We were lucky to catch up with Krista Svalbonas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Krista, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Being an artist, risk taking often goes hand in hand in making artwork. I’ve always been interested in taking risks and pushing the boundaries of the photographic image. I’m interested in the place where the photographic image meets sculpture, painting or large scale installation. It is in constantly testing the limits of photography that I find exciting. This desire is what lead me to produce my most recent body of work “What Remains”, where I am laser cutting traditional folk textile patterns into my images of Soviet architecture in the Baltic States. The result is a mixture of part photograph and part sculpture where light and shadow become integral to the the final presentation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an artist, photographer and professor. My most recent bodies of work tackle ideas of home, migration and displacement. I have had traveling exhibition of my work touring Europe for the past two years and its last stop will be in Cesis Latvia this summer. If you would like to learn more about my work please visit my website at www.kristasvalbonas.com
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?
My three most important qualities are: resilience, curiosity and experimentation.
The life of an artist is difficult. There are so many disappointments we face on a regular basis, whether this is a rejection letter, an artwork that gets damaged or lack of studio time, it’s important to keep showing up and to continue to make the work. It’s easy to get discouraged and it can be hard to continue to motivate yourself. It is so important to continue to push yourself and remain resilient.
Stay curious! Curiosity is something that can help motivate us. It can take us on the most creative journeys and give us tools and skills sets we never thought we could have.
Taking risks as an artist is essential. It is the way we grow and often the way we produce the best work. It’s important to ask “what if” in the studio and to accept failure if that question doesn’t lead to a successful experiment. Eventually of you keep asking it will give you the results you are looking for. The journey is just as important as the final result.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I strongly believe in “Forest Bathing” or shinrin-yoku, a term that emerged in Japan in the 1980’s and refers to talking a walk in the woods. It is a form of eco-therapy and a way for us to be mindful of nature and our connection to it. I regularly go on walks or hikes in the forests and mountains where I live. Immersing myself in nature allows me to relax and reframe what might be causing me stress.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristasvalbonas.com
- Instagram: @kristasvalbonas
