AIR (Arts Incubator of Richardson)

Interview with Nan Phillips,
Sculptor and Glass Artist; Communications Director and Immediate Past President of Texas Sculpture Association (by Ekaterina Konovalova)

Why did you decide to be a part of AIR?

I enthusiastically joined AIR in 2008 because I believe that Richardson needs an arts facility; that the arts, and the artists, in Richardson are being under-served.  There is a wealth of un-tapped talent and interest in our city — and for the most part people are going to Dallas, Plano and Fort Worth to meet their needs.  For visual, especially 3-D artists, this means there are few show, gallery or sales opportunities here, and most studios in Richardson are in small, perhaps inadequate, spaces carved out of artists’ homes.

Dallas has a couple of fabulous artist studio tours each year, but Richardson artists may not want people walking through their homes to their back-bedroom studios.  In essence, Richardson artists are working alone and under-advertised.  There are also issues for the performance arts in that there is a lack of rehearsal and small performance space.  For people seeking to experience the performance arts, Richardson has a very fine performance venue.  However, having more would not diminish, but would enhance the excitement and the arts experience here.  The arts are a crucial component of the vibrancy and growth of any city.  In this time of arts funding cutbacks, a growth in visual and performance art that is easily accessible to the public, both adult and children, is vital to our society.

The concept of having an arts facility in which artists could afford to rent studio space to work and teach, and which would house many types of arts, is extremely appealing and exciting to me.   As a sculptor, I thrive on exposure to different media, materials and ideas.

What is art for you?  How would you define art?

What is art for me?  Art is life.  Art is the way I think.  Art is the way I approach life.  It is all-encompassing.  It’s what I do.  It is a constant need and my constant companion.  Art is not just the work that I create, but it is the manner in which I think and problem -solve.  The way I look at things and materials.  My brain automatically jumps to the analytical, seeing not only what’s there, but what could be.

There is also another part of art for me – teaching and working with other artists, whether student or professional.  I thrive on the creative process and love to work with and be around others who do the same, whether it is their passion or simply an enjoyable past-time.

Who is your favorite artist (painter, musician, dancer, performer, etc.) and why? What is your favorite quote about the art?

I can’t answer this because these things aren't important to me.  While there are many, many art forms and artists that I like, I've never been a fan of "favorites."

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Take risks and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  You’ll learn more from your mistakes than from your successes.