Amy Webb
Amy Webb was a resident artist with us September 28–October 12, 2023
Bio
Amy Renee Webb is a Mississippi oil painter who has lived all over the state and currently calls the rural art colony of Water Valley, MS her home (at the time of the residency). She holds a BFA degree from the University of Mississippi and has a background in museum administrative work. In addition to her painting, Amy is an active member of the arts community, serving on the board of the arts nonprofit IRIS, which provides a platform for underrepresented Southern artists.
Through her art, Amy is carving out a space for herself and others like her who are seeking new ways to define the Southern experience. Her work is a celebration of individuality, solitude, softness, and the eerie beauty within the mundane.
Amy's dedication to promoting underrepresented voices in the arts is evident in her work with IRIS, where she advocates for Southern artists who may not have access to traditional galleries or institutions. Her paintings reflect this same spirit of inclusivity, welcoming viewers of all backgrounds to engage with her unique visual vocabulary and experience the ethereal lights of her world.
Artist Statement
My personal goal is to remain soft-hearted and present in day-to-day life. I capture moments of solitude through my eyes, showing them to others in a diffused reality. Through patience and a painstaking glazing method with oil paints as my medium, I want to give these moments the glowing, ethereal softness that I feel when I can stick to my goal of mindfulness. These scenes present themselves to me usually in the evening or early morning, when the world slows down; we must also slow down and listen/watch carefully to get the most out of those moments.
WEBSITES, SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER MEDIA
Porch Talk (Podcast): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GC1jNgDNzwm0VGJ50pziU?si=6PiuF01GR3O86SiTs4miXQ
Commercial Dispatch: https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/from-working-on-the-farm-to-painting-in-the-studio/
Thoughts about the Residency by Amy Webb
Prior to the residency, I had been following the growth and excitement of the MacGown’s art practice since we first met back in 2015-ish. The idea of distancing myself from the distractions of my usual routine to focus entirely on art for a couple weeks sounds incredible, especially when doing so among fellow Mississippi artists. I’ve fallen in love with working outdoors as a farmhand over the last few years, and love being close to nature as a source of energy and vitality I can then bring to the studio. A change of scenery from my windowless studio would be a dream; this also seems like a perfect environment to meditate, find some solitude, and tap into my creative center. I’m capable of helping out with any farm/homesteading activities if need be, and feel there is so much to learn from the MacGown clan and their incredible art homestead/compound in Sessums.
I had the honor of staying as an artist-in-residence at the MacGown Artist Retreat for two weeks (September 28th - October 12th, 2023). My experience was exactly what I needed to fuel my career as an artist. During my stay I worked furiously while feeling like I could fully care for myself in mind, body, and spirit. The guest cabin was comfortable and charming, and the surrounding property had many splendid spots to explore and make art. For two weeks there was no worrying about bills, day jobs, errands, etc. With no distractions and an abundance of nature surrounding my little temporary home, I felt my only two responsibilities were to commune with nature and make art. This led to me completing eight of my best works in only ten days! The alone time spent with my art allowed me to dedicate a lot of extra care and consideration to my work, which took some of my paintings into an exciting new direction.
There were visitors; a couple of talented photographers, a thoughtful writer for the Dispatch, and a podcast host that I had the joy of speaking to. In the remaining four days after my painting frenzy, I enjoyed learning more about Joe and Joseph MacGown’s creative processes. I had many insightful discussions with them about their careers as artists. I learned framing tips and got help from Joe to improve the presentation of my work. I had time and resources to experiment with new media, which has inspired my latest series of soft pastel drawings.
As an artist-in residence, I was expected to leave my mark on the area, so I left a painting in the cabin. The painting depicted a scene from one of the beautiful nature trails that I spent a lot of time exploring on the property. I had the pleasure of meeting a few grad students of MSU, who invited me to make cyanotype prints and other small works with them at their home. I was also delighted to contribute feedback to a BFA thesis proposal class in the MSU Art Department.
It was such a joy to connect with many kind folks all over Starkville. The creative marathon Ihad at the cabin left me with a small body of new work that I was then able to show at the Starkville Area Arts Council, where I met a supportive community that purchased some of my work. I also had fresh work to bring to subsequent shows in the following weeks, which helped me generate more interest and find success in ways I can attribute directly to my time at M.A.R.S. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for that experience! I’m so appreciative of the MacGown’s and the Del Rendon Foundation for making all of this possible.
Amy Webb
10/23/2023