Easthampton City Arts has recently launched a blog to keep members updated on their activities. The blog also features periodic interviews with members.

The most recent interview is with Trace Meek, an artist and musician based at One Cottage Street.

When asked, “Why are you an artist?” Meek replies,

For me, art is more spiritual practice than career. I love the process of distilling experiences into cogent visual statements (or questions). Part of this is purely aesthetic; appreciating form, color and proportion. Another part of it is concerned with meaning (or magic); asking big questions like, “Why are we here?” and “Can we heal ourselves?”

You may recognize Meek’s work from Bueno y Sano in Northampton, he painted the murals on the walls.

These interviews are such a great idea - it’s nice to learn more about local artists and their influences and processes.

Joining Easthampton City Arts is free - the only requirements are: “If you are a creative person who lives or works in Easthampton, or if you represent a business or organization that programs arts events.”

Art note: One Cottage Street is a massive old mill complex in downtown Easthampton which is home to dozens of artist studios. Their annual Open Studios in December is always very popular (Nov 30- Dec 2, this year).