Kimetha Vanderveen: Taking San Francisco by Storm, One Monotype at a Time

There are relationships in my monotypes that are visual or mechanical—the way objects relate to each other and natural light in the atmosphere. The monotypes consider how all things change over time and how they are objected to the conditions of their natural process. In my series of monotypes, I was contemplating architecture and the atmosphere. The larger question may be how we respond to the things that we see around us. We are affected by the environment around us and sometimes we project our moods, our understandings, and how we find reassurance in things that are familiar to us. Basically, I was focusing on how we find meaning in what’s around, what those things suggest to us, what they remind us of, and if they open doors to our imagination.


Q: What kind of venue do you like exhibiting in best?

A: I think that it really depends on the situation. I think in the past I have had more experience with small galleries and museums. I have shown in more places that were not-for-profits and institutions, but I think both environments can create a good experience for seeing the work. My work is fairly straightforward, but I can see where someone working in another medium, like film or music, may have very particular requirements that they thought about. For me, since my work tends to be more subtle— and often people want to say minimal—it needs to be in an environment that is visually quiet. Not a lot of distraction, a good source of light—those are some of the things I think about.


Q: Where do find inspiration?

A: It is helpful to see the work of other artists, and to know what other people are doing. Working with my peers has been an inspiration to me. I assume it is like being a writer, you hope that you are in a city near a library with wonderful collections. If you are a writer, it’s really helpful to be in a city with a good museums and resources to inspire you. For many artists, it’s usually living in a city with great museums.


Q: So, it is important for you to be in a city with lots of museums. Do you think that San Francisco is a creative city? Is it a good city for an artist?

A: Yes and no. I grew up in a suburb of Washington DC, so in some ways, I think I took for granted the wonderful museums there.