Life & Work with Samara Ash

I was not the fastest, nor the strongest, and, definitely, not the prettiest. I knew that I needed to excel at anything, but, at what? Now in a foreign country with an unfamiliar language, undergoing dire financial situations, and with my whole family back in Bogota (I arrived in Miami with my teen brother and my stepdad; we didn’t know anyone), I had to figure it out right away.

One afternoon, almost a year later, my elementary art teacher pulled me aside and told me I had a talent for painting. I thought to myself Did I understand correctly? I can paint. After coming to my senses, I did not believe her and dismissed the whole thing. Further down the school year, she made me enter an art contest, and I won. Now she had my attention. My light bulb went on!

Thereafter, day and night I began to draw –I thought I was very very bad at it– and made a promise to myself that I would not stop until getting “somewhere.” I didn’t even know where that somewhere was. Growing up, I would not hang out with friends till my homework was done. Often asking questions in class, I asked my teachers how I can do better.

I was accepted into Design & Architecture Senior High School where I studied Fashion Design & painting for 4 years. After working diligently, I made it to the top of my class, but had to forfeit my dreams of going off into an ivy league university along with the scholarships I had received; I was undocumented. No papers, no school.

I still applied to the county college, and by a miracle, they did not realize I didn’t have legal status. By the time they finally inquired, I was mid-way through my undergraduate studies. I transferred to the University of Florida through the New World School of the Arts where I received a dual Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Multimedia & painting along with a minor in Art History. I’m proud to say I was named Valedictorian.

Working various hospitality jobs while simultaneously working in the arts and going full-time to school was eventful, to say the least. Selling chicken kabobs at fairs, working at art galleries, being a hostess at several restaurants, becoming an Art Project Manager for a multinational company, bartending, working as an art advisor, selling hair extensions at mall kiosks, babysitting, directing prominent art collections, serving tables, teaching early childhood at private schools, singing, & painting houses were just a few of the many hats I wore till recently.

Looking back at all this, I appreciate what I’ve learned through that journey. My current creative practice is composed of components established by those experiences lived. I know that I am certainly a more well-rounded artist and a more conscious being due to my trajectory and its myriad of surprises. All those unexpected turns taught me how to stay on my toes… ready, vigilant, proactive, yet pliable enough to know that there is always more to learn.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Let me share with you the “Flowered Shorts Story”

At the time my teen brother, my stepfather, and I were staying at a budget motel in South Beach. Going through a rough financial patch, all we had to eat for that week were two boxes of Cheerios and one gallon of milk. I was a tough little cookie then, but having Cheerios for breakfast, lunch, and dinner caused even the smell of this much-beloved cereal to make me feel sick.

Regardless of what was taking place, and still with the mindset that I had to do very well in school; I woke up that morning, got ready, picked up my backpack, and headed to my elementary school. After school, I arrived back at the motel. The key to the room did not work so I went to the lobby attendant and asked her if there was something wrong with it and followed with “Tengo Que entrar y hacer mi tarea.” She replied, “no pagan, no see abre!”

I fully understood that of course, if the rate had not been paid, I would not have access to the room so I asked if I could just take out clothes to wear to school the next day. She said that she did not see any clothes in the room, “nada.” I paused. Just as she was uttering those words from behind the counter, I saw a boy walk slowly past her wearing my t-shirt. A cute little girl followed… She had my red, polka-dot bow Minnie Mouse hat on, she looked happy. I did not cry. I became silent.

For the following 30 days, I had to wear the same shorts (white with little blue flowers), and an oversized shirt to school every day. Every other afternoon, I would shower at a nearby couple’s tiny studio apartment. There, I would wash my clothes by hand in the bathtub and come out wearing the wet clothes so they could dry with my body heat.

