Meet Iviva Olenick | Artist

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

Hi Iviva, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

Being an artist is fraught with all kinds of decisions. Most of these revolve around balancing projects for personal exploration that might later get funded with projects that are already funded. “Projects” includes everything from teaching and writing curricula to creating a new body of artwork, exploring new materials and media, or conducting research to prepare to make a new body of work, which I often end up bringing into the classroom.

I’ve realized that I feel as committed to my teaching – to serving the needs of my widely-ranging students – as I do to my own art practice. The line between teaching and art-making has dissolved somewhat, as I bring more of myself and my material explorations and experiences into the classroom. My thoughts for my students’ welfare and for the success of specific lessons take on a life outside the classroom. The choice to keep committing to this type of work, which is inherently stressful and demanding, feels like a challenge to the demands of “being an artist.” Soul searching to come up with other types of work that best utilize artists’ skills and my background in textile art and design and writing lead me back to being an artist who teaches. I guess I am surprised by where my career has led me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work primarily with textiles, plants, and oral and written histories. Like many artists, my work has evolved over time and through experience. In 2008, I was focused on embroidering anecdotes and moments from my experiences in online dating. My work has changed significantly to focus on advocating for women’s access to healthcare, environmental well-being and recovery, and invisible textile labor tied to colonial and intercultural histories.

One of my current projects involves studying, growing and depicting traditional dye-making and reproductive health plants. I partner with New York farms and gardens to grow these plants publicly and lead tours and dye-making, working with herbalists, including Danielle Moore in Brooklyn. I also harvest the plants to imprint on fabric and paper, pounding the leaves and flowers with a ball-peen hammer. I then layer embroidery, beading, crochet and appliqué to depict female figures subsumed by lush landscapes, and covered in health-bearing plants. These works envision eco-feminist futures where women and the natural world are revered and protected, and where nurturance is encouraged and celebrated.

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.
I live in my place of birth, and while Brooklyn has changed, it still holds onto some of the flavor of its earlier incarnations, mixing nostalgia with development. There is no shortage of brilliant things to do here. I love exploring neighborhoods I visited as a child and seeing how they’ve changed, shopping in local grocery stores and finding new foods and combinations of spices and flavors.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many people along the way have been supportive and encouraging. I am grateful to my community of friends and family who take the time to understand the challenges in what I do, and who show up for my openings, artist talks, workshops, performances and events. I am grateful to live in New York City, where there are never-ending sources of inspiration and opportunities for artists.

Website: http://www.ivivaolenick.com/

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

Image Credits
Iviva Olenick