From Alaska to Florida: Catching up with Brittany Montour
So much has happened since my last interview. Thank you for inviting me back to give an update on my artwork and life since then.
Living in Fairbanks, Alaska was such a great experience and I learned a lot about myself and the direction I wanted to take with my art. I was so grateful to be a part of the Tanana Valley Farmers Market, many local events and having my work displayed at a local brewery. One of my favorite accomplishments was creating a new art collection. This body of work expressed my personal struggles with anxiety, living in Alaska during the pandemic and brought awareness to the effects of winter on people in the Far North. Depression is prevalent in Alaska during the winter months when there are long stretches of darkness and very few hours of daylight. The collection was titled, “Don’t Bottle It Up.” My hope was that by illustrating these concepts it would give others a free space to talk about their own hardships with mental health so that they weren’t keeping it hidden like poison. I did not realize how much of an impact this would make on the community. It opened so many doors of conversations that were not only healing for others, but also for myself. It became a daily reminder to be a light for others even in the darkness.
“Let Your Light Shine”
“Lights Out”
“Hidden”
I did not share this in my last interview, but the first two years in Alaska were very hard for our family. We were first time parents, the pandemic hit and we were told at birth our daughter would be diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia and she would have to undergo multiple surgeries. I decided to get involved locally and although it was extremely scary for me it really helped me during this time. I am thankful for the loving community of people I was privileged to work with and I created long lasting friendships that I will take with me wherever I go. Our family is now stationed in Tampa, Florida for the next three years. The weather and climate has been a significant change to what we have been used to. Florida is the exact opposite of Alaska. We are blessed to have some of our immediate family located here. We have not had family so close to us in over 10 years. It is fulfilling now to see our daughter running, jumping and playing with her cousins.
Now that we have settled into our new location, I have started to do local markets and I am in the process of creating new artwork. My new concepts are being centered around personal growth both spiritually and mentally. I want to portray the struggles and hardships I’ve experienced, but show how much stronger they have made me as an individual. I love connecting with people and have learned that being open about these hard topics is powerful and beneficial.
I am not sure where our next location will be after this, but I am certainly appreciative of everything I’ve encountered along the way.
You can find Brittany’s work at: