Michelle Lyn Strader, 36, Ceramic Artist
Catlettsburg, KY
Michelle, sheltering in place with her buddy Olive on her farm in Catlettsburg, KY
Aside from your creative work do you have any additional source of income?
I am lucky enough to make a living as a full time studio artist.
Who do you live with and how do you feel about that?
I live with my husband and partner in all things creative, Frederick Bartolovic. Frederick and I collaborate on many projects, including many of the wares sold through Silver Run Ceramics. We are very fortunate because we collaborate often so we're used to spending a lot of time together and get along quite well. I feel very lucky that we have each other, especially during a time of so much uncertainty. We also have a menagerie of farm animals to care for and entertain us.
How are you spending your time?
Honestly, not much has changed about how I spend my day! I have a home studio on my small farm in rural Appalachian Kentucky. A normal day for me is answering emails, reaching out to followers via social media, working in the studio, and doing chores on the farm. I am used to spending a lot of time alone and with my animals, so I haven't felt the effects of social distancing quite yet.
How is the pandemic impacting you?
Well, the news is terrifying. It is really difficult to strike that balance of staying informed while not letting the weight of the world sink you. Personally I am worried about my parents as they are getting older and fall into the group of those at risk. My younger brother also had a recent cancer diagnosis and is possibly facing going through treatment during the pandemic, which feels like a terrifying prospect at this point. On a separate note, I also do fear that the economic fall out of this pandemic will be crushing for creatives and small business. Historically during times of crisis, the arts always seem to be the first on the chopping block. That reality is truly disconcerting, especially when your livelihood basically depends on the disposable income of your patrons. I guess it is comforting to know that when you’re a creative type, you also tend to be pretty adaptable. Hopefully we will be able to carve ourselves a niche somewhere, whatever that may look like, in a world after the pandemic.
What do you want to accomplish personally and/or professionally during this time?
I think during a time like this it is imperative to slow down and look inward. I do not think anyone should feel pressured to come up with their next big move or greatest idea right now, being overly ambitious during such a time of stillness feels a bit like swimming upstream. I made tentative plans at the start of the year (before the pandemic became our new reality) to focus on finding more ways to share my illustrations, apart from just on ceramics. I plan to continue chipping away on that goal as long as I’m able.
What kind of world do you want to see on the other side of this?
It feels as though there is a great shift happening at present moment. There is a serious reckoning concerning the way we operate as a country and a society, with all of the cracks and shortcomings currently on display for all to see. We fail time and time again to protect the most vulnerable among us, and to hold those up who’ve been systematically oppressed for so long. It has never become so abundantly clear that access to healthcare is and should be a human right, and I hope that realization finally becomes reality once we emerge from this.
How can people find you and support you and your work?
You can view my work on Instagram (@MichelleLynStrader) or on my website where I have monthly shop restocks at www.silverrunceramics.com. Sign up for my mailing list to be notified of future shop updates :)