Meet Clair Case

We recently connected with Clair Case and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Clair , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

For myself finding my purpose has felt like one of those old Family Circus cartoon images, where the black dashes are all of the yard showing the craziest path from point A to point B.

I started out on a photographic journey only to come back to where it began, sewing. Now, as someone that hand-sews and weaves paper I feel right at home.

In terms of content, again, I’ve gone back to something that has been rattling around in my mind and right in front of me this whole time. I’m very aware of the images of women and question what does that means as you are progressing through life. The images you see when you are younger have a different meaning and affect on you than they do as you are growing older.

For me, finding purpose has been acknowledging and listening to the things that have been there all along. Turning to subjects I want to explore more or that I need to get out of me and onto paper – almost quite literally, ha.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My time is divided into sections, work, art, volunteering, fun, etc. At the moment, I work part-time for Janelle at All Roads. Last year and into the beginning of this year, I had assisted on her large triptych weaving commission that was going to the new embassy in Iraq. Ironically, I am currently assisting another fiber artist with a large, 4-piece commission they have. Also, I am on the Board at the Highway Sanctuary, a hi-desert art related non-profit, which I’ve been involved with for the past 3+ years. I really love participating in art experiences and contributing to my hi-desert community.

This leaves a good amount of time for myself and my creations, which is what I’ve wanted to concentrate on more these past few years. My art focuses on exploring women in media, found in magazines, old advertisements or pin up ephemera, then juxtaposing those images into or onto other surfaces, like wallpaper, various types of playing cards, onto embroidery hoops, and targets. These creations are part of a larger project I call “pin up, or put out”.

Much of my work has had literal images of women; however, recently, I created pieces that moved out of the literal and into the subjective. Two (2) of those pieces were a front and back panel of a blouse pattern and two (2) were large 30” targets. These pieces were built from scraps or long strips of paper that were either cut from pieces I have made or pieces that didn’t fit into other projects.

In working with the scraps, it became more about color, texture, creating more depth and patterns. I enjoy working with targets but working with and using the pattern paper as the base it represented how women have been identified: house makers, sewers, etc. I’m excited to continue exploring this new directly.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Oh gosh this is kind of a tough question. I’m not sure my answers are going to be as simple as “going to art school” gave me this skill. Plus, there are many people that don’t go to art school and produce outstanding art works.

In looking at my journey, I would say three qualities or areas of knowledge are:

Patience, stillness both physically but also mentally are big attributes. When I studied photography, you learned to see things from various angles; straight on pictures weren’t always the better vantage point. After all, taking photographs isn’t just clicking your finger on the shutter button. Henri Cartier Bresson talked about the “decisive moment” when all the elements of a scene fell into alignment, part composition, part timing, part intuition, these elements all came together to create a well-balanced image. Sometimes “a good image” happens quickly but other times, it can take years to get there so being patient is key.

Curiosity: For me, things don’t happen overnight but are built here and there. I’ve taken those nuggets and stored them away for when I was ready. But it didn’t stop me from trying new things, for instance I can make paper, I know how to book bind. However, I think that moving has also played an ‘unsung role’ in my curiosity as well. Getting out of my comfort, changing my perspective has challenged me to let go and explore…. and I’ve done that: I’ve lived in and explored the East Coast, lived in Chicago, the Pacific Northwest, and now I live in the desert. The old and even new buildings, the changing environments and seasons, the sights, smells and sounds, this has been part of my composition.

Lastly, what I’ve been learning more since moving to the desert is trust – letting go of ideals and notions that art should be like this or that. Your work doesn’t, and on many levels shouldn’t, look like everyone else’s. You don’t have to color ‘inside the lines’ – get messy! Lean in to uncertainty. I think if you believe in what you are doing, what you have to say, or want to convey then it will all come to light. Trust that your work is worthwhile.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Although, I have been working on my art for years, I don’t always talk about or “explain” my work. However, I’ve been sharing more and more. I think talking to people more about the art at the Hwy Sanctuary has assisted with that. And participating in the annual Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours where I’m interacting with people, articulating my thoughts, expanding on my work, has been immensely helpful. Even though, I have participated in art shows both with my photography and with my fiber work, being in the desert has my “decisive moment”. I’m showing up more for myself.

I want to do more outside of the community and ready to take the next step. I want to expand my participation with more art shows, group and solo, but I find I have a hard time categorizing my work, this challenge surfaces every time I review open call guidelines.

At the moment, my biggest hurdle is how to I get to where I want to be? How can my art been seen by a larger audience?

I have been taking little steps by talking with art peers and gallerists I know. I’ve been researching galleries more to see what type of art works they’ve shown before, see if my work is similar, and could ‘fit’ in their establishment. There are a few places where I’d like to show my art work, so I’m exploring if they have any open calls coming up, or other opportunities.

Plus, thinking outside the box by teaching, hosting skill sharing workshops, or pop-ups helps with working through this challenge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://claircase.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claircase

Image Credits

All photographic images belong and are the rights of me, Clair Case.