We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsey Reddick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsey below.
Lindsey, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I would say as a child, I was not prone to taking too many risks. I was very shy and reserved and always felt too different to stand out or want to take risks. The first time I intentionally took a risk was when I quit playing on the water polo team in high school to start art classes. I took art super seriously and it felt right to continue it, and it felt like something I was good at. Despite my mom’s opinion that I should be an accountant, I applied to 8 schools, and 6 were art schools. This felt like another risk, but it was thrilling to think about moving to a city to take on art. I learned a lot about taking risks while I was in school. I had a professor named Victoria Wagner who was maybe the best at describing taking risk. Some things that she has said still pop up in my brain and feel foundational to me. Another risk was moving ti Santa Fe New Mexico, where I knew nobody and moved only with my cat. I’m doing this, I’ve found some of the best community in friendships and art that I could ever ask for. Moving here has been fruitful and I’m so happy I’ve taken all the risks to get here
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started art in high school and went to college for a degree in painting and drawing. I think this comes out a lot in my ceramic work. A few weeks into school I decided that ceramics was my calling, and I wasn’t sure if I should change my major so early on, but after 5 weeks in school I changed to ceramics. Being in school has helped me to receive so many important opportunities and learning experiences. I got to work alongside an incredible painter for 3 years (and sometimes I still work with her), I’ve had ceramics production jobs that taught me skills in how to produce my own functional ware. I’ve worked many crafts shows and have had many opportunities to sell my functional ware to people and shops. I’ve recently started my journey into sculpture and non functional ceramics, which feels really important to me in this moment because I’ve never felt so connected to my art.
I look forward to participating in more gallery shows, whether they are group shows or solo shows. I’ve had great opportunities for this in Santa Fe, so I’m excited to work beyond here and hopefully be able to share my art more in bigger cities. After my recent show closing, I’m working on a lot of commission pieces and feeling excited about these opportunities
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?
One skill that I had to learn early on was to not care so much about what other people thought of me pursuing art. People questioned it all the time and I always knew I would find a way to make it work. Take the risks, you may fail but it’s better to try and fail than to always regret not taking the risk
Talk to the people you respect, and ask for their advice. For me this was my dad, some professors, and my close friend/old boss Anna Valdez. These are people who know you and appreciate the things you do and want the best for you. You can’t know everything going into these ventures, so seek help when needed
You have to put the time in.. nothing will come to you if you don’t do this, people see and respect the hard work and love that you put into your passion.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed I have to remind myself to step back and look at the bigger picture. Work will always be there, so take a day off, drink some tea, eat a picnic alone in the park, go on a long hike to the top of a mountain, go somewhere you’ve never been before, take your cat on a walk, hug a friend, pick some flowers, put your headphones on and dance in a park, or just sit and relax and remind yourself to enjoy the ride and all the ups and downs because looking back and remembering those moments will be so rewarding
Contact Info:
- Website: Lindzredd.com
- Instagram: @lindz.redd
Image Credits
All images by Ellie Chappelle Elliechappelle.com @byelliechappelle
