Meet Cindy Zimmerman | Artist

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

Hi Cindy, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Listen to your inner voices. If there is one that tells you “don’t even try” just say “thank you for sharing” and turn down the volume on that one. If you have a higher purpose for what you are doing, it can be a “pull factor” to keep you going. So check to see whether your purpose is evolving. Ask to know what action you can take at the moment you feel confusion or doubt. Do that action, don’t just sit there. And on the other hand, if no action is indicated, taking a break isn’t necessarily giving up. A lot of creative process happens when it looks like nothing is happening. Life is full of detours. We always set out with insufficient information. Run toward what you fear.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I mostly make paintings and places. The paintings might make you laugh, and they come from my own unauthorized versions of the stories I grew up believing. The places are kind of like sets for a theater of the imagination occurring right in the middle of undifferentiated space. I am most proud of the way I have been able to reach people and show them some love while still remaining my quirky and uncompromising self. It wasn’t easy to become an artist, as I was a single parent without much money when I started. But a wise mentor told me if I was ambitious, I would find a way. My best secret is to connect your art to a vision or a purpose bigger than yourself, and be of service to others. I have always thought less about building a career and more about following a calling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to City Heights, to walk in the rough-cut neighborhoods and admire the hard work and resourcefulness of the people who live there. They could see the outdoor art at Tierra Central, and visit Fern Street Circus training grounds. I would take them to eat a great dinner at Super Cocina, or lunch at El Borrego. For sure we would go to City Farmers nursery to buy some plants and eat at Nate’s Garden Grill while listening to live music. Coronado and Ocean Beach are great destinations if you like to keep south of the 8, and they are extra lovely in the morning. I would suggest taking chairs, and just sitting and looking quietly for at least some of the time. Dolphins will often swim by Coronado Central Beach, and surfers pack the waves around OB Pier. We like to eat at Clayton’s in Coronado. In OB we go to Blue Water or Ortega’s.
For great cultural experiences, I would take them to Bread & Salt, an experimental center for all kinds of artistic and community activities. Once they are in Barrio Logan, they could spend a long time meditating under the bridge at Chicano Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Among the many who deserve a shout out from me, I owe a lot of my creative inspiration to the Feminist Image Group (FIG). FIG is a group of artists who meet to organize exhibitions, discuss art, see exhibitions, and support one another in our careers. We promote a full worldview that allows all voices. As friends, we aid each other in our creative and curatorial endeavors. Look us up on Instagram and come out to see one of our shows. We are open to new memberships, and you don’t have to pass any test to prove you are a feminist.

Website: cindyzimmerman.work

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyzimmermanartist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindyzimmerman.artist

Image Credits
Crystal Daigle