Meet Macey Sigaty | Multidisciplinary Artist & Instructor

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

Hi Macey, why did you pursue a creative career?
I come from a bloodline of artists, and as I grew up surrounded by it I learned that art is how one shapes the meaning of one’s life. Creating art, for me, is essential. As a society we spend a lot of our time working, and if one’s values do not line up with where one is spending energy, then the energy is inevitably drained away. Energy has become precious to me and being able to spend a large amount of it in artistic pursuit has given the most back to me as well. I am reminded of a conversation I once had with a friend who said, “Maybe most people are just fine with the 9-5; they clock in, clock out, they don’t even know better. But if you have an ounce of inclination in you to do something else, then you owe it to the world to try. Follow that calling.”

When I first displayed my art at Spectra Art Space in Denver many moons ago, I was able to see how it inspired others and what it meant to them. Later, when I leapt into an uprooted life by moving to Florida, I started doing art markets with the encouragement of the Leesburg Center For The Arts. It was a great way to explore possibilities and connect with the community, and I’ll never forget the profound effect a particular encounter had on me in which a high school student absolutely lit up upon seeing my art. Many small interactions like this lead me to keep going. I continue to have these types of encounters by teaching art at The Church Project Community Art Center in Monte Vista, CO where I am finally able to reestablish roots and reinterpret the way art has always been a constant outlet… and give the space and permission for others to do so, as well. It is my small rebellion against the corporate art world and AI. I often say, “I’m just here at The Church Project, making real things with my hands and heart, encouraging others to do the same,” and to me, that’s a pretty good life: the kind of life I want to build for my child as well.

My choice to pursue this career was guided by a combination of continuous encouragement from the right people at the right time clashing with the devastation of the COVID pandemic, a near death experience that left me chronically ill, unable to continue a “normal life”, and the death of my father shortly thereafter, further stirred by a move to the San Luis Valley. Every aspect of my life was essentially uprooted and the whole period taught me a lot about resiliency, the bravery it takes to make changes, and what happens when you start pursuing what is meant for you.

All this said, I know it is a privilege to be able to try, and I am forever grateful to the amazing community that has supported and continues to support me as an artist, as well as to my husband who is more than willing to put up with the chaos and risk that comes with artistic pursuit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a multidisciplinary artist I get my hands into many things, but they all feed off of one another. Some of the mediums I am very fond of are photography, double exposure, scan art, ink, illustration, linocut, screen printing, gel printing and, collage. They each have their own lessons to teach and require different things from me. I often describe myself as using many different mediums with an aim to appreciate the ordinary manner of miracles, to see beauty in the banal, and dabble in whimsy. I get really excited when something could never be repeated and it exists only in that moment; these things can only be captured if you are paying close attention.

I have arrived where I am professionally through persistence, by pursuing many different opportunities and connections, and simply keeping an open mind. This has been no easy thing; personal, financial and health setbacks have required me at times to set art aside, but the thing that has helped the most to overcome these challenges is learning to trust myself as an artist, art’s value in the world, and the process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone were to visit me for about a week the first place I would take them is The Church Project Community Art Center, where they could check out Friday Open Studio or the weekly workshop held on Sundays. There are many other fun things that happen there like Dance Church, Open Mic, various performances, etc. Next on the list is the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool. If they want to see something a little odd, we’d go to Colorado Gators and The UFO Watchtower. The next day we could head up to Penitente Canyon and see the natural arch, swing through Saguache and see if the theatre has finally updated their sign to something whimsical again, and, if the Saguache Crescent is open, they could talk for hours to the guy running the linotype newspaper press (the last of its kind). The history out here is endless. We could drive to San Luis to climb the hill, stare at old barns, and contemplate life along the way. My favorite places to eat are Fire Noodles, The Sunflour Cafe, The Rubi Slipper, Don Tomas Bakery, and Woody’s Q Shack.

If they’re lucky they would get to meet Madeleine and Olivia at The Church Project, Jean at The Narrow Gauge Book Co-Op or catch a story slam there with Al Stone; maybe the SLV Tea Spot would be hosting Bothe’s band Rabbit Road, they’d have the pleasure of meeting Lares Feliciano or Nikki Kaminski(who are amazing artist); maybe even catch Katherine Clapp belly dancing sometime. There is always something rad going on here and so many lovely people to meet.

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 dedicate this shout out to my mother, my sister, my late father and grandfather, Dustin Sigaty, Spectra Art Space, Maria Stefanovic, Shannon Bress and her family, Madeleine Ahlborn, Allen Bryant, Chelsie and Grant Oehlkers, and all my friends that have supported me over the years.

Website: https://www.thesigatree.com

Instagram: @thesigatree, @whatonearthink, @inyourfootprints

Image Credits
Workshop photos by Madeleine Ahlborn, all others by Macey Sigaty