Meet Robin Howard | Assemblage Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin Howard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I had a light bulb moment about balance a couple of years ago. I’d just finished a large body of work three months prior, and a collector asked when I was going to “make something new.” I appreciate what the internet and social media have done for artists in general, but I realized it’s also created a “what’s next” kind of culture that is way too much pressure for most creatives.Creativity takes time. Originality takes time. Experimentation takes time. Taking your time is out of sync with how we consume, so there’s a painful duality at work. I made a decision to stay true to whatever gives me creative freedom.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I became an artist through curiosity about what happens when you combine materials and techniques from other traditions. For example, what might happen when you combine assemblage with paper-making or woodworking with assemblage. There’s a lot of failing, but a lot of good surprises too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re visiting Charleston, you have to see it from the water. Charter one of the local sailboats (Alliance and Nenella are my favorites) for a cruise. If you like nature, take the ferry to Bull Island for a long walk on a deserted beach. Also, you can ride the water taxi for one price all day, so that’s a great dolphin-watching excursion hack. For history, reading the letters in Fort Sumter are profound, as is the new International African American Museum. The Charleston Museum is fascinating and has something to interest everyone. It’s essential to see Charleston from the Gullah-Geechee point of view, so hire a local guide or take the Gullah-Geechee tour (wheelchair accessible!). The McLeod Plantation does a great job of presenting history in context. There is so much to learn in Charleston, you’ll have a better trip if you dig a little deeper than TripAdvisor.

Charleston is really small (and there are restaurants every 10 feet) so you can comfortably wander the historic district on foot. Stroll through the cemeteries, read the sidewalk plaques, and visit one of the historic homes. A drink on the rooftop of the Market Pavilion hotel is always a good idea, as is people-watching from one of the two outdoor tables at East Bay Meeting house. I love a restaurant that is dog friendly, and most outdoor seating in Charleston is. The Brown Dog Deli and The Rarebit are great for vegans, as is the all-vegan Neon Tiger. For a special occasion dinner, Circa 1886 is as quaint and romantic as it gets. We have more art galleries per capita than any city in the US, and they’re all very friendly and non-pretentious so pop in when you cross one. Don’t leave town without investing in a sweetgrass basket from any of the makers you see in the market or on the street.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I continue to be blown away by the way artists in Charleston support each other. In the 3D community I’m always fascinated by ceramicists Liv Antonecchia, Beatrice Bernier,  and Nadia Stieglitz, and sculptors Nathalie Naylor and Brittan Blasdale.

Website: www.robinhowardart.com

Instagram: @robinhowardart

Image Credits
Robin Howard