Artospective: Abstract Fluid Art by Seraph-Eden Carr from Canada.

She Dove In.

An Interview with Seraph-Eden Carr.

Who and from where are you from?

My name is Seraph-Eden Carr. I am a Metis performer, painter, and artisan from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

How you got into this?

I come from a very artistic family and although I have a heavy background in dance and performance, for as long as I can remember I found painting, crafting, and visual arts in general, to be very moving and liberating for me.

After my first baby was born I found myself focused on student politics and activism, radio, and traditional dance while taking an interdisciplinary Native Studies degree where I had particular fascinations with history and material culture(s). I wasn’t giving much thought to my visual art except for class projects and when I was asked to help choose an interior design aesthetic for a public building. However, over the course of 8 years, through a series of unfortunate events, other career opportunities I took, and a diagnosis of anxiety and depression I realized that painting is something that I found true joy in. I loved participating in yet another aspect of our social culture that makes me feel even more connected to others throughout history, past and future. And it made me and my artist/poet Grandma extremely happy. All of my artistic pursuits, painting, making, refinishing furniture, dancing, singing, comes from deep within my soul. So, I took the things near and dear to me and started painting and making with compulsion. From Contemporary Indigenous art, to Metis florals and geometrics on décor and furniture, the natural world, to pottery, “protest art”, and the fluid art featured here, I cannot get enough. There are definitely not enough hours in the day, braincells for me to learn everything I want to, or money to throw at it. But I definitely try.

What is your driving force?

A few things drive me. Self expression, storytelling, creating things that I find meaningful or culturally relevant, or things that I find joyous to create are what compels me to do and continue doing. I do it to stay connected to my Grandmother. She’d be so thrilled at how far I’ve come and how many pieces I’ve produced in the past two years of her absence. I’m driven by the new life I’ve had to forge since struggling with a mood disorder and post traumatic stress and how helpful I find visual art to be. Painting has replaced journaling.

What kind of work you do and why?

I’ll answer that question in relation to the selection shown here which is Abstract Fluid Art and it has been done in various ways. Some are a handful of pouring techniques that are completely abstract or they are manipulated to make abstract expressionist forms. A couple of others are resin based, others still are technically “fluid” but are not “poured”. They are applied by palette knife and other tools. All of them are mixed media using a variety of paints and mediums. Some of them are full of texture and depth that can only translate honestly in person. The selected paintings shown are from throughout my study period working out how to best illicit the visuals I want for a planned series.

I started fluid painting because at the time I was feeling like I needed to work through a gap in my inspiration. I spent hours creating what I found to be very visually stimulating art and being one who loves a challenge, set to figuring out how to tell stories with it.

Whether completely abstract or done with some intent, all of these have a mind of their own. They are almost a metaphorical struggle for me between complete unbridled freedom but also needing to stay fixed or within the boundaries enough in order to end up with a composition that is not overwhelming while still being wild at heart.

I currently paint full time and split my time between my trade and my home-based studio where I do my Contemporary and fluid paintings for personal collections, and my artisanal goods. I take every opportunity to be mentored by established artists and tradespeople and am a member of a printmaking studio in my hometown.