We had the good fortune of connecting with Kirsten Stingle and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kirsten, how do you think about risk?
As a child, I would never have thought of myself as a risk-taker. I was a draw-in-the-lines kind of girl, but I have learned that chasing your dreams is all about taking risks. I left my job as a welfare policy analyst in New York City after 9/11 to pursue my creative passion. Something I had always wanted to do but never had the courage. I let go of the expectations, a steady salary, and security in order to reinvent myself as a sculptor. I learned to believe in my creative vision, despite rejections and roadblocks. For 18 years I have been a narrative sculptor and tell my stories through ceramics and mixed media. Each day in the studio is about pushing my narrative voice through different materials, learning new techniques, and making my work stronger and more distinct. It is a continuous push against playing it safe. In fact, I place a dot on the lip of each figure to remind myself to be a courageous storyteller.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I do not have a visual arts background. I have a BFA in Theater and Masters degree in Public Policy from Columbia University. My route to becoming a narrative sculptor is rather circuitous but when looking over my life, the one through-line has always been the power of the story. Even in my career as a policy analyst I collected qualitative data (their words) rather than statistics to inform the research. I believe stories are the most fundamental communication tool we have as humans. Right now, we have so many ways to communicate with others across the world, but these methods do not allow us to share deeply. We respond quickly, often without asking questions. Stories teach us about ourselves, our histories, and, most importantly, to see the world from different points of view. Stories are critical to our evolution as individuals and as a society. That is why I consider myself a “narrative” sculptor rather than a “figurative” or “ceramic” sculptor. Instead of dictating the narrative or creating a piece that only has one theme, I try to create a dialogue between the viewer and the work. I want the viewer to get lost in my fantastical world and find a story that speaks to them.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are many exciting venues in Atlanta to share, but one of my favorites is Oakland Cemetery. Oakland is special not just for its hauntingly beautiful Victorian monuments and landscaping. I could wonder through this place for hours because it is a repository of stories… of lives that built this city. As a storyteller, this is pure fodder for the imagination. Oakland works hard through their tours and events to keep these stories alive.
I would also include a performance of the GLO ATL. Laurie Stalling and her company explore themes through movement and dance that are beyond words. They communicate on level that only the gut and soul can absorb.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I first started in ceramics, I had no background in fine arts. I simply started taking some community art classes in hand-building. And, of course, I was horrible. Those first steps are the hardest because you know where you want your work to be but have so much to learn. There are so many periods of failure to endure before you are even slightly satisfied with what you create. Luckily, my mentor and instructor, Monica Litvany, took me under her wing and encouraged me to experiment and fail. She taught me that creating is a journey and to look at any one piece, material, or opportunity as too precious stifles the creative process. Monica helped me find my narrative voice and to believe that voice is worthy of sharing.
Website: www.kirstenstingle.com
Instagram: @kjstingle
Facebook: @kirstenstingle
Image Credits
Drew Stauss, Departure Studio Photography Decatur, GA