Holly Ferguson Interview




HOLLY FERGUSON
Holly is a sculptor. What she creates reflects her own dynamic energy, rhythm and sense of humour. When I met her for the first time, Holly came bouncing in, full of life and energy. We chatted for almost an hour, covering a full spectrum of topics, each one leading to another dimension of Holly the sculptor and person. Before I meet with an artist, after trying to get a sense of who they are by their art and biography material, I prepare a list of questions I might ask as the interview progresses. I will tell you my list now because the interview was more of a great conversation without beginning or end than a question and answer response. And my questions were a natural evolution to the whole hour. Can you tell me a little about how you got started in art? How did you begin sculpting? Where do your ideas come from? Have you travelled much? Has this influenced you? Now let the interview begin. S: Hi Holly. Thanks for meeting with me. I have some questions I’d love to ask you. H: Ok. Well, I haven’t thought of anything, so anything I say will be off the top of my head. S: How did you get started? H: How did I get started... the earliest... were drawings... grade 6... painting... being the best in the class...having my painting being ripped up on the way home from school and being beaten up.... because... it was something I excelled at... and I was really small. I entered fairs and competitions and won money or prizes. My parents were not supportive in that way. They didn’t have a lot of money and worked all the time. So, I did my own things. My books were full of drawings. And I kept them too. They were always special. I did oil paintings when I was in my teens. My grandmother was a painter so I took lessons from her. She only started in her 60’s and I was in my teens and we took classes together.But she had talent. S: Did she encourage you? H: I think she did more than anyone because we had this talent in common. It was grade 13 that I decided I wanted to make art a career and pursue art eduction. When I told my parents they said “WHAT!”... they wanted me to be a secretary. S: Where did you grow up? H: In Orillia. My parents always just thought you just get married and work your whole life. I came along and said “No! I’m going to be an ARTIST! “. My father all the way through my University degree said “there’s no money in art”. The reason why I went through with the art was because my parents didn’t give me any financial support. I worked and supported myself. So, they could never say anything to me about my decisions. It was a blessing for me, because it let me explore that. I don’t think I would have otherwise. I could have very well been manipulated.

Susan Lapp, March 2000


	Holly is a sculptor. What she creates reflects her own dynamic energy, rhythm and sense of humour. When I met her for the first time, Holly came bouncing in, full of life and energy. We chatted for almost an hour, covering a full spectrum of topics, each one leading to another dimension of Holly the sculptor and person. Before I meet with an artist, after trying to get a sense of who they are by their art and biography material, I prepare a list of questions I might ask as the interview progresses. I will tell you my list now because the interview was more of a great conversation without beginning or end than a question and answer response. And my questions were a natural evolution to the whole hour. Can you tell me a little about how you got started in art? How did you begin sculpting? Where do your ideas come from? Have you travelled much? Has this influenced you? Now let the interview begin. S: Hi Holly. Thanks for meeting with me. I have some questions I’d love to ask you. H: Ok. Well, I haven’t thought of anything, so anything I say will be off the top of my head. S: How did you get started? H: How did I get started... the earliest... were drawings... grade 6... painting... being the best in the class...having my painting being ripped up on the way home from school and being beaten up.... because... it was something I excelled at... and I was really small. I entered fairs and competitions and won money or prizes. My parents were not supportive in that way. They didn’t have a lot of money and worked all the time. So, I did my own things. My books were full of drawings. And I kept them too. They were always special. I did oil paintings when I was in my teens. My grandmother was a painter so I took lessons from her. She only started in her 60’s and I was in my teens and we took classes together.But she had talent. S: Did she encourage you? H: I think she did more than anyone because we had this talent in common. It was grade 13 that I decided I wanted to make art a career and pursue art eduction. When I told my parents they said “WHAT!”... they wanted me to be a secretary. S: Where did you grow up? H: In Orillia. My parents always just thought you just get married and work your whole life. I came along and said “No! I’m going to be an ARTIST! “. My father all the way through my University degree said “there’s no money in art”. The reason why I went through with the art was because my parents didn’t give me any financial support. I worked and supported myself. So, they could never say anything to me about my decisions. It was a blessing for me, because it let me explore that. I don’t think I would have otherwise. I could have very well been manipulated.