We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcie Ziv and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Marcie, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I worked full time operating my art gallery and studio pursuing my career as an artist. I wanted my boys to see their parents working and enjoying their professions and following their passion. We always told the children to find something they love to do in life and figure out how. to make money..then its not really work. How do you find your passion one asks? Well, I believe that by trying different things out see what you like and don’t like. Providing a range of experiences early on and through out my childrens’ adolescence gave them opportunities in terms of introductions to new worlds, different cultures, religious activities, communities, the arts, foods, and languages. This opened their eyes to appreciating the differences and sameness of us as individuals and as a global unit of people… I realize the impact now more so as I see the beautiful, intelligent young men they have blossomed into.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Your Life is Art; Make it Your Masterpiece I have always had a passion for creativity and running my own business. Where I am today is built on many failures… However I was a creative person on a mission. I am a self taught painter though in college I took many classes in foundry, welding, and woodworking. When I attempted painting a canvas I was told by my professors to stop wasting paint and perhaps this wasn’t for me. Living in New England at the time after college I waited tables, bartended and started my art business. Painting on clothing, making jewelry, furniture, paintings and whatever else my creative will could fancy up. The time period was late 80’s and I remember having dreams of moving to Miami thinking if I am bartending here (Boston, cold weather) and starting my business why not do it In a warm place year round? I was very attracted to the colors, flair, multi lingual open vibe of the city. So I sold everything packed up my car, headed south and never looked back. I worked bartending for about a year and finally had enough business coming in to sustain myself to create full time. It hasn’t been easy. Did I struggle? yes. I had many distractions, self doubt, confidence and self esteem issues at a 4 out of 10 however along the bumpy road of life when I had dark thoughts creeping in another sign would come along that yes indeed I was on the right path. Keep on going. Fast forward a year I met my husband Jay, had 2 boys Jerome (JJ) ad James (AJ) opened my gallery/ studio in Coral Gables and was there for 15 years. I sold my paintings and sculptures and did several art in public places, one of my favorite being 20 fiberglass 3d butterflies on a building in Little Havana called Rayos Del Sol – a mixed use building by Louis Wolfson and Micheal Wohl. The butterflies representing the transformation of the neighborhood-new beginnings..the essence of change.
As a creator, for the past twenty years or so I’ve had much joy sharing my work with the DRI here in Miami as well as local animal rescue groups. The art created for them has helped them raise much needed funds as well as awareness. Theres always been opportunity to give back while one is trying to “make it”…whatever that means to an individual.
Fast forward to today. My boys are young men and I find myself reinventing me. I have 2 rescue pups and I spend a lot of time cultivating our sustainable food forest which is our edible landscape where everything grown is either for the birds bees, butterflies or human consumption. To think it all started two years ago when I planted a papaya and a tomato plant and now Our lawn is a landing field busier than Miami International..-another value of living in south Florida..grow your own pesticide free food.
Full time Creating adventurous art for the garden, taking a lot of commission work (many clients from the ol gallery days) and taking my art to the YouTube channel showing others that Your Life is Art; Make it Your Masterpiece is my adventure now. It’s a lifestyles/ how to show where I Create content aiming to inspire the viewer to create something awesome for themselves. The content is geared to up cycling, recipes farm to table, diy’s,and creating art for the garden./home. I have always been a fan of working In a variety of disciplines; Everything is my canvas, be it jean jackets, traditional canvas, cars, pottery or taking leftover electrical & plumbing parts and making chess pieces…So Creating content for video was natural albeit The learning curve for making videos has been interesting however video is a fabulous outlet I see as my creative daily diary. Art is everywhere…live it, own it and celebrate the every day with it. It is about the experience. At one point my art was an existential expression of my ambivalent attitude to life; now it is self therapy, a way of finding myself and continuing to share with others along the journey.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami is an amazing city to be a part of. So much to see and do. Since covid however my itinerary has adjusted. I happen to have guests coming in and I am taking them to the Beyond Monet exhibit. Then we will dine al fresco in my garden amongst the sweet smell of stephanotis and Meyer lemon trees wafting thru the air. I have a piano in the garden and have scheduled a musician to play for 2 hours light jazz. I have tickets for a relaxing boat ride around the islands, Wynwood walls walk, a bit of design district, an everglades expedition, and a relaxing picnic lunch on the beach under umbrella at Key Biscayne Beach is on the calendar for their stay here.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Jay completely deserves a shout out. He saw things in me I didn’t see in myself. My awesome boys JJ and AJ for they taught me about the art of allowing and gave me the joy and happiness of being a Mom during some very amazing and transformative years. To all of the remarkable people along my journey helping me improve on my creative spirit.
Website: www.marcieziv.com
Instagram: themarciezivexperience
Youtube: marcieziv/YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRJjMT2_hFHPIIf46v0EAPA
Image Credits
Ben Watts (for French Elle Magazine)