Q&A with Robin Joyce Miller

Those on Cape Cod would be hard-pressed to find someone who is more of a triple threat than Robin Joyce Miller. Not only is the Marstons Mills resident a resident artist at the Zion Union Heritage Museum, she is also a published author and retired teacher who taught at New York City schools and is very active in her faith. Much of Miller’s work centers around her identity and experiences as an African American on Cape Cod. The Higgins Art Gallery at Cape Cod Community College (4C's) is exhibiting Miller’s work in honor of Black History month. The exhibit, called “The Faithful Journey From Slavery to Presidency,” uses mixed-media collage to focus on the black experience. It opened Feb. 14 and runs through March 20. We spoke with Miller about her experiences as an artist and teaching and how it has shaped her art.

To see more of her work, visit her website at robinjoycemillerart.com. She is also exhibiting a Black Lives Matter show at Cotuit Center for the Arts.

Robin Joyce Miller, photo credits to James W. Miller

Q: Tell us a bit about your background as an artist and an educator.

A: My father was an artist, and for years he was the only artist I knew. I had no clue that gifts could be passed on in something called DNA. I believed that God just gave it to certain people, period. My father enjoyed being the only artist in our community and church. This brought him a great deal of attention. I used to look at his hands, seeing them as magical.

When I became a teacher, I began to draw to create classroom posters. Drawing images is a wonderful classroom teaching asset. I recall a day when my principal requested that I create a banner for our special education field day event. She actually told me to give the class work, so I could get this banner on felt done. I sat in the back of the room working. Students remarked that they had never seen me look so happy. I was thinking, “Wow! I love this!”

When my learning-disabled students struggled with social studies, I instructed them to create illustrations of the history facts. They enjoyed creating illustrated booklets of the chapters. Their drawings helped them to retain the information and have fun learning to create objects, geographical landscapes and more.

I didn’t really embrace history before doing my art. As I demonstrated how to draw, I, too, became as excited as my students. I loved to read the text, then make creative decisions on what the students needed to depict in art. This was an Aha! moment for me.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish by bringing your art to Cape Cod Community College?

A: My art is about African American history. I continue to use my art as a teaching tool for myself and those who view it. Sharing my art with students comes naturally to me. It is a great place to begin narrating stories of the past. I hope the students will become curious as they study the work and want to venture out to learn more.

Q: One of the main themes of your art is the reverence and respect that you feel for your cultural heritage. Were you raised with this love for your culture or was it something you came to by yourself?

A: Growing up during the Civil Rights Movement made me aware of African American struggles. I realized that the world did not embrace our people. I often felt ashamed. The self-centered mind of a child thought, “Why do I have to belong to these people? Why [are] we considered inferior?” I had a burning desire to feel better about myself and the people of my heritage.

Q: How has your identity as a Black person informed your experience, particularly on Cape Cod?

A: My family summered on Martha’s Vineyard, where there is a prominent African American history. Before 1991, I knew little about the Vineyard. Seeing black people vacationing in style, with class and such cultural pride, was incredibly inspiring. Cape Cod didn’t seem to offer a black history. For my family, Cape Cod was merely a passageway to get to MV. In 2007, our son was 20. We hadn’t purchased ferry tickets and we decided to experience Cape Cod for the first time.

We decided to purchase a home in Marstons Mills. When I brought my book “Rhythms of a Faithful - From Slavery to Presidency” to Zion Union Heritage Museum [Hyannis], I was asked to exhibit the history quilts and poetry in the book. Becoming part of this museum family informed my knowledge of Cape Cod’s African American history. I learned about Cape Verdean people, which is a group I was totally ignorant of.

Q: How can we as students honor each others’ experiences, particularly during Black History Month?

A: Thinking about the students, I would say, learn to appreciate what is special about yourselves and others. Understand that we can all learn from each other, ultimately creating a more respectful and harmonious environment, where everyone thrives. It is important to remember that we are more the same than different. We share our humanity. (Here I go being a real teacher). Humane is in that word. The dictionary defines “humane” as “having or showing compassion or benevolence.” It also states that “humane” is, of a branch of learning, “intended to have a civilizing or refining effect on people.”

Q: For this exhibit, you focused on mixed-media collages, particularly “paper story quilts.” Can you speak a bit about what those are? Why is this the media that you are drawn to? Can you describe your artistic process a bit?

A: I create mixed media collages. The process of creating art by cutting paper and adding a variety of materials like beads, metal, fabric, and other objects excites me. I love texture, pattern, and color. I learned to love quilts because my grandmother made them. I used to love rubbing my fingers on the bumpy corduroy, the smooth velvet, and the silky feel of satin. These were some of the materials in my grandmother’s handmade bed coverings. However, I do not like to sew.

Q: What is one moment that has summed up your journey as an artist?

A: It is difficult to sum things up. That usually means you’re at the end of your journey. My journey is always developing, evolving. The art is a springboard for expressing my ongoing theme of peace, dignity, racial harmony, and, most importantly, my faith in God.

Q: What motivates and inspires you to create? How do you deal with a lack of inspiration?

A: My burning desire to prove that African American people have made powerful contributions to the world and are certainly worthy of respect and honor is a strong motivation that keeps my motor and wheels turning. I don’t really deal with a lack of motivation. I usually go off happily, undaunted. Off to another bigger, better safari!

Q: Do you believe that habits help or hinder creativity? What are some habits or routines that you have surrounding your art?

A: Habits can both help or hinder. It all depends on what those habits are. Certainly, destructive habits can only be harmful and hinder you from being the person you were meant to be in all areas of life, and can definitely hamper creativity. Positive habits do the opposite. Some people are very disciplined and this works for them. I am not the most disciplined person. Inspiration seems to come and I jump on every opportunity. I see my creativity as coming directly from The Creator. Each of my talents is a blessing, jewel, gift. I cherish them and do NOT take them for granted.