Rebecca Weinman is one of our four partnert artists for our Indiegogo campaign. She will be donating a print of her painting, Into the Woods, for those who contribute $100 dollars or more. Please consider giving and receiving some great works of art in return.
Rebecca Weinman is a locally exhibited oil painter, a maker of things, and an adventurer. Before setting off on an improvisatory tour of the United States, Rebecca discusses the Berkshire community, the influence of the internet, and her plans to investigate artmaking across America with Mass MOCA intern Violet Lynch. Rebecca is one of four artists participating in this summer’s Berkshire-focused crowdfunding campaign spearheaded by Assets for Artists.
- Detail of Beasties #1
VL: You’ve studied all over the world, but your roots in the Berkshires seem to have grown deep; you worked with Berkshire Creative for a number of years and have been very active within the creative community outside of that. How did you first get involved?
RW: I am actually originally from the Berkshires. When I graduated [from college], I came back to the area because I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do as my next step. I ended up getting very involved in the community and staying, and it’s been a great experience. At this point, I’m looking to travel and expand again; there is nothing like travel to invigorate ideas and produce new ideas and to see how different people live in different parts of the country, and ultimately the world. I would like to travel abroad again but I am starting with the United States.
VL: Was there any part of your upbringing that encouraged you to pursue a career in the arts?
RW:I grew up in a very creative family; my father was a chef and my mother had an art practice. My grandfather was a writer; it was one of those things where it was just in the ether. There was never really a question of it when I was in school; the question was do I want to go pursue the writing aspect or do I pursue the fine arts aspect? And I went with the fine arts.
VL: Do you think that you or your practice were influenced by living in the Berkshires? Are there certain things that you drew from living here that you think might change once you find yourself in a different setting?
RW:Whether it is palate or light, you can’t help but be influenced by what you’re seeing every day. I’m sure my work would be different if I was waking up in a tropical location that didn’t have four seasons. It’s also very much influenced by the fact that there is such easy access to high quality museums. They run the gamut from the Renaissance and Impressionist works you can see at the Clark [Art Institute] to the contemporary work you can see at WCMA or MASS MoCA. You can’t help but be influenced by what’s around you.
