We’re looking forward to introducing you to Andrea Huffman. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Andrea, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
This is such a good question- I actually think about walking and wandering quite a bit. I guess I’ve always been more of a wanderer… rather than being strictly goal driven… I am always looking and discovering along the way…. even if it takes me off course, or I don’t reach my intended “destination”. This is true in physical sense of walking, whether in my neighborhood or discovering a new park. Its also true figuratively when I think about my artistic process.
In art, I might start with a vision of where I want to go, but my process is often one of discovery along the way, rather than having a clear blueprint of the outcome.
Wandering also takes on another meaning for me: having recently relocated, I find myself “wandering” in terms of finding connections in my new community, particularly in the art community. Wandering now means showing up in new places, talking to the people who I cross paths with, and taking an interest in everything around me. As I wander through this community, I know some connections will be momentary, but just as with wandering in nature, all will have some impact on where I go next and continue to inspire my journey.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a mixed media fiber artist and a retired K-12 art educator. Fiber art allowed me to incorporate a variety of the skills I learned and taught, including painting, drawing and printmaking, in an exciting new direction. From 2011 until this past year, my work included bright hand dyed fabrics that focused on the Florida environment. Whether my subject was the coral reef, mangroves, plants, birds and other wildlife, the focal point of the piece was painted directly on the dyed fabrics, then layered and embellished with printmaking, image transfers, maps, hand and machine stitching. Many pieces included subtle references to environmental concerns, such as coral bleaching or urban sprawl.
This past year, however, my work has taken a different, quieter direction. I recently became familiar with stories about objects brought to this country by immigrants from various generations, nationalities and cultures. Upon learning of some of the stories associated with objects, both humble and grandiose, I wanted to use my art to elevate those stories. I printed photos of each object onto sheer silk, to reference their fleeting attributes, and layered them over the “handwritten” text about the object. An audio component accompanies some of the pieces, in order to listen to the narrative that is on the printed text. Each object is embellished with stitching and other ephemera and displayed in a shadow box frame, as would done for precious artifacts found in museums, as way to honor the journeys of those who came here for a new life (See included images. Audio can be heard at this link: https://www.andreahuffman.com/listen-to-the-stories-from-people-who-made-this-country-their-home.html )
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In 1997 I did one of the most illogical things. I signed up to participate in the Florida AIDS ride: a 3 day/300-mile bike ride from Orlando to Miami. I had never been physically active but had recently started bike riding with a group and had worked my way up to 25-mile rides. When I saw the info about the AIDS Ride, it kept calling me, that this was important. Participating in the ride changed me in several ways. Besides the months of training to prepare, I also had to raise a significant amount of donations to participate. I don’t know which was more difficult, training or asking for money, but I made that commitment. I also had to learn to trust the support of strangers for my wellbeing.
Having been originally from the Northeast, it was difficult to find what I really loved about Florida. Many of my training rides were in places like Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, sometimes riding only feet away from alligators. Having been so close to Florida’s wildlife was what inspired in me a yearning to explore further, to learn more and understand the wildness of Florida that I didn’t know. Those alligators became a metaphor for perseverance and overcoming uncertainties. They also helped me understand the importance of each part of the ecosystem, even the most feared.
I didn’t finish the entire 300 miles and had to ask for help more than I wanted . It took me a long time after the ride to accept that that was ok. Eventually I realized that I did more than I could have ever imagined and that has empowered me in other circumstances to embrace uncertainties and understand that setbacks are not failures, but are simply changes in direction.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Take more chances… take risks. Don’t always resort to the safe, predictable path.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In the arts we are often told that if we choose a career in this field we love so much that “we will never really work a day in our life” because we get to do what we love every day. As an artist and art educator I believed that for many years and often encouraged students to pursue a career in art. At one point I noticed that students who were working on their portfolios for college were getting burnt out before they even graduated high school. The rigorous portfolio requirements had already begun to erode that initial love for their subject. In talking to adults who had long careers in the arts also expressed the same disillusionment, looking forward to a retirement when they can create work that was authentic and personal, and not dictated by deadlines, size requirements, trends or other external demands. So I came to believe that it is ok to earn a living in a field that is not your “passion”, to pursue that passion on your own terms and your own timeline, and importantly- to become a patron of the arts.
I will sneak in one further one further misconception I believe exists. I think the idea of “talent” is of little value as an artist if not backed up with hard work and dedication. When I started as young person, I could clearly see classmates with far more skill than I had. It only made me work harder and find my own voice. As an art teacher, I saw students with not much innate “talent” but a lot of initiative and “passion”. Those students often surpassed their “talented” classmates in success and opportunities. A willingness to learn and an openness to new ideas, along with a strong work ethic is far more valuable than talent alone.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What light inside you have you been dimming?
Teaching.
After retiring from teaching art in public schools, I immediately began teaching classes and workshops in art centers, guilds and museums, mostly to adults, but also teens and children during the summer. I always feel emotionally energized when I’m teaching, enabling students to discover new ways to create, as well as by the interaction that happens between students in an art classroom.
But what I teach requires a lot of specialized materials that I have to prepare and bring to class. In recent years I have found it to be more physically demanding, so I am gradually passing on books and materials used in my teaching to others. I find much joy in knowing that others will get good use from my well loved books and supplies, and hopefully keep the creative energy flowing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andreahuffman.com
- Instagram: @afhuffman
- Facebook: Andrea Huffman Art Work
Image Credits
Katie Deits
