“It’s all a matter of perspective.” – Mary Iverson
Some artists have been drawn to it since the start and some bounce back and forth. For Mary Iverson, science kept her busy in college but she said eventually life led her back towards art. All that said, Mary’s art tends to blend both sides of her as she showcases everything from the land beneath our feet to the stars that shine as we lay our heads down to sleep.
Kendra: With art being one of the many things in life that are subjective, do you ever allow critics to get under your skin or is that something you have to learn to ignore early on if you want a career in this particular field?
Mary Iverson: Getting feedback about my work is essential. I always want to hear opinions about what is working and what is falling short because that helps me improve and connect with viewers. But there is a difference between constructive criticism and someone who is being a troll. You can tell when someone is not being thoughtful or is contradicting themselves just to criticize or be negative.
Kendra: You’ve noted that your local National Parks often serve as the backdrop for your inspiration. Have you always been someone who finds themselves out in nature more so than cooped up in the house?
Mary Iverson: Yes, I’ve always loved to play outside! I grew up skiing, camping, hiking, and beachcombing. I do something in the mountains or parks every week and I love walking my dog Vega all over the place. He is named after the star Vega because he has one blue eye and one brown eye (and the star Vega is blue).
Kendra: While nature is huge in your work, are there any creatives outside of art that you draw from like musicians, fashion designers, photographers?
Mary Iverson: Lately I’ve been inspired by science and I love to look at diagrams of molecules. I co-teach a class at my college called “The Art of Biological Life,” and I am always learning something new through that class and getting further inspired by nature.
Kendra: A lot of your work calls for a combination of nature and city life, but the pieces I tend to fall for are those that involve constellations. As someone who grew up in a small town, I miss the stars when I look outside in LA. Where in Seattle is the best place to do some star gazing?
Mary Iverson: To really see the stars, you have to get out of the city, but you can always see the brightest stars and the planets from almost anywhere. I like Sunset Hill Park and Gas Works Park because they are wide open and you can look out over the water.
Kendra: With 2019 rolling by faster and faster with each passing day, what do you have planned? Any gallery shows coming up?
Mary Iverson: I have a show coming up at Antler Gallery in Portland that opens August 29th. It’s a two-person show with Kevin Cyr.
