Bernadette Cay: Creative Courage
Gray Area’s Cultural Incubator Program is a 6 month commitment to develop a project that applies art and technology for social and civic impact, Membership includes peer to peer support, shared workspace at the historic Grand Theater, and opportunities for public presentations. Our current cohort is preparing for their final showcase on August 11th. Leading up to the showcase we will be sharing interviews with the members to share what they are working on at Gray Area and beyond.
After 10 years of not making art, Bernadette started making art again while working full-time. Her latest work, “Creative Courage”, is a reflection on that experience. The piece is based on a quote from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic that inspired her through that process:
“Do you have the courage? Do you have the courage to bring forth this work? The treasures that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say yes.”
The piece uses projection mapping to illustrate this sentiment, a painting inspired by the quote made of sumi ink and watercolor crayons, and various tools of creative work — from painting to writing, photography and more. The experience complements the artist’s upcoming book about this journey.
Describe your work. What do you make and why?
Technology is a powerful influence in the world. I read a New York Times article about how tech companies often look to science fiction to inspire applications of cutting edge technology. Science fiction is art. I draw on my interdisciplinary experiences to create art that invites viewers to reflect on the lives we’re designing for ourselves and for one another. This piece and its complementary book explores the challenges and choices around creating a creative and meaningful life.
My artistic practice spans different media, including painting, writing, digital art and installation. I have fun making art and I enjoy connecting with folks with whom the work resonates.
What is one of your favorite/most successful pieces?
When I started making art again, I created art daily for +70 days while working full-time. One of my favorite pieces is one of those, called “Blockers.” It was inspired by the bug tracking software our team used daily. Inspiration can come from the least likely of places, including our daily work. A familiar interface for those in the tech world, the piece breaks down barriers between art and tech and connects with that audience. The piece also reinforces the theme of creative courage: sometimes our biggest blockers are the narratives we create and believe about ourselves.
Why did you decide to join Gray Area’s Cultural Incubator? How has the Incubator furthered your goals or contributed to your success?
I joined Gray Area’s Cultural Incubator because it’s the ideal environment for taking this body of work to the next level. The group’s ongoing feedback has helped make each of our work stronger. From help with technical questions to thought-provoking conversations ranging from technology and social justice to human perception, I’ve learned so much from the community. The program has given me the opportunity to expand my practice to a medium I had never tried before. Through the coworking space and events, I’ve encountered incredible people (e.g. Symmetry Labs) and new artistic media (e.g. experiencing short films through VR). The structure of the program has also helped hold me accountable for making progress.
