Cynthia Cagle and her dog, Ruggles, in the Vaults building Credit: Alice Dodge Since 2020, the South End Arts + Business Association has teamed up with Unsworth Properties to offer a yearlong artist residency in the Vaults building on Howard Street. After a competitive application process, the a rtist-in-residence receives a private, 325-square-foot studio on the first floor with a garage door and lots of natural light. SEABA will announce this year’s awardee at a Sunday afternoon celebration in the studio, which has previously been home to artists Erin Bundock, Tonya Whitney, Raphaella Brice, Misoo Bang and Nicolei Gupit. For the past year, it has belonged to South Burlington painter and ceramicist Cynthia Cagle, 53. The artist grew up Mexican American and Chicana in Los Angeles. She studied primatology, and much of her artwork, including the project she initially proposed for the residency, focuses on environmental themes. But as she was gearing up to start, news of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps in LA and across the country changed that plan. When Seven Days stopped by for a visit — and an enthusiastic welcome from studio dog Ruggles — the paintings in her studio featured figures such as Frida Kahlo and Dolores Huerta and imagery such as birds and monarch butterflies: symbols of migration and resistance. Artwork selections from Cynthia Cagle Have you been working on one series or project for the year? When I applied to this, I had a whole other thing that I thought I was going to do. I wanted to focus on plastics in the ocean. And then, in October, everything fell to shit with that idea, because everything happening in our country deeply affected me. When I see people from my ethnicity and race being kidnapped and killed on the streets, and feeling so helpless and sad and frustrated and angry and scared, I did not have the emotional energy to spend on [the ocean project], and there was no way I was going to do it. Paintings for me are super personal; ceramics are very different. Whatever I’m feeling, I can go in and play with clay, no problem. But painting — I was actually kind of scared. I talked to a lot of different artists and friends around the area, and a lot of them said, “Just paint anything.” So I’m like, OK, I’ll paint a bunch of birds. They make me happy. Frida [Kahlo] came in because I had taken this picture of her dress at an exhibit. And then the ideas started flowing. What do you plan to do next? One thing that I’ve learned from this residency is: I can now accept that, like, I am a working artist. My parents saying, “Go get a real job” — that’s kind of what was ingrained in my head. I got pregnant at 19 — my daughter’s 33 now — so I had to just leave school, forget art, and work to make money and support her. I always worked several jobs. Bringing it to the present, I now know that art is my job. I can come in here every day, Monday through Friday, and it feels really good. So that’s what I’m excited about. I’m going to be going to S.P.A.C.E. Gallery after this — I have a little studio lined up there. It’s, like, the size of this rug, but it’ll be a great space. Is there anything you think the next resident should know? You don’t have to be stressed about what you wrote on your application. I think that’s really important. If I say I’m gonna do something, I do it, so it was hard for me to let that go. Just use this space to be free in and create. You can take a nap. You want to sit here and stare out the window with a cup of tea? You can do that. This is your own space to do whatever you want in, and you’re free of having to sell things, right? You can just create for yourself, whatever that means. This interview was edited for clarity and length. Learn more at seaba.com/residency. Follow the artist at instagram.com/cynthia.cagle.studio. The post Exit Interview: Artist Cynthia Cagle Recaps Her SEABA Residency appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less