We were lucky to catch up with Marianne Sade recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marianne, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I met the amazing Beatrice Wood years ago (when she was only in her 80s) (she lived to be 105). I’d never heard of her until a magical visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art introduced me to her in a very, very serendipitous way. (A story for another day, if you like). A brief written correspondence led to an in-person pilgrimage from my east coast home to her west coast “Shangri-La” (Ojai, CA) where I learned even more about and could appreciate her artistic lifestyle. It began daily with four hours in her clay studio creating her whimsical and sparkling pieces and then, relaxing with her door open to the world for the rest of the day. What I’m spotlighting here is, what Julia Cameron (“The Artist’s Way”) calls “filling the well” and this requires “artist dates” that you take yourself on and explore your world. I believe in this secret. It is very important to be open to the world, especially the natural world. I spend time (sometimes feel like I’m “wasting” it) looking at the birds in the birdbath, watching the pecking order at play. When I take walks I try and *think* about art projects, or challenges but then, (“drats!” says my practical mind) I surrender, breathe in the fresh, and enjoy my body moving through time and airy space. I love to read, cook and bake, and watch movies, and talk to friends and definitely see what other creatives are doing, playing, reciting. We birds of a feather enjoy flocking together.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I make often-quirky collages by cutting out magazine paper as my primary material. I love and am intrigued by crows, and birds in general, so they find their way into my work a lot. I like humorous situations and like to juxtapose nature with our industrial world so I suspect that very clever crows, who are social creatures, would find themselves in really cool bars (“CrowBars”) after hours. I mean, didn’t you ever wonder where crows go at night? A lot of my imagery features the contrast of the organic and man-made architecture since birds have the liberty to hang out in and, out and about our structures. Another example is in my new children’s book, “TAPUM!“ which portrays animals and nature around a child’s drum showing how we’re all connected in our world.
Collage is my favorite medium, since childhood, having explored clay sculpting and painting in my earlier adult years. I like using up this waning medium of print paper-producing, by rescuing magazines from the recycle bin to re-create in new expression. I lead workshops where many are comfortable with this approachable method, too. Collage is apparently fun for everyone!
My board book was many years in the making and was born (finally) in late 2022. “TAPUM!” is the sound of the world all around via the drum. Check out my website (msadeart.com) to see a new, fabulous video from an up and coming videographer, Juliane LePerron. I am working on a book sequel which will expand on the concept of connection for the same early childhood audience and their caregivers.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe in an open mind, open heart, and the discipline to work hard. Trusting the wisdom of my heart is an important compass to me.
Read, explore—be curious about the world, and listen.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Wow, I was a librarian so, tough choice! As a late-blooming “artist” I will say, Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way:” a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” (which I referenced earlier) was and remains an inspiring treasure. It opened my eyes in so many spiritual and creative and practical ways. I mentioned self-discipline earlier and boy did this book poke me in this direction. It is a vital trait, especially for creatives, to embrace. The book is filled with gems but more importantly, activities to cultivate and nurture one’s often fragile artist-self (which I definitely related to). One of the huge tasks in the book, is the invitation to the daily ritual of writing three pages (“Morning Pages”), for example. I often come back to this practice of tapping into what’s going on inside my head and psyche. Experiencing this book, giving myself permission to work through it, literally freed me, escorted me into a major artistic turn in my mid-life. THE nugget for me was the author’s anecdote of when a student had expressed her regret that she’d never taken piano lessons as a young person and now it was too late. Her teacher, Julia, said that it wasn’t too late. Student replies something like, (in the making excuses tone of voice) “Well, do you know how old I’ll be by the time I get to play the piano really well?” Then, teacher wisely replies, “The same age as if you don’t.” I loved reading that shocking retort many years ago and it became a mantra for me having been in a similar nearly-regretful frame of mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.msadeart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannesadeart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msadeart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannesade?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@MarianneSade
Image Credits
Head Shot, Kris Kelley Photography
