Carey Hamburg was born in Houston, Texas, but considers himself a Lafayette, Louisiana native since he moved there at the age of 4 years old. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette) and began the study of Architecture. There he was introduced to structural design thinking, model building techniques, and a wide array of art production materials. While he left the program after three years to graduate in General Studies, Carey has continued to apply the skills and techniques he learned there through an ongoing production of art and design projects.
Carey completed a certification in Commercial Art and Graphic Design from the Louisiana Art Institute (Baton Rouge, LA) in 1991 and in 1996 graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Masters Degree in Communication. He has had a 30 year career of working in the fields of education technology, multimedia training development, and digital arts. He has taught in settings of K-12 education as a technology instructor and Arts integration specialist. Carey has also created and presented workshops in a variety of topics such as creativity, Tape Art, technology integration, and online accessibility issues.
Throughout his career in technology and education, Carey has maintained an interest and participation in the Visual Arts. He has produced paintings, sculptures, theater scenery, costumes, and a variety of digital media works. Carey often uses materials such as cardboard, found objects, recycled plastics, and building materials. His current focus is in the design and development of large scale sensory experiential environments for exhibits and events.
Who makes up your art circle?
For the last 20 years I have worked off and on in the field of education and Arts integration, and so have meet many creative friends who have encourage and influenced me greatly. These are just a few who are first come to mind:
Tanya Falgout is an amazing artist, creative person, and a great friend. We first met during the “Pelicans on Parade” program in 2001 and were later elementary school teachers together, oh my! Throughout the the years she has been very supportive of my creative ideas and encouraged my return into the field as a working artist again.
Bob Borel has been a great inspiration the last few years, and is the connective tissue to so many other new artist I have met lately. I may have survived the Covid years without him, but it would not have been as fun and sane for me. Relatively sane. Well, I would have gone much more crazy at least.
Danielle Bacque has been a great friend and encourager since our days as PACE artist for the Acadiana Center for the Arts. She is an amazing teacher, artist, Star Trek fan, and all-around fun person to know. We have worked together on several projects and she is currently part of the creative team on the big Water Drop Dome installation I am creating.
Brandon Ballangée is an amazing artist and educator about ecology and environmental issues. His Atelier de la Nature near Arnaudville has become a great place for artists, scientists, and educators to meet and cross-pollinate. I have been working with him the last 4 years on creative event productions and his Halloween Art & Nature Festival on October 29 this year is the site of my Water Drop Dome installation.
How do you expand your art circle?
In 2019 I decided to get out and expand my circle of creative friends and active artists. One of the best things I did was to attend Critique Nights at Basin Arts, and I even presented once. It was great to participate in the conversations, hear about others’ creative process, and get feedback from others in the community. It was such a possitive experience, and I could not wait for 2020 so I could expand on that, and then, well, the whole world shut down. Thanks to Bob Borel and his “Artist in Quarrantine” FB group I was able to stay active and in touch with others in isolation. I am not a super fan of social media, but seeing the value of that through those times has led me to venture more into the online art world. Now that the “real world” has opened back up, I attend Art Walk and meet with other artists as often as I can. More recently I have been meeting many new creative people as part of the ArtSpark Grant events through the Acadiana Center for the Arts, since I am a recipient of one of the grants this year.
What value do you see in having a creative community?
The greatest value for me is in the support and encouragement from other creative people. Working through the art process can often be a lonely, isolating experience. It means so much to have someone else who understands the landscape and can relate to where you are in the creative cycle. They may not always “get” what you are doing or why, but they can help talk you through the roadblocks, talk you off the cliff, and celebrate the journey.
I also learn a lot from the amazing diversity of talent, interests, and art-forms that are represented in our creative community. Every time I attend an art show or a discussion group I come away with fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a new hobby or two.
How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?
My approach is to offer back to the community the same values that I have benefitted from, by being supportive of other artists and willing to share from my knowledge and experience. I attend openings whenever I can and encourage creative endeavors of any and all kinds. I also buy local art as much as I can. If someone asks me about a technique or material that I have used I am excited to share my experience and art supplies. From my years working in the education field, I document the process of what I create with the goal of later demonstrating the steps for others to learn and build upon. And did I mention buy more local art?
