Claire Mack: the quiet mystic

In spite of a self proclaimed introvert nature, Claire Mack has discovered the healing agent in her art. This otherwise quiet soul seeks to support others in embracing their life’s circumstances—in turn producing a vehicle for connecting to others.

Is there something you are currently working on, or are excited about starting?

I’ve recently become interested in making art specifically for people who are in need of solace and healing. This summer I created a piece for a family whose son had committed suicide. It was a very emotional experience, but also fulfilling to see that my art could provide a sense of comfort and connection to others in a time of suffering. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also completed a commission for a family who was expecting their first child, so it was a satisfying experience to engage with people in different places in the cycle of life through artistic expression. I would like to take on more commission-based artwork as a way of helping people connect with and embrace their life’s circumstances.

In an imaginary world where your art could speak, what other artist would it talk to and what would it say, ask, or communicate in some way?

I’m a very quiet person and have always felt somewhat challenged by verbal expression, so in my imaginary world my art would speak to the art of others like me, who curl up under the roots of trees, listening quietly, watching the shifting of shadows and light. I imagine the art reaching out with delicate tendrils to communicate in its secret wordless language, “We know each other; we are not alone”.

What simple pleasure brings you the most joy?

Nature is a place of respite for me. Whether walking through the woods and admiring the moss and lichen, or collecting stones on the beach, these simple things remind me to appreciate the present moment and all the beauty around me. I also enjoy taking a lot of photographs as I go, being the natural collector that I am.

What about yourself challenges you the most?

I’d say my biggest challenge is being a huge introvert. I go through periods of really wanting to hole up and not have contact with the outside world. As an artist, there are a lot of opportunities to promote one’s self through social media and having a strong online presence now, but I seem to have an ongoing resistance to putting myself out there. Despite my reclusiveness, I do want to share my work with others and have a positive effect on the world through art, so there’s often some internal turmoil going on.

What is your greatest strength?

My greatest strength is my desire to continue to grow as a human being, reaching for awareness and compassion for myself and others.

Claire Mack is one of the talented artists you'll see at uBe Art and the juried exhibiton, From Where I Stand.

November 6 thru December 6