet, not separate from it. Once you step into that connection, the beautiful, calming, stressless magic we are offered by the universe becomes a daily part of our lives.
Do you think there is a balance between getting lost in imaginary worlds and recognizing the realities of our lived-in experiences?
I do. Art gives us space to go beyond our ordinary lives and inspire new visions and possibilities. My world is drop of escapism, like when you read a good book or see a great film. We step into another place and when we return to our everyday lives, we are revitalized.
I often hear from people who have my work in their offices, and they say how in the middle of a hectic day or trying to sort out some difficulties, they can look at the painting. It gives them a peaceful moment to do a mental reset and continue the day reinvigorated to take on whatever challenges they might face. I also get similar feedback from people living with the work in their home, and I always find this to be an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience.
How does sustainability factor into your life and art practice?
I am painting nature in honor of the world we will live in and in the hopes that people will connect with and fall in love with the true magic and healing our Mother Earth offers us. The work is my reminder that there is No Planet B. We must not be afraid to make changes in our lives that will support a healthier lifestyle for us and leave a healthier planet behind for our children and following generations. This is the most important and consistent philosophical thread in my life.
I am also very conscious of how toxic the tools of the artist can be for us and the planet. I use recycled materials as much as possible and I am learning to make my own recycled watercolor paper. I also discovered an Anishinabe paint maker from the First Nations in Canada: Anong Beam #beampaints. Her paint is plant and mineral-based and she doesn't use plastic of any kind. The colors are deeply saturated and the paint itself has an earthy quality to it that makes it a joy to experience. There really is something special about it. She makes her paints in the tradition of her family and even though she incorporates some modern pigment, she does her homework and eliminates the use of heavy metals and toxins from the paint. I am chemically sensitive and really can tell a difference in how my body reacts (does not react) to the paint.
What does well-being mean to you?
For me, well-being is a process, of finding healthy ways to handle stress in my life and cultivate calm. Having a lifestyle that supports me as I am, not what society or social media thinks I should be, so I’m able to foster positive thoughts, have a moment to connect with nature, and most importantly, my work. It's a practice, like yoga and meditation.
What can you tell us about your upcoming exhibition with MartinArts?
I’m very excited to be doing this exhibition. I show my work in lots of places, but never here at home, so this is a really special show for me. The show is an invitation for people to enter the galleries and experience color, mystery, and magical dreamscapes—a space of relaxation and a space of escape into the magical worlds nature can present.
Website: https://www.racheltribble.com/
Instagram: @racheltribbleart
Courtesy of Artist
