Saree Robinson ~ Collage Art & Mixed Media ~ Grass Valley, CA
1. What inspires, moves or drives you?
I am inspired by fantasy fashion, paper dolls, and the future. I am driven to create because for me it’s like breathing. It’s a MUST! I don’t really make art, art makes me! Being creative is intrinsic to my happiness — I am sure loads of people can relate to that. I’m winking at you creators!
2. What are a few of your favourite things?
The perfect vintage find for the perfect price, reciting the Back to the Future trilogy, laughing with my boyfriend, howling with my chihuahua, fresh flowers, fresh snow, dancing wildly with my sister, well-rounded art collections, driving fast boats and fast cars, vibrant sunsets, maple sugar on snow, a secluded tropical beach oasis, ridiculous and /or fascinating people, seeing rainbows or ufos, sharing a smile, seedlings sprouting, embellished and embroidered textiles, a perfect cup of coffee, a room with a view, that eureka moment when a fresh idea hits…so much to celebrate!
3. What does an ideal world look like to you?
In my an ideal world everyone is respectful of other peoples beliefs and flexible with their own. Preserving The Earth is placed above all else, and everyone enjoys acting as cooperative stewards of our planet! Psychedelics are encouraged to help throw off the chains of mental slavery. Truth and honour are (actually) paramount characteristics in elected officials and the news media. Everyone has everything they need. Respect, love and peace prevails.
4. What is your “offering”, creative or otherwise?
I am a mixed media artist. My main thang lately is collage! I also love to make and embellish clothes and have done my share of painting, drawing, and sewing quilts. I love repurposing and upcycling materials. My current favorite art process is making a collage using every single page of one magazine. It’s a fun ritual in transformation! I have a love/hate relationship with fashion magazines. Since I was very little I have enjoyed flipping through the pages, absorbing the beauty and fantasy of the fashion editorials. And yet, the totem of advertising and unrealistic beauty pressures these magazines represent pisses me off. So I quite enjoy ogling at them, then ferociously cutting them to pieces, and reinventing them MY WAY. My collage work is a hybrid of adoring homage, energetic rebellion and a form of meditation. I work very quickly and my collages basically make themselves. I am just a meat body robot! On an “easy” day I just hand myself over to the muse and snip snip! Generally a fancifully fitted, self-actualized bad ass woman in an alternative universe emerges. Go figure, that’s exactly who I want to hang around with! I am starting to explore making more landscapes in my collage works and I am revisiting jazzing up vintage clothes again. I will always have a hard-on for extra special clothing.
5. How can we find your work or follow along with your journey?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saree.robinson/
Website: www.sareerobinson.com
6. What are your favourite quotes or words to live by?
“Treat everyone as if they have a broken heart.” That one has a marvellously softening effect and I love Yoko Ono’s quote “Art is a way of survival” because I quite agree!
7. Who are your heros/heroines and how have they impacted your life?
There's a lot of rad and unique people in my family. I am really lucky to have so many fascinating folks around me who modeled passion, creativity, fearlessness and perseverance. For example: my Ma is an incredible artist of many disciplines whose always pushing herself and doing things NO one else is, my Aunt is an iconic gay rights activist, lawyer, and now justice, and my Sister-in-Law is a walking angel of goodness and also a creative queen! There are so many people in my family I am proud of! But my all-time greatest role model is Ru Paul Charles. Her message of practicing self love and embracing your talent and uniqueness really changed my life. Very grateful for her and for my big sister Eli for introducing me to Dragrace... actually Eli introduces me to all the coolest stuff!
8. How will you leave your mark on the world, both in terms of community and the environment?
I hope whatever impact I have on this world it has to do with inspiration. I hope that I inspire people to try using recycled materials in their art. I hope I inspire people to try art at all! I hope I leave more positive on the planet than I take. I love this place!
9. What advice would the present you share with the past you?
My younger self prob wouldn’t listen to any advice BUT I WOULD SAY: Focus and hone your happiness and intuition, only make an enemy on purpose, practice loving kindness with everyone, especially yourself.
10. What challenges have you overcome and how?
My biggest challenge was conquering hard core depression which can be a debilitating place to find yourself. It felt like it took some serious bravery to evaluate my authentic self, accept who I found there, ask for help, and actually employ what I learned. Sounds so basic but for me learning that I ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE created a monumental shift. I guess shift happens felt more constructive than shit happens! My happiness lies in consistent healthy choices, paying attention to my mental health, taking personal responsibility, communing with my version of “spirit”, excercising, dancing and eating well and above all else- practicing fearless creativity. I encourage everyone to do you! Find your joy, whatever that means to you. Like Harry Palmer said “Each moment you are happy is a gift to the rest of the world!” If you are having a struggly moment (we all do) just start wherever you are, however you can! Go for a walk, meditate, rewrite your story as you want it to be, punch a grocery bag (my new favorite quarantine activity). Find a role model. Decipher what it is YOU need. It’s your life so make it unapologetically yours. Because you are motherfucking YOU. So learn to LOVE it. And then when you are feeling bright, you can shine your beam and help someone ELSE! And that is the juice. HAVE FUN! Love, Saree