Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Spread Joy
Artist sees world from joyful point of view
When Hilka Zimmerman buys artwork, she’s looking for something that, when she gets up in the morning and looks at her wall, will make her smile. That’s what she wants her own art to be for others, too.
“I do better writing if I’m feeling sad. But when I’m painting, I have to feel like painting,” the artist says. “I have to be in the right head-space; I have to be somewhat happy or I can’t even think about painting — my brain won’t work that way. So most of the time when I’m doing abstracts, I’m feeling playful, and I just want to do something fun and see what happens.”
She doesn’t paint exclusively abstract, though. People of varying races, children, landscapes, nature, animals, buildings — Zimmerman’s inspiration and interpretations of the world around her come from everywhere.
“The world is such a wonder, isn’t it? And you just never know what to expect, and I love that part of it,” she muses. “I think that’s why I’m always drawn to painting and taking photographs of children — because I love the way they see the world — it’s just honest and hilarious and it’s sad and it’s just all these beautiful things. And of course nature is all-inspiring. A blade of grass — it could just be that. I love life, and I love just the world that surrounds me. I’m in awe of it.”
Zimmerman is part of a group art exhibit, “Point of View,” at 211 Cafe in Bentonville with fellow Northwest Arkansas artists Eve Smith and Marzelle Williams. The Minnesota native transplanted to Eureka Springs three years ago after finding home during a visit.
“It’s full of quirky magic,” she says of the mountain town. “I love that about the town, I love that about life, I love it about the world. If there’s a little bit of quirky magic, I’m going to find it.”