An interview with Amy Griffith. By Cristian Nicolas Celis Fernandez

Name something that you love and why?

Dance, because it is all I knew while I was growing up, and it was a very helpful experience for me. I was into sports but I still prefer dance over all, I felt more energy towards dancing and I still feel that way. I really like to show my own ideas and communicate my expressions; the idea to make people know what you think and how you feel is amazing, and seeing people enjoying it is amazing. 

What activity do you most enjoying doing?

I prefer team work in contemporary art dance, collaborate with other dancers, there is an energy that is not there when you do it alone. There is more energy with other people and it improves the dance, it gives ideas and experiences than dancing alone. To me, I see that it has more benefits than dancing alone.

What do you dislike about the art world?

Non-artists looking at art and not understanding it. That there is a kind of ignorance to know fully. But there are some artworks that are not very good, that you have to think about in a certain way in order to understand it and to me that is to expect more from people who are not in the art community.

 Favorite or most inspirational place (in Vancouver)?

Vancouver itself is full of interesting sites I would say, there is not a really favorite place for me. But if I have to choose one I would say that the place I like the most is Gastown, because it is different from what I used to see. I lived in a kind of little city so Gastown to me was something that I never experienced before. There are many things in Gastown that you can do, also there are a lot of shows, art galleries and performances that you can watch while you are there, the place is very different than what I was used to when I lived in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

Why art?

I believe that what inspires me the most is when people ask me why dancing?  That people now don’t see this career as important as other careers. I see art as a beautiful paint that colors the world that we live in.

Interview by Cristian Nicolas Celis Fernandez — Visual artist