Interview with Cierra G. Rowe, Part I of II, Visual Responses

Would you like to get to know a painter through their art or through their words? I tend to gravitate towards words but have increasingly learned to look at the art first, to see what it makes me feel, before putting words to it.

Today, I’m sharing the first of a two-part interview with Cierra G. Rowe. This is the visual interview half. In a few days, I’ll share the written interview half. Both are moving.

Share what it makes you feel.

What does the term mental health mean to you?

All photos belong to Cierra G. Rowe

What does your own history of mental health look like?

What does creativity mean to you?

How have mental health symptoms impacted your creative process?

How have mental health symptoms impacted the content of your creativity?

In what ways have mental health symptoms impacted your creative medium?

How have mental health symptoms impacted your productivity as an artist?

How have mental health symptoms impacted your self-perception / identity as an artist?

In what ways have mental health symptoms impacted the perception of you as an artist by others - your experiences of stigma and discrimination, your experiences in groups of artists, etc.

What does the relationship between art and money look like for you?

What does the relationship between art and work look like for you?

How is art therapeutic/cathartic/healing for you?

How has art hindered/harm your mental health? Or been complicated vs. all positive?

In summary, for you, what is the relationship between art and mental health?

After completing the earlier questions, what is one more image that you feel compelled to share in response to all of this?

Visit Cierra’s website and blog. And make sure to check out Cierra’s written responses to some of these same questions in Part II.