Meet artist Dawn Siler in this AMA+UTA CREATE COLLAB photo essay by Marilyn Schoneboom

“I feel as if I have these images in my head,” said mixed-media artist Dawn Siler. “Faces and, you know, sometimes abstract ideas, sometimes ideas that aren’t so abstract, and I just kind of flow with it.” An exhibition of Dawn’s work can be seen at Create Arlington from March 17 – April 14, 2023.

COLORFULLY ABSTRACT: AN ARTIST FINDS PEACE IN HER VIBRANT WORK

ABOUT MY PHOTO ESSAY
by Marilyn Schoneboom

In the corner of Create Arlington, just a block down West Main Street from the Arlington Museum of Art, vibrant canvases line the beige walls. Tables overflow with boxes of paints, brushes and supplies as episodes of Law & Order play quietly in the background.

Canvases small and large almost hide artist Dawn Siler. Within her mixed media abstract works, Siler uses her art to express her thoughts and emotions.

“I feel as if I have these images in my head; faces and, you know, sometimes abstract ideas, sometimes ideas that aren’t so abstract and I just kind of flow with it,” she said.

When staring at a blank canvas, starting a new piece, Siler’s process is to just start painting. Even if she has no plan, whatever is going on in her head shows up in some way, shape or form, she said.

“Sometimes I’m more at peace than others and sometimes I’m scattered and whatever dominant feeling it is that I’m having is what typically ends up on the paper,” Siler said. “Everything is driven by feelings.”

With her upcoming exhibit Soulful Wanderlust at Create Arlington from March 17 to April 14, this project wanted to shine a light on a local female artist.

After spending a couple of days with Siler, I wanted to produce a photo essay that encapsulated her work, process and personality. While she worked on pieces for her exhibit, I had the opportunity to see how she starts paintings, what thoughts she puts into her work and how she can express that using various colors and textures.

Meet Marilyn Schoneboom

My name is Marilyn Schoneboom and I am a journalism junior with a minor in photography. I currently work as a photojournalist for the student newspaper, The Shorthorn, and I am a digital photo assistant for an NBA photographer.

While completing my degree plan, my photojournalism classes pointed me in a career direction that I’m passionate about. I hope to graduate and travel the world with my camera, sharing people’s stories and learning so many new things.

About AMA+UTA CreateCollab

Throughout the Spring 2023 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art is partnering with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.

Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and one-minute podcasts about themes as broad as sword fighting with light sabers, fulfilling family legacies, every day heroes, and modern metalsmithing.

Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith, who teaches the class, values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.

“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to re-enforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”