Artist Spotlight: Sami See

By Dave Ragaza

Sami See is a multimedia artist and muralist whose art has vivified public spaces in communities all throughout the SF/Bay Area. Her unique, interactive exhibit “The 9th Dambana” will be available for viewing on APICC’s Instagram(@_apiccsf) from June 24, 2020 till June 26, 2020. We spoke with Sami about the world reeling and how recent events have emboldened her work.

Life has been weird with the coronavirus these past few months. On top of that, the past week with the murder of George Floyd has been justifiably upsetting, seeing all the simmering rage and unrest in cities across the country. Being that your art is so visceral, so attuned to, and enlivened by your community, how has your own spirit been? How have you been coping?

My spirit has been going through deep revival. This time is a potent reminder for me. One that reminds me of my purpose as an artist, and how this journey all began. I make art to heal myself and, with prayer, I ask that it’s healing for others too. So, the rage, trauma and upset all around us has grounded me in the knowing that my path as an artist and the sacrifices of those who came before me have prepared me to be deeply engaged in this time. 

My coping and my offering to support the movement for racial justice is in my artwork. Painting is like breathing, and breathing allows me to move through the heaviness of this time, to let go and assist in unlearning anti-blackness, to have the hard conversations and take mindful action with a critical lens at the choice we have in harming or healing others. 

I've been volunteering my creative services, time, and resources when I can to local organizations that are long committed to racial justice work and resourcing black communities. I've been getting outside and painting in Downtown Oakland to beautify and protect the businesses that are boarded up, while reinforcing our messages demanding justice and freedom for black, indigenous, and POC communities. I recently did a portrait to honor the spirit Breonna Taylor and uplift the need for justice for her and her family. 

It's been wild and challenging to maintain my energy and stay creative. Self care, cultivating self love and healthy boundaries are my life line. 

Can you talk a little about the "The 9th Dambana" and the unique way you intended viewers to experience the exhibit?

"The 9th Dambana: Place of Potential” is a visual art exhibition of mixed media portraits that celebrate the seen and unseen ways self identified Pinays experience journeys in their life. This body of work uplifts the narratives, faces and names of 9 SF Bay Area Pinays in my community as they recount what lessons and learnings they've received through important relationships. 

I chose to experiment with painting and multimedia so I can expand on this urge I have to remember and honor our stories. Stories of people that came from similar lineages of struggle and resilience. Viewers are invited to see and hear nuanced beauty that emerges at the intersection of culture, gender, and relationship and how that expression is uniquely held by the sacredness of this land we’re on in Bay Area//Ohlone Territory. I wanted to love, celebrate and create about that. 

The portraits I made also come to life, through an augmented reality application. Viewers can “go through the veil” of these pieces and see the inanimate become more complex and lively, to hear the voices of the people who inspire me. My intention is that the pieces are an invitation for anyone to reflect on the spirit, movement, and story of all things around us seen and unseen. 

Now, since I will not be hosting this at Bindlestiff this summer due to COVID-19 and social distancing, I have chosen to share the pieces of work online, through Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center’s Instagram (@apicc_sf) on 6/24-6/26. I will share some of the images and voices that have shaped this creative piece, and lead a live guided meditation related to the art pieces. 

What are your hopes for yourself and your art as we gradually emerge from shelter-in-place?

My hope for my art is that it can be a direct portal for people to experience presence with their truth, whatever that may be. I hope that I can continue to paint to heal myself and my community. I hope that my art can directly move to support the resourcing and upliftment of black lives, indigenous lives, and marginalized people seeking freedom. I know that I will emerge from this time stronger, more compassionate, more dedicated to my purpose and I hope that my art can vibrate at that frequency to call in those who need that too. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey. You can follow my upcoming works on  IG, Facebook and Twitter @SamiSeeArt or at www.samisee.com!