An Inspired Chat with Sami Lange of North Phoenix

Sami Lange shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Sami, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
I have the same studio battle over and over. It’s the continual battle of thinking I can do everything I want in the studio. It mostly happens around this time of year, when I start reflecting on what I’ve done and what I haven’t, and set goals for the following year. My goals are always wildly unattainable! Then, in February, I recall doing this each year, and I hunker down, really focusing on the larger work in the studio, and I become ambitious in a different way. I don’t diversify my work as much (and dream about creating puzzles), and I return to the core of my art, which is cutting, dyeing, and stitching paper.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist living and working in Phoenix, AZ. I have been dyeing paper and selling artwork for over twenty years now. I create colorful, hand-cut, and stitched works of art made from paper. Each piece feels full of movement, and looks as if it is floating in space. I weave in many themes of motherhood, focusing on the idea that we all carry and serve in various roles. Much of my work draws on the abstract themes explored in my doctoral research, which focused on full-time female faculty members who are mothers at community colleges. I focused my research on the daily psychological, physical, and time-based borders women cross to manage their work and family domains. The abstract imagery is playful and rich in texture, representative of this research. Each art piece is hand-dyed with custom colors and stitched together.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I had so many assumptions about what being an artist would be like and what was “real” art as a child. I recall being about 7 years old and making a drawing for my mom. I completed the piece by adding a touch of yellow to the image. I remember thinking from that moment on that a piece of artwork couldn’t be complete without the inclusion of yellow. I knew this was a wild ‘rule,’ but I held firmly to it until college. You will still find a lot of yellow in the work, but not because it has to be there anymore.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would really try to tell myself to relax and enjoy the ride. I had a lot of angst as a young artist. I felt like I would never find my rhythm or a suitable art community to fit in with. My work is vibrant and doesn’t always fit into a simple category of style. It took me a considerable amount of time to develop the work. I think if I could go back, I would remind myself that showing up and consistency pay off. Slow and steady progress over decades creates a clear vision and personal path.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I have a goal this year to create the largest paper quilt I have made. Each piece gets larger and larger, and with this, the structural needs change. Because an artwork that is four by five feet would include several thousand cut pieces of paper, the weight of the stitches and cut paper is a factor in the size I can create. My goal this year, which I have been working towards slowly, is to scale up the work to a 6-foot by 8-foot size. It’s ambitious from a technical standpoint, and a lot of time and thought go into dyeing each piece of paper, but it’s my next studio goal.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope to be remembered as a generous person. I mean this on many levels. I hope to be remembered for being generous with my smile, with my time, and with the energy it takes to support friends and family in need. I want to be known for being generous to the art community and for uplifting my friends, family, and colleagues, and making the world a little easier for those around me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samilangeart.com
• Instagram: @samilangeart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samilange