Virginia Gail Smith has been creating thought-provoking and multidimensional art for over 30 years. Her practice spans various media, including photography, sculpture, installation, and video. Rooted in personal experiences and broader social issues, her work often reflects on mental health, healing, and the interconnectedness between humans and nature.
Smith’s art often draws from her personal journey with mental health, exploring topics such as Autism, PTSD, and historical trauma. One of her powerful works, ‘Contours of Semblance,’ is a video reflecting on PTSD, while ‘Clear the Chaos’ addresses suicide. In another piece, ‘Artist as Curandera,’ she delves into self-healing. Smith’s multidisciplinary approach allows her to communicate the nuances of these complex themes effectively.
More recently, Smith’s research into herbalism has influenced her art, particularly her focus on roses, rosemary, and dandelions. She sees these plants as symbols of resilience and renewal. The medicinal properties of these herbs, both in scent and ingestion, inspire her artistic exploration of nature’s role in human well-being. For Smith, the cycle of growth and decay is central to understanding our relationship with the environment.
Her works also contemplate the cycles of regeneration and decay, examining how decomposing materials contribute to new life. One of her projects, ‘Outside the Box,’ uses bacteria, yeast, and organic waste to create textured, pellicle-like forms. These pieces are framed with discarded wood, adding another layer of renewal to her process. Smith’s art challenges viewers to reconsider the beauty and potential within discarded, overlooked materials.
One of her most recent works, ‘The Voyage’ (2024), encapsulates this philosophy. Using natural and discarded materials like corn husks, banana peels, and human ashes, she constructs a nest-like structure symbolizing life’s cyclical nature. The piece prompts reflection on how our consumption habits impact the planet, urging a reconsideration of waste as a fundamental part of life’s journey.
Through her art, Smith bridges the gap between personal healing and communal understanding. Her focus on regeneration, both natural and metaphorical, challenges preconceived notions of waste and growth. Virginia Gail Smith’s work is not just a visual experience but a call to reconnect with the natural world in meaningful, respectful ways.
