We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Cunningham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It never occurred to me to do anything else. Creative people have a compulsion to make, whether it’s a song, writing, visual art, or another discipline. It is so satisfying to solve a creative problem that either you invent or is presented to you. The best part is when you are so deep in the process that it is the only thing you want to do. Similar to when you were a kid and discovered some activity that consumed you—you just can’t wait to wake up and do it again. The problem as an adult is carving out the time for that type of focus.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Teaching university students is very busy work but there are always other pots simmering on the back burners. This month, I will be installing HopBeat Hollywood, a public art project in Hollywood ArtsPark at Young Circle. The project uses original hopscotch designs paired with recordings by local musicians to showcase local talent and create a fun, interactive experience for viewers. The hopbeathollywood.com site should be live in a week or two. My “Garden of We” covid memorial proposal for Kiwanis Park in Hollywood was selected and is making its way though city processes. The goal is to have it installed this spring. Public Art appeals to me because it is nice opportunity to combine my skills. 

All the work I create is a reaction to the life I have lived. My work is deeply personal but cloaked in universal themes using the medium of ideas. The power of text fascinates me—especially when isolated or put in an unexpected context. Words are used as carefully placed cues in my work; a kind of visual poetry expressed materially. As an avid reader, I love layered meaning and symbolism and try to make sure that there is something to unpack if one is willing to spend the time. My messages tend to relate to whatever I am processing so the works have become a documentation of my life over time.

Contemporary Art excitements me with its wide range of voices in terms of messages and materials. One of my great art epiphanies occurred in front of a Jenny Holzer piece at the Art Institute of Chicago. She brilliantly resolved how to combine message and medium to create meaning. Lorna Simpson is another artist who made a big impression. She had a solo show while I was volunteering in my early twenties at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. There is an aesthetic purity to her work but viewing it is akin to reading a novel, it challenges you to search for the meaning. You are rewarded for your effort whether you discover or construct meaning. Hopefully, people discover that type of quiet, thoughtful, consideration in my work

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Shark Valley is the best destination. It is a wonderful bike ride in the Everglades. It is long and flat and there is so much to see. It is a blast to take visitors there and see their reactions to the abundance of alligators.

Otherwise, it’s about the art. There are so many great options to see art. I love the Bass Museum. The size is perfect and the exhibits have never disappointed me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I always wanted a mentor but never found one. We are lucky in South Florida to be surrounded by great museums, events, and resources that help nurture creativity. I surround myself with creative people who share my interests and goals but also make sure to get out of my bubble. Some of the most creative people I have met do things we do not think of as creative. My desire for mentorship in the past drives me to provide it whenever possible.

Website: stephaniecunningham.com

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