Featured in SHOUTOUT HTX
July 17, 2024 | shoutouthtx.com
We had the good fortune of connecting with Randee Spruce and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Randee, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up on the Allegany Territory of the Seneca Nation in western New York and i have been here most of my life. I have been influenced by my surroundings and cultural upbringing in all things artistic. My first love was fashion design and drawing which was followed by learning how to sew and practice beadwork. I believe the Hodi:nohšyönih stories told to me while i was young and being immersed in the Onöndowa’ga’ language really puts in perspective that we are our own people with our own culture. I wish to share my culture through my artwork and make people feel in ways that words can sometimes fall short.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would say my art career started with my first scholarship award to an art school when I was 7 years old. I didn’t get to go to the program due to my family being short on money and the school was over 4 hours away from where we lived, I still think it was a cool opportunity to be recognized for being artistic. When I won that award it really had me believing I was going to be something great, and at 7 years old I think that’s the best thing you can do for a child. To make them believe they are something greater than themselves. it really proved to me that maybe there is a possibility for me to be a real artist, I was once told an artist is not a real job. fast forward 18 years and today I can confidently say I feel like I am a real artist, and I truly believe everything I create comes from my heart and who I am as a person.
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?
I would have to thank my parents for believing in my interests and supporting me throughout my life. i also thank my loving other half, Jaycee, who has been with me for a lot of my most important artistic accomplishments among many others and he really pushes me to be my very best. My best accomplishment by far is my son, Orlan, who has given me a whole new perspective on life, he motivates me to be a great mother, artist, and overall person. I also want to thank the artists i have grown friendships with, from near and far, those who have inspired me and those who have helped guide me in ways i could not do alone. We really are a larger network of creative minds with a common purpose of expressing who we are to the outside world.
Website: https://www.randeespruce.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aweose
Image Credits: All photos were taken by the Artist, Randee Spruce.
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