Meet Julia Hendrickson | Artist

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

Hi Julia, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Mason Curry compiled an insightful book called “Daily Rituals: How Artists Work” about the routines of famous artists. This book really helped me see that the best habit you can have as a creative is a routine that works for you. For me, sleep is crucial. I endeavor to live a life with a schedule that does not require me to set an alarm clock. And yes, after many years of “sleeping in” consistently I now wake up quite early. But That is because my body has found its circadian alignment and is no longer exhausted. With sleep as the foundation all of the other facets of my routine are undertaken with greater ease and clarity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
If someone had told me at the start that relationships were important I would have said, “Oh yeah, I know. Treat people respectfully. Submit work on time. Etc.” Well yes, all of that is true, it does not contain the scope of how crucial relationships have been to my career. All of the opportunities I currently have as an artist are because someone has literally invited me to them. It is not explicit networking, but sustained committed relationships that have enabled other doors to open. My work inhabits a distinct niche of spirituality and practice, along with an unusual media (salt), necessitating some translation for those that are not as familiar with the intricacies of that particular space. This is part of why sustained relationships are so necessary. Those that know and understand the work can bridge with others in ways that I, as the creator of the work, cannot. I would also say, don’t be afraid to try something new, or be afraid and do it anyway. Be interested in observing and exploring. Remain open to possibilities.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Primarily museums and bookstores:

Day 1: The Broad, Grand Central Market, The Last Bookstore
Day 2: The Getty Center and Point Dume Beach
Day 3: Griffith Observatory and Skylight Books
Day 4: Huntington Garden and Vroman’s Bookstore
Day 5: LA Cathedral, Paper Plant Co. and Norton Simon Museum
Day 6: Getty Villa and Santa Monica Bike Path
Day 7: LACMA and Highland Park (Triple Beam, Shorthand, Crush & Touch)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A Shoutout in Two Parts: I first met Makoto Fujimura while doing a post-bac in New York City in 2004. At the time, he was already an established artist with a keen understanding of the need for culture care, and I was able to be his intern and learn more directly about a professional artist’s life. His books Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life and Art + Faith: A Theology of Making in particular have significantly shaped my understanding of what it is to be an artist. I am now a Fujimura Fellow and on the IAM Culture Care board, and continue to be thankful for Fujimura’s shaping influence.

For a while, Fujimura maintained a west coast studio, and that is where I encountered Dr. Maria Fee. We were given space to co-work in that studio, and she daily encouraged me with reflections on my work and process. After weeks of telling me that my work could go, needed to go larger, she put a large roll of paper in my hands and said, “Use this!” That tangible gift changed the course of my work significantly. She has invited me into opportunity after opportunity and much of the work I do today is because of her. Dr. Fee models what it is to be an artist and a scholar. Her book Beauty is a Basic Service: Theology and Hospitality in the Work of Theaster Gates is a robust reflection on the role of art in culture. Highly recommend!

Website: https://www.juliahendrickson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliachendrickson/