Manufactured Dissent: Interviews

We've Moved!

2010-05-20T16:51:00.001-05:00

Check us out at our new home: http://manufactured-dissent.com

Lindsey Meyers Interview

2009-12-16T14:16:00.010-05:00

MD: For the record, state your name, age and occupation:

LM: Lindsey Meyers, 33, Photographer & Mixed Media artist

MD: Tell us about your work.

LM: I make photographs because it’s the only thing that I have that is really my own-it makes me feel grounded. I never intended to become a photographer and I basically shoot whatever I feel like shooting, despite having been told that I am better off shooting only one thing….
I like to move people with images and push the envelope… any way that is- that makes me feel satisfied- really and truly. I shoot only 35 mm pictures on my Canon that I have had since I was like 14- no post-digital/Photoshop stuff- just old school shooting.
My mixed media work is a result of a random trip to the art supply store and years and years of writing in journals, on the backs of parking tickets, gas receipts, leftover strips of canvas, etc. The pieces are large format photographs on layered canvas with gels, glitter and acrylic paints and whatever else my mood allows for… seems people either gravitate towards the photos OR the mixed media, and most seem to have strong emotions about both which is, again, just how I like it.

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

LM: I was born in the Northeast suburbs of Chicago and I don’t really have any artists in my family that passed on any traits, but being creative was always just a part of me and of life. And I come from a family of really funny people.
I studied theatre at Steppenwolf in Chicago and Choate in Connecticut, and then graduated from The Chicago Academy for the Arts with a Major in Theater and a minor in Music. We were immersed in creativity at the Academy- in every honest aspect of art really, from set making to costume design to writing to performing, so having that experience throughout high school really changed my life and affirmed my relationship with the Arts.
I also danced at Joel Hall in Chicago for a long time and studied at Columbia College in Chicago for a few years. I graduated from USC with a degree in Psychology- combining both art and Psych made perfect sense. And, thankfully, Los Angeles was the catalyst for my photography and mixed media just coming out and into the world. It took me by surprise actually- it was a time in my life where art really did save me.

MD: Do you have any upcoming (or past) exhibitions/ shows you'd like to discuss?

LM: I have shown work at the Agora Gallery in SoHo and out in Los Angeles which has been very cool. And I participated in a group show in Swainsboro, Georgia which was also great… the small town community there is trying exceedingly hard to expose its young people and residents to art and is doing an amazing job. It’s a true grass roots art movement down there and I am honored to have been a part of it.
One of my favorite shows has also been down South at The University of Mobile in Alabama, where I was given the "Southern Humor Award" for my mixed media piece called "America's Sweetheart." That, in itself, was funny and flattering.
I recently participated in the Ravenswood Art Walk in Chicago, and have a rather steady gig going with the Flat Iron Association’s "First Friday" and "smART Show" series at the Flat Iron Arts building in Wicker Park. I am hoping to get going on some shows in Logan Square this coming year- my neighborhood has a lot of street energy and art is being made everywhere… so it would be fantastic to get involved in the movement over here in 2010.

MD: Is any of your work political?

LM: Much of my work seems to have a political edge to it whether intentional or unintentional. That is not always welcomed in the art world. I like to explore gentrification, socio-economic issues, race and gender issues, etc., and I love the different dynamics, in landscape and in content, both above and below the Mason-Dixon Line… it’s my little fascination.
I do try to focus on our being human and together and similar and not on what keeps on separated. I have found that the ideologies present in the city of Chicago are not such a far cry from those that people like to believe are only ways of thinking and being in the American South. People here hate to admit that.
I derive so much of my inspiration from the underground music scene and graffiti movement that I was immersed in throughout my teenage years and in my early twenties. Street art is and has always been political, and I have much respect and admiration for all of the street artists who have paved the way for artists like me and for work like mine. It’s empowering to say it, whether on a brick wall in an alley or through a lens and a moment in time.

MD: Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?

LM: I have done everything you can think of: dishwasher, waitress, coat check girl, nanny, school teacher, paralegal… the list goes on. I am a terrible, terrible waitress by the way. I always knew that I should stick with everything that made me relatively happy and usually paid the bills in order to get home and to create art on the dining room floor in the middle of the night.

Other than washing enormous pots of bean soup, I have liked most of these jobs- by far, teaching was the best. I taught middle school in California and preschool here in Chicago, and both of those experiences dramatically changed my life as well. All in all though, being a stay-at-home mom to my girls and continuing to make art has been the best combination to date….

MD: Any amusing anecdotes regarding your work?

LM: I usually get strange looks while shooting, and have had a range of shooting experience- from extremely scary to deeply and emotionally moving… usually I am asked if I am a cop or with a newspaper. It always makes me laugh to get asked if I am with the police though.
When I got told to “Fuck off” and was spat at on Milwaukee Avenue, I felt like I had gotten what I needed that day. But my best experience was talking to a Pastor named Andrew in Vicksburg, Mississippi- he was also pumping gas from the truck to the station. We discussed the light. I still carry his card in my wallet almost seven years later.

What are you currently reading? Matzo ball Gumbo, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, French Quarter Fiction, Coastal Living Magazine (it keeps me dreaming).

Favorite movies? Harold & Maude, Paris, The Wedding Singer, Away We Go, Ma Vie En Rose, Revolutionary Road

Music you like: Twilight Singers, Ed Harcourt, Kings of Leon, Explosions in the Sky, Nina Simone, Ray Lamontagne, and Patti Griffin.

MD: What are some of your interests?

LM: Traveling, baking, making music, hanging out with my girls, throwing parties and surrounding myself with good friends & family… nothing beats good eats and good drink and lingering well into the night.
And although it appears cliché, I enjoy being charitable. I always try to give to the Tipitina's Foundation in New Orleans, which raises money for NOLA schools and provides opportunities for musicians to succeed in the creative world. Giving back rocks- you can always spare a little something.

Favorite visual artists? Banksy, Sally Mann, Mackenzie Thorpe and Mary Ellen Mark

MD: If someone were to come to your town/ city (Chicago) to visit, what places/ bars/ parks/ events etc should they be sure to check out?

LM: 3rd Coast Café in the Gold Coast, the Lakefront and Lake Shore Drive, Logan Square, Blues Fest, Country Music Festival, Rosa's Blues Bar in Logan Square and Café Spiaggia for the best peach Asti and gnocchi on the planet.

Your website(s): http://www.lindseymeyers.com/

Laura Prieto-Velasco

2009-11-30T06:43:00.018-05:00

Laura's metalsmithing process is an enigma; she finds her best work is made when she is simultaneously being OCD and making a HUGE mess (it's all about balance, yes?)...instead of keeping a diary, Laura has been keeping a collection of daily detritus samples (pictures please!)...having worked with metal for the past decade, Laura's still intrigued and obsessed with the material; perhaps it's the crystalline structure? Its response to fire? Its recycle-ability? Even when working with other materials, Laura finds she treats just about everything she touches as if it were metal. One time, for example, Laura tried to rivet together a wood frame, only to fail miserably and leave some sweet hammer-marks on the surface (hey, live and learn, right?)...

Website: http://www.lauraprietovelasco.com/
Blog: http://www.skrapmetal.wordpress.com/

James Swanson: Artist and the traveler

2009-11-11T10:57:00.012-05:00

MD: Tell us about your work.

JS: I've been working on a series of paintings called "Painting from Afar - the Artist and the Travelers' Journeys." I'm trying to travel the world in paint with the help and the travel experiences of friends, new and old.

The friends are normal Travelers from all over the world, that as the Artist, I have somehow met through this project. The Travelers share their stories and pictures with me and I share the journey with brush on canvas with them. It's a journey with many twists and turns.

I've met some wonderful and crazy people so far that I would have never met were it not for this idea. Like a couple who live in an RV and drive around the country fly fishing, or hill walkers in England who need to see what's over the next ridge, or a bird watcher in Seattle.

It is a collaborative effort between the Artist and the Traveler to make the art. Each Traveler, story, and painting is blogged about from start to finish, with the blog staying with the painting to tell its story. I have been able to make some really nice pieces so far and have many pieces to paint, but I'm always on the look out for new Traveling friends, so come join me in this adventure.

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

JS: I started out my Art career as an Illustrator out of college, painting covers and ads for magazines, and was very successful at it, winning advertising and design awards for my work. I always joked that my art portfolio has traveled around the world, while I sat in my studio. That's part of how I came up with this concept.

The others parts were a mix mesh of needs wants and wishes that this concept answered for me. 1 - I'm not a very good traveler myself, but I love history and research. 2 - I live in Chicago and for a landscape painter, winter is a tough time to paint. And also being the Prairie State doesn't really help when things are pretty much flat to look at. 3 - I wanted more out of my paintings. I wanted them to have a real story and not just be a pretty landscape painting or portrait. I also wanted each painting to have its own unique idea but still be tied to the other paintings in the series.

I'm just starting to send out feelers about this concept to galleries for shows, but the last art show I was in I won the Best of Show prize with one of the travel paintings.

MD: Is any of your work political?

JS: With my art I'm trying to pull things and people together, so I do try and stay away from political issues. But that being said, one of my paintings did have something to do about endangered wetlands in California. I just didn't know it at the time when I met the Traveler for the painting. Turned out to be one of my favorite paintings so far in the series.

MD: What are you currently reading/ listening to?

JS: Current books I'm reading besides the art books that I read over and over again such as "Oil Painting, the workshop Experience" by Ted Goerschner, would be The Saxon Tales series by Bernard Cornwell, Dirty Job by Christopher Moore and Death of a Maid by M.C. Beaton. I listen to a lot of things when I work. When I start a painting I like to listen to classical music for the rhythm. But when I get down to finishing a painting I listen to books on tape; murder mysteries are always good.

MD: Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?

JS: Danger Girl by J. Scot Campbell. One of the best-drawn comics that I've ever seen.

MD: Favorite visual artists?

JS: NC Wyeth, Colley Whisson and Jim Dine.

MD: Favorite movies?

JS: The Commitments.

MD: If someone were to come to your town/ city to visit, what places/ bars/ parks/ events etc should they be sure to check out?

JS: If you are coming to Chicago you must check out the museums and "the Bean" in Millennium Park. And one of the best burgers in town can be had right there at Cafe in the park.

Website(s):

James Swanson
Theartistandthetraveler.org
http://paintingfromafar.blogspot.com/

Michael Brucks

2009-10-25T07:28:00.008-05:00

Tell us about your work.

This new series of work started with the idea of creating a cult but without an ideology. As if someone was lost in a forest and accidentally stumbled upon some ancient, long-forgotten world rife with all its symbols, relics and artifacts but no understanding of what it meant. I loved that idea. I wish I could discover that world. Instead I made it myself!

What is your background? How did you get involved with art?
I'm from the suburbs. I went to Catholic schools my whole life. My older brother and I used to put on mock masses when we were little ones in the middle of the night. I loved cartoons on Saturday mornings. I once made a promise to god that I would NEVER give up my Saturday morning cartoons! Alas, I grew up and discovered girls. But I always loved to draw and create narratives. It's just in my blood. I had to do it.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions/ shows you'd like to discuss?
The new work had been planned to be exhibited by a not-for-profit organization called Gen Art. We had some problems but I love the people there and I really hope we can do the show together.

Is any of your work political?
No. I'm officially apolitical. So many people shouting "Obama this" and "Obama that". Do all these people truly believe their destiny lies in the hands of some random dude? My future belongs to me. Who cares who's president.

What themes does your work generally revolve around?
I remember watching Dustin Hoffman on "Inside the Actor's Studio" and he was telling a story of having dinner with Sir Lawrence Olivier. They had just finished filming "Marathon Man" together. Hoffman asked him "why do we do this?" and Olivier said, "you want to know why?" and then leaned over the table and stared him dead in the eye and whispered intensely "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!"

What materials do you generally work with?
Paper, Canvas, Wood, Oil, Acrylic and Charcoal. I love wood. I love cutting it. I love the smell of it.

Did you study art in school?
Yes. I too have one of those useless Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts! I met great people in school. School is a great place to strike up friendships and socially interact. But as a witty American writer once said, "never confuse your schooling with your education."

Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?
I once heard that Bruce Willis said that he got laid more as a bartender than an actor. I was a bartender once.

Any amusing anecdotes regarding your work?
The nicest thing anyone said to me regarding my work was "you're fucking crazy! (dramatic pause) but in a good way."

What are you currently reading?
I found an old book publish in 1885 on "legerdemain" which is an old way of saying "sleight of hand." But I really just got it for the old instructional illustrations. I love those! But I don't read that often. I mostly just sit alone in my studio and stare at the wall or walk around and pretend things and talk to myself.

Favorite movies?
Braveheart, Apocalypto. I love strong archetypes and I don't think anyone does it better these days than Mel. I don't care what anyone says about him.

Trois Couleurs: Rouge, Bleu, Blanc. The late Krzysztof Kieslowski made this trilogy and he's amazing at creating these compelling, intimate moments that really hit me in the gut. They don't seem to have a clear logical explanation to them. I value the gut much more than the head. He's dead now, but he had guts!

Music you like:
Aphex Twin, Underworld, Marilyn Manson, Eminem, Old Metallica

What are some of your interests?
Close-up magic, filmmaking, languages, mimicking accents... especially strong Russian ones like Sean Connery did in "The Hunt For Red October."

Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?
I used to love when Jae Lee did Sandman. I remember always hunting for anything that Bart Sears drew. I never read the stories though. But after finding out that "A History of Violence" was a graphic novel, I changed my mind! Great story! Great movie!

Favorite visual artists?
Luigi Serafini created a series of works called the Codex Seraphinianus. What an amazing idea!

If someone were to come to your town/ city to visit, what places/ bars/ parks/ events etc should they be sure to check out?
There is a tree growing in an alley way on Leavitt street (in the city of Chicago). I used to remember the crossroad but now I forget. But you should drive up and down Leavitt until you see this tree growing in an alley. It's magical!

Your website(s):
http://www.michaelbrucks.com/

Sleetwalker Interview

2009-10-12T21:37:00.002-05:00

Tell us a little more about yourself.

Sleetwalker is a singularity. One being, making music that might just move you.

Tell us about your music.

A lot of it comes from dreams of music I've never heard before. GO LISTEN!

Have you recorded? Where?

Always recording! In my home studio.

Do you have any other musical projects you're involved with right now?
No other musical projects besides sleetwalker at the moment. I have been working with my brother on some more electronica music, details on that soon!

What are some of your goals / plans?
I just released a single and EP internationally (iTunes/Amazon) in the last 5 months, I plan to release another 2-3 EP's over the next 2 years, play some local shows, and keep working hard for the time being. The electro/ dance scene is blowing up in Philly with some really good labels, and electro producers, so the next couple of years will be about networking, building relationships, showing up, making music, and releasing sleetwalker to the world.

What are some of your interests, (other than making music)?

Netflix, the internet! and tweeting meaningless nothings.

Favorite movies?

Anything JAMES BOND.

Your website(s):

http://www.sleetwalker.com/

http://www.myspace.com/sleetwalker

http://www.twitter.com/sleetwalker

http://www.itunes.com/sleetwalker

Ellie Brown Interview

2009-10-02T08:02:00.012-05:00

For the record, please state your name, age and occupation. Ellie Brown, 34, Professor and Artist Marketing Consultant.

Tell us about your work. My primary medium was photography for many years, but now also work in altered books and mixed media. My subject matter varies, but always comes from a personal or documentary perspective. My largest project to date has been photographing my sisters for ten years which is now in a book called Two Girls: My Sisters 1996-2006.

What is your background? How did you get involved with art? I am from Boston and was raised by a mother who was an artist, so it seems that it was in my genes and I had no choice in the matter. I had always wanted to go to Massachusetts College of Art, and so I did and then later, I went to San Jose State for my MFA.

What are some of your goals and/ or plans? Currently my goal is to get my artist marketing business off of the ground. I would really be happy to teach, help other artists, make art and continue to exhibit actively.

You currently have a solo exhibition in NY? Yes, at Center for the Book Arts in NYC. It is up until Dec. 5th and I'm giving a talk about my work there on October 28th.

Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss? I have had some truly terrible jobs which I don't care to relive. Some of the best jobs I've had have been teaching at various colleges when I have a class where the students are engaged and I feel like I have actually taught them something.

Any amusing anecdotes regarding your work? In my collaborative work, Ten Days in the CAPSULE, I gained a strange degree of fame from people who were following the project and I have since become friends with some of them!

What are you currently reading? The Happiness of Architecture by Alain de Botton.

Favorite movies? The Graduate may just be at the top of my list for its humor and cinematography.

Playlist of a few favorite songs: Oh no, what genre? I was a DJ for many years so I always think in Genres. I'll give you a quick soul playlist since that was one of my favorite things to play.

Listen Here, Valorie Keys
Soul Time, Shirley Ellis
California Soul, Marlena Shaw
Nothing But A Heartache, The Flirtations
Date With The Rain, Eddie Kendricks
Move On Up, Curtis Mayfield
I Believe in Miracles, The Jackson Sisters
Tainted Love, Gloria Jones
Harlem Shuffle, Bob And Earl
Able Mable, Mable John

What are some of your interests besides art? Looking at architecture, walking around cities, laying in the grass, people watching, good films, scuba diving, seeing everything I can in the world.

Historic figure you'd like to have a drink with, given the chance? Mick Jagger circa 1965

Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels? I'm a big Daniel Clowes fan. I also just read Black Hole by Charles Burns.

Favorite visual artists? That is a long list, sort of like music, needs to be broken down by genre for me. I'll just name a few random ones in no particular order: Olafur Eliasson, Spencer Tunick, Fred Tomaselli, Joseph Cornell, Kara Walker, Emmet Gowin, Sarah Morris, Sally Mann.

Websites/ Links:

http://www.elliebrown.com

http://popsicleartistmarketing.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliebrown

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/731935

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/336532

Rarebirds

2009-09-21T18:05:00.007-05:00

We recently met up with Carolynne McNeel, lead singer of the Rarebirds.

(Philadelphia) Performing this Thursday, September 24th at JD McGillicuddy's Regina Spektor after-party featuring Rarebirds & Broken Prayers. Doors open 10:30pm, $5 admission, 421 N. 7th Street - between Spring Garden and Callowhill.

MD: Tell us about your music.

We sort of have a broad range - I generally categorize us as "bluesy indie rock," poppy at times, mellow and sort of country-ish at times. We'll go from really quiet to full-on rocking out, from one song to the next, or sometimes within a song.

MD: Have you recorded?

Yep, two albums: Flight Patterns (2005) [6 songs] and Burial at Sea (2007) [11 songs]. Hopefully we'll be recording our 3rd next year!

MD: Do you tour?

Rarebirds hasn't really toured per se. We do out of town shows here and there, but we stick mostly to Philly (due to kids and jobs, etc).

We did just recently play a really big outdoor amphitheater in Greensburg, PA (just outside of Pittsburgh), where we were treated like absolute rock stars, complete with signing autographs. That was a nice change from the bar scene in Philly (which I have no problem with either, just sometimes it's nice to branch out and play different sorts of venues and crowds). This summer we'll have played 5 different outdoor shows, ranging from quaint block parties to big festivals.

MD: Tell us a little about the band.

CM: Rarebirds formed in early 2004 after my old band April Disaster disbanded in 2003. I took a brief stint at performing solo, and then as "the Carolynne McNeel Three," even after we started playing as a 4-piece, and the name was a misnomer.

When we set to work on our first record during the summer-fall-winter of 2004 we decided it'd be a good time to give the band a proper name, so that's where Rarebirds came in.

The band has a history of shared musicians from other local Philly bands. I started playing with Rory Connell (on guitar, sometimes bass) from Raccoon (which went on to become Dr. Dog, although Rory didn't continue on with Dr. Dog), and then with Dave Dworanczyk (Secession Movement), then Adam Herndon (Faux Slang, Run Runner, Barking Spiders, Elevator Parade, This Radiant Boy) joined the band playing bass. That was the line up for a couple years. Rory stepped down, and we introduced keys to the mix with Rick Hass (Faux Slang, Barking Spiders, This Radiant Boy) to fill out the sound.

In 2006, Keith Forsythe who had just moved to Philly from North Carolina (where he had played mostly in metal bands!) joined on guitar. That year we began recording our 2nd record which we produced and recorded ourselves. It took about a year or so to finish.

I don't remember exactly when, but Rick and Adam stepped down (probably some time in 2007). Each had many other obligations with different bands, jobs and getting masters/ doctorates. Adam stuck around and filled in when we needed a bass player, and we had Alex Yaker (Roomtone, Honey Church) who I also play with in Grammar Debate filling in on bass. During that whole time (fall of '07), we started playing with Lara Manogg (the Lara and Joe Show, which is a children's music show, and Elastic Medium) on keys.

Dave left the band, and in fall of 2008 we solidified our line-up with John Ziga on drums (whom I had played with in April Disaster... talk about coming full circle... he's also played in True if Destroyed, Rizzo Machine and Army of the Red Museum) and Ben Morgan on bass (Be Careful Little Hands, The Sand Family, Slipping Into Sublimnity, and Lexicon). You may also recognize him as MC Digga, the German rapper.

So our current line up is as follows:

Carolynne McNeel: guitar, vocals, occasional keys, violin

Keith Forsythe: guitar, backing vocals

Lara Manogg: keys, backing vocals

Ben Morgan: bass, backing vocals

John Ziga: drums, backing vocals

Lara is actually pregnant at the moment (due early October), so Alex Yaker is going to be filling in on keys for a few months.

MD: Do you have any other musical projects you're involved with right now?

I've played with Grammar Debate for about 5 years now - I play violin, guitar, keys and vocals (mostly backing vocals).

I also play with Roomtone on occasion (vocals and percussion) and I played in Ports of Call (which has since disbanded, earlier this year).

Ben has his alter-ego, MC Digga where he's a German Rapper - it's actually pretty amazing to watch!

Lara currently plays in Elastic Medium and the Lara and Joe Show.

John and Keith don't play in any other bands at this time (although I think John may be starting an all drum band with his 4 1/2 year old son).

MD: What are some of your goals and/ or plans?

We mainly want to have fun and put out records that people like/ make them want to come out and see us play.

We're happiest when we have a really good and receptive crowd. I'd much rather play to an empty room with like 2 people in it who are really enjoying themselves than a packed room at a club where people are just standing there not showing any emotion whatsoever.

Of course I think we'd all love to be able to make a living doing this (wink wink- if anyone reading this interview wants to make that happen!) but at the same time we have a very realistic vision.

MD: What are some of your interests (other than making music)?

Well, I am immersed in the arts. I have Mew Gallery which is a full time job (minus the paycheck to go with it!... the bar job and teaching is what pays the bills) so I'm constantly running the show there with my partner Lauren. We do everything from housekeeping, to keeping the books, to promoting all of our artists endlessly. So my own art generally takes a back burner to that. But i am driven to create, so I usually end up staying awake till 4 am making jewelry and anything else, whether the medium is fabric and my tools are needles and sewing machines, or whether it's encaustic and wood and I'm working with my hot plate and heat gun.

MD: Historic figure you'd like to have a drink with, given the chance?

James Brown, Amelia Earhart, Elvis, Ray Charles, Lee Harvey Oswald.

MD: Favorite movies?

Anything with Bill Murray! Aside from that I don't really watch a whole lot of movies. I do love old Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly movies though, and Alfred Hitchcock.

MD: Your websites:

www.myspace.com/rarebirds

http://www.rarebirdsmusic.com/

Joe Tagg/ Solaram

2009-08-21T16:42:00.016-05:00

JT: After 13 years of playing with The Three 4 Tens, I played my last show with the band on December 13th, 2008, at Mojo 13 in Wilmington, Delaware. It was a benefit show to help raise some money for the son of a good friend and colleague, Chris Tucker from the band, The Situation. Chris had passed away in an accident that summer.

The name of the new project is Solaram. I guess I started writing the bulk of the new material over the winter of 2008, with the exception of two of the tracks that I had left over from a few years back when I was playing with Himalaya. I started the actual recording part of it in February after I secured a contract with Rainbow Quartz. The album (Love And The Sweet Divine) should hopefully be out in October. I say hopefully, 'cause the date has changed something like three times already!

I've been working with Ryan Van Kriedt from The Asteroid #4. He's got a great ear! It's been great working together. Totally laid back. It doesn't hurt that we're on the same page as far as music goes, either. Ryan and I laid down most of the tracks. We had some help from my friend Mike from The Three 4 Tens and my friend Jeff on drums. Also, Brian and Jamie from Himalaya came in and did some guitars and pedal steel. All great players.

MD: TELL US ABOUT THE MUSIC.

JT: Well. I guess you could say it's a bit dark at times. I've lost quite a few family members and close friends over the past few years. Definitely rough, coping with all of it. I've had some other issues as well, and I guess this album captures that period of time perfectly, for me. My first love is, and will always be rock 'n roll, so the record's not this gloom and doom piece either.

MD: A FEW FAVORITE SONGS BY OTHER ARTISTS?

JT: I'm not too good with song titles. I have piles of cds. No cases or sleeves, all around the house. My girlfriend, Carla, hates it and lets me know often! I will say that anything by Zeppelin, The Beatles/Stones, The Who, The Pixies/Spacemen 3/Stone Roses...I can go on.

MD: LAST CONCERT PERFORMANCE ATTENDED.

JT: I haven't been getting out too much, especially since I started with this record. I know it's been a while...I'm gonna have to say Spiritualized at the TLA in Philly, last August!

MD: WHAT ARE YOU READING?

JT: I've been reading Songbook, by Nick Hornby. It's a collection of stories of different songs, and how they connect him with moments of his life. It's a pretty cool book, definitely worth checking out. Everybody has these songs...not necessarily these particular songs, but...

MD: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS OR PLANS?

JT: Well, for the immediate future, finish this record and tour. I've already started work on the follow up. Other than that, maybe a couple weeks in Paris or Amsterdam or both. They're my two favorite places on earth.

MD: OTHER JOBS YOU HAVE HAD.

JT: I've had a lot of other jobs. I worked at a movie theater, I worked with insulation in low income housing. I was an electrician's assistant, a carpenter's assistant. I worked at a wood shop, did demo work on houses in Jersey. House painting, clean-outs, moving furniture. The list goes on...

MD: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INTERESTS?

JT: I love film. I would love to score a movie some day. I also love to travel.

MD: FAVORITE MOVIE?

JT: 2001.

MD: FAVORITE VISUAL ARTIST.

JT: Jackson Pollock.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/solaram09

Mike Wolff / Mr.Doodle Interview

2009-08-12T11:52:00.010-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Mr.Doodle; an artist, illustrator and designer, thoughtfully manufactured out of lego in the beautiful Sussex countryside some 30 years ago. I lived in a tree until the age of 10 when I discovered I had the ability of flight. These days I like to produce beautiful, weird, surreal, pleasurable, intricate, enticing and exciting images, objects and virtual environments. I like the colours green, yellow and orange in no particular order. Qualities I admire in others include open mindedness and integrity. In my youth I had a penchant for tree climbing and dressing as Superman. Nowadays I prefer to indulge in sophisticated doodling, meditation and cheese on toast eating. Which reminds me.... I think I've left the grill on. Oh... and since the passing of the millenium I have been on a quest. It's exciting!

What has been inspiring you lately?

That's a tricky one as inspiration springs from everywhere and everything. Right now I'm loving the work of Brosmind, Universal Everything, The Monsters Illustration Collective, Cristina Guitian, Kill Pixie, Micheal Rea and Sarah King to name but a few. I think looking at other people's work - especially your contemporaries - is a very good way of getting motivated and inspired to create, but in terms of the actual content of my work, inspiration is often found in the most mundane of places. Looking at clouds, watching people, toys, children's books, plants, dreams, meditating, just looking around at the stuff that surrounds you in life - and I mean really looking, often from a different or more objective viewpoint... The list could go on forever, but you get what I mean.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?

I think most creative people have creative slumps as you call them. It's very difficult to be 100% creative 100% of the time. I try to see this downtime as part of the overall creative process though. As a positive instead of a negative. The calm before the creative storm so to speak. I also find that meditation helps in maintaining a more consistent creative flow.

Describe your work setting.

A desk by a window. A room with a view. Lots of stuff to inspire and use. The inevitable bank of white, black and silver technological equipment. Plants, books, wire, toys, tools and trolls. Gourds, pens, paper, stones, artwork on the walls, wooden objects, postcard and music... always music.

Which artists have most influenced you and why?

When I was younger I got twisted by Salvador Dali and other surrealists. Their art just seemed to make sense to me. It's likely that the surreal nature in a lot of what I do stems from spending ages looking at his work when I was back at school. Nowadays, with the internet we are exposed to so much more contemporary artwork and artists, so the avenues for inspiration and artistic influence are far greater than ever before. I have hundreds of artists' websites bookmarked, and admire a very wide range of creative people, so again it's difficult to name names, but those who are doing something unique or pushing the boudaries of their field are always a head turner. I also love to see other people who are embracing the world of the doodle.

Other than art, what are some of your interests?

Reiki, cycling, cooking, tea drinking and exploring the inner mysteries of life

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Maybe Australia. I lived in Melbourne for a while and loved it there. Anywhere with nice warm, sunny weather for most of the year would be ideal. Preferably somewhere with nice beaches also. I'm sure there are many amazing places around the globe that fit that description.

In what city do you currently live? What are a few must see spots you would recommend?

I live in Brighton, England. It's a great city with so much to see and do. The most famous landmark is the Royal Pavilion, which looks like a bunch of giant onions on pillars, so you'd have to check that out. The seafront in summertime. Take a stroll through the North Laines with all it's funky little shops, cafes and other delights. If you're planning a trip in May all the better, as the Brighton festival transforms the whole town into a cultural wonderland.

Did you study art or are you self taught?

I studied illustration at University, although whether it actually taught me that much compared to what I have subsequently learnt through self teaching is debatable.

Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions?

Not too many plans at the moment, but I will be taking part in an exhibition later in the year as part of the Spraygraphic artists community. I also want to exhibit in Brighton at some point, so will have to look into making that happen before the year is out.

Favorite quote/ lyric from a short story, poem or song?

I'm not really a fan of selecting a favourite this or that. There are so many pearls of wisdom out there to choose from. Saying that, I did hear this quote from Gandhi recently and it stuck with me. "Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny."

What are you currently reading?

The amazingly inspirational 'Ask And It Is Given' by Esther and Jerry Hicks, and a wonderful collection of short stories in 'Love and Obstacles' by Aleksandar Hemon

Website: www.mrdoodle.com

Shawn Kilroy Interview

2009-08-05T17:50:00.013-05:00

Shawn Kilroy is a musician, actor and filmmaker from Philadelphia...

MD: Tell us a little about the bands you have played with.

SK: I have had the privilege of playing with many of my favorite area musicians over the years. In my earlier days, I played with most of the Three 4 Tens guys, who I grew up with. I have also played and recorded with members of The Cobbs, Manta Ray, Black Landlord, Vibrolux, and Illinois. My last album features Mike SloMo Brenner pretty heavily, as well as Seattle legends Rich Stuverud and Jebney Lewis. Jenny Prescott and my wife Heather Kilroy round out the rest of the disc along with North Lawrence Midnight Singer Joe Boyle. Kevin LeBree is always in there somewhere too!

MD: Tell us about your music...
SK: Little bit of everything in there. Someone wrote an article saying I was an electro artist, and it kind of stuck and that's what I'm known for, but I also play rock and roll, psychadelic, punk, blues, disco, folk, fake-jazz and country & all kinds of pop music.

MD: Have you recorded?
SK: Yes, I've released 3 full-length albums since 2004. The Neon Gate, and Thai Stick Dragon, both self-released. My newest release, this year's, Hessian Love Songs, came out on earSnake, Gemini Wolf's label. All available on itunes. 2 as Kilroy, 1 as Shawn Kilroy.

MD: Where do you record?
SK: The first record was recorded at my old South Philly rehearsal spot. TSD was recorded above the Rocket Cat Café in Fishtown back in 05 when it had more of a crack-house vibe. Now it's a nice apartment, but back then old paint was falling off the walls and windows as Warlocks had sidewalk meetings and I made my beats. Hessian Love Songs was recorded at Pete Rydberg's 1935 Studio down on Bancroft.

MD: Playlist of a few favorite songs:
SK: Fugees - Ready Or Not
Joe Jackson - Steppin Out
Pink Floyd - Cymbaline
Stooges - Gimmee Danger
Sheryl Crow - Oh Marie
Go Go's - Lust to Love
Everything But The Girl - Missing
NRG - Need Your Love (Like the Sunshine)
Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive
BeeGees - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Iggy Pop - The Endless Sea
David Bowie - Soul Love
Duran Duran - Skin Trade
Visage - Fade To Gray
Bauhaus - She's In Parties
Led Zeppelin - Down By The Seaside
Barbara Streisand - What Kind Of Fool
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Stranger Than Kindness
Neil Young - Will To Love
Tom Waits - Heart of a Saturday Night

MD: What was the last concert/ performance you attended?

SK: Judas Priest, Heaven&Hell, & Motorhead. It was perfect. Metal gets better with age. More evil and witchy.

MD: What are you reading?
SK: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

MD: Have you held any jobs you'd like to discuss?
SK: I'm producing radio spots for an ad agency in Voorhees. I like it.

MD: Any amusing anecdotes regarding your shows/ performances/ fans?
SK: Johnny Knoxville kept staring at my wife's ass at a show he came to at Silk City.

MD: What are some of your interests?
SK: I don't have any interests. I'm not even interested in making music. I have to do it or I get sick. I'm sure that sounds pretentious and phony, but it happens to be true. I write, record and perform music so that I don't have to live out my bullshit. I try to put the worst of myself into the work. Sometimes it works.

MD: Historical figure you'd like to have a beer with, given the chance?
SK: Barney Rubble, what an actor.

MD: Favorite movies?
SK: Blade Runner, Flash Gordon, American Werewolf in London, Road Warrior.

MD: Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?
SK: Blood: a Tale, Wolverine & Havok: Meltdown, and of course, The Dark Night Returns

MD: Favorite visual artists?
SK: ESPO, DERO, KAIR, PRAEZ, PEP, & MB.

Shawn Kilroy's Website: myspace.com/thaistickdragon

Tom Smith / Dr. Sizzle Interview

2009-07-27T13:35:00.007-05:00

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

Dr. Sizzle: I always drew on stuff as a kid... copied the Sunday paper funnies and my Saturday morning cartoon favorites. Then by the 2nd grade I got into breakdancing which was married with graffiti art (somewhere around '82 think). Through Graffiti I quickly developed my cartooning skills and progressed into more realistic styles of drawing. I was always fascinated with drawing the human form: faces, hands, and dynamic poses. I guess I was born with an artistic passion in my soul. Lots of people tell me true artists are left handed because they use the right side of the brain which is the side that is most creative or some shit. I guess that makes sense. After taking high school art majors I realized art was something I was good at and could probably make a living doing, so I signed my good name to a student loan at the Art Institute of Philadelphia where I received my degree in Visual Communications / Graphic Design.

MD: How would you describe your work?

Dr. Sizzle: Well my current body of work would probably be described best as exaggerated realism. I don't know if that makes sense or not but it's kind of a distorted life-like caricature using Pin-Ups as my foundation. Instead of distorting distinctive facial features, I exaggerate the anatomy in whole, enhancing heads, hands, and other bodily forms in inflated proportions.

MD: Have you studied art in school? What did you like best about the school you attended? What advice would you give to anyone considering going to school vs. doing it on their own?

Dr. Sizzle: As mentioned previously, I attended AI where I thought I was being taught to be a better artist. The drawing and painting classes were minimal and they geared us towards computers and graphic design. In the long run it helped with getting a job. But I guess I was expecting to be more of an Illustrator. It was like pulling teeth to get info out of some of the teachers. Others taught me more than I can understand and still to this day am just realizing what they meant. As far as advice- choose your school wisely. Education is expensive and if you are serious about it choose a serious school and program. When it all comes down to it, you either have it or you don't. School doesn't give you talent – it just helps you sharpen your skills.

MD: How have you been influenced by the art community? Who/ what inspires you?

Dr. Sizzle: To be honest I try not to keep up with the art community. It sickens me to open an art publication and see new artists being featured and it all looks the same to me. Art has become trendy and it's really another person's rendition of a style that already has been done. There are a bunch of artists out there that are setting these trends and I enjoy their works but I see others copying them to the point where they can't even enjoy their own creativity. So I really don't get influenced by the art community other than techniques that I might want to experiment with. To me, I see art as an expression of ones thoughts carried onto a medium or surface. Paint, Drawing, Sculpting or what ever your fancy, should be 100% your own visions. Don't paint to impress the masses or magazines- paint because that's what you paint even if it sucks. If you're passionate about it you'll make it great and people will appreciate it more than you're ripped off version of someone else's passion.

MD: Do you have a career/ job (other than the art you create independently)?

Dr. Sizzle: Yup, I am a motion graphics designer and animator for TV and video. I create the cool stuff people take for granted on TV. Like your favorite commercials, or music videos and even the show title open.

MD: Have you had any careers not related to art?

Dr. Sizzle: HA! I designed Hoagies while going to AI. LOL. Yeah, lots of odd jