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

Hi Corinna Nicole, why did you pursue a creative career?

I chose an artistic career because art was the only subject throughout high school that resonated with me. I absolutely hated math, I didn’t care for the sciences or history classes, I enjoyed writing and languages, but I LOVED the creative arts. Unfortunately, my high school didn’t have a very robust arts program, but I got just enough exposure to know that making art made me feel happy and accomplished. It led me to studying art in college, which gave me the access and resources to art exploration.

I also chose an artistic career because I’m a bit of a dreamer. Pursuing a career as a visual artist can certainly be scary, as there is no guaranteed income or success. But I feel to my core that I am meant to tell my stories, my thoughts, and my struggles through images that I can share with the world.

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.

My art draws inspiration from collective behavior, with a primary focus on Murmurations – flocks of Starlings. Starling flocks gather in the hundreds and thousands, being uniquely in tune with each other as they create beautiful, shape-shifting “dances” without ever colliding into each other. Each Starling shadows its seven closest neighbors, so there are ever-changing, interconnected communities that make up the entire the flock. Within this natural phenomena of a murmuration, I am drawn to concepts of connection and community, two things that throughout my life have been difficult as a very independent and self-reliant individual. Part of my fascination with murmurations is because of my desire to build deeper relationships.

This desire to have deeper connections with others has led me to serve on the committee of the Alabama Women’s Caucus for Art and to work with a therapist in order to do some inner work. In response to therapy, I began exploring a new body of work in which I carve stamps of myself and others and stamp them repeatedly to create compositions that explore vulnerability and connection. This new body of work is deeply personal and is pushing me to new boundaries, which is exciting for me. I feel like this new direction will lead to even more opportunities in my art career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Huntsville and Madison are the cities I’m most familiar with. We would have Brunch at Old Black Bear Brewing Company. Every time I go, I try something new and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Of course, we’d visit Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment, which is the largest privately-owned arts facility in the U.S. and features over 150 studios, 7 art galleries, and several restaurants. (This is also where my art studio is located!) Let’s see, we’d stop by Stovehouse for some free live music and choose from an array of restaurants for food, followed by dessert from “Oh, Crepe!” On another day, we’d get some yummy bagels and coffee from Canadian Bakin. Before we head out, we’d get a bag of their amazing, fresh pretzels. (My mom and I both agree, they remind us of the pretzels in Germany, which is a hard find in the U.S!) Next we’d head to the Madison County Nature Trail also known as Green Mountain Trail. It has a 1.5 trail that goes around a beautiful 17 acre lake. It’s especially beautiful in the Fall when the leaves are turning colors! After making our way around the trail, we’d sit on one of the docks and enjoy our pretzels. There are so many other places to explore in the Huntsville/Madison area, but these are a few of the places that are my faves!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be who or where I am today without my parents allowing me the freedom to explore and choose my own path. At times, I may have worried my parents (and probably still do), but they allow me to follow my heart and they support my passion.

I also get a lot of support, inspiration, and opportunity from the Alabama chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art. We are a collective of woman-identifying artists. I love being part of this community of creatives. We share ideas, give feedback on art, make art together, and build community. We also have group exhibitions and workshops that help us develop as artists.

And I can’t forget about friends and co-workers over the years! They are the ones that continually encourage me to keep making art, to keep sharing it with everyone, and to believe in my artistic journey.

Website: www.corinna-nicole.com

Instagram: @CorinnaNicole.art

Facebook: facebook.com/CorinnaNicole.Art

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.