Going to school with the same attire daily made me feel extremely self-conscious and embarrassed, but I knew that was better than not attending school at all, since, in my mind, knowledge would someday set me free. Today those shorts are still in my closet. They are a gentle reminder that there are matters more important than what we solely see with our two eyes. There’s a back story: to someone’s actions… to someone’s emotions… to someone’s decisions. It’s important to be humble, kind, & understanding.

After being so embarrassed then, I realized that from here on out, nothing would faze me. From time to time, I still bring out those shorts, an emblem of a time I had nothing, yet, a symbol of having it all.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an artist in residence at the Fountainhead Studios in Little Haiti, Miami. In my work, I research power & frailty as a subject matter. Through paintings, drawings, photos, & sculpture, I portray the effect of these notions on people’s mental, spiritual, and social development.

The idea behind this quest is to engage in a dialogue that leads to inspiring each other. I see artists as the ambassadors of hope establishing conversations that help to counterbalance the anxiety and uncertainty prevalent in our times. Helping to ease the processing of ideas and stimulating the creative self to have edifying responses to our everyday life; subsequently, improving the way we treat each other.

A few years back, I was fortunate enough to establish Samara Ash Studio as a creative platform that helps businesses materialize their vision into artworks… what I call “S.A.S. bespoke art solutions.” My task is to listen to clients’ stories, decipher key components about what they stand for and what they would like to convey, and process all that through my artistic lens.

In turn, I create pieces of art that are visually engaging and driven by a story. Works that are beautifully crafted, that are tailored for the client, and that can also withstand the passing of time (by using optimal materials depending on where the art will be displayed: high traffic areas, indoor, outdoor, etc.). Some of these works may be large murals in private or commercial spaces, others may be personalized paintings for their collection, and others might be pieces that celebrate the soul of a brand.

Just recently, I was commissioned by Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh (think Erin Brockovich, Traffic, The Informant, & Netflix’s Kimi) to commemorate the partnership between his brand Singani 63 and Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike LIVE, a multi-sensory theater performance based on the film.

I decided to depict the story of a male dancer who, powered by the Magic behind his talent & Singani liquor (Bolivia’s national distilled spirit considered part of its cultural patrimony and only produced in the high valleys of Bolivia), flew so high up that he became a condor. Andean condors were often associated with power and physical health.

In some Native traditions, condors have been seen as symbols of righteous leadership bringing justice, wisdom, and strength. I painted this onto two glass bottles and displayed them on a rotating platform. From the audience’s perspective, it appeared as though the male was dancing on a stage and turning into the bird and the bird was then turning into the man… continuous … Perhaps infinite. It was magical!

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risks take many forms and come into effect every single day manifesting at different levels each time (higher, mid, low risks & everything in between). Everything worthwhile takes effort, and to achieve our dreams, we must enter uncharted territories. Entrepreneurs take financial and reputational risks that accompany leaving behind steady paychecks.

Artists must risk becoming vulnerable to convey the truth behind their work as audiences fall in love with art when it connects with them; when it makes them feel or when it makes them see the world in a new way. When art is evocative and not insipid –that is the art I want to make. The risks that entail putting yourself out there, are the ones I want to focus on.

Becoming vulnerable before spectators is not an easy task. As a creative, opening up and exposing inner thoughts, traumas, personal perceptions of the world, and concepts of triumph or defeat; opening yourself up to bring out a part of your inner being through your artistry will lead onlookers towards their realizations and their voice. There will be those who support you and understand you while others may criticize or envy you.

With the surge of social media and self-promotion, artists are expected to frequently produce and present their craft to the public, whether they are prepared to face all that comes with it or not. In assuming these risks, you must be ready to keep as true to your essence as you can. Self-analysis is paramount as risks make you grow as a person and there must be room for growing —and possibly changing your mind.

Let your journey not be driven by the fear of rejection or the desire to please others, but rather by your authentic pursuit of self-expression. Always walk towards joy at a pace filled with purpose, never forget to enjoy the process, and be thankful for the opportunity to be here with me, with her, with him, with them… with all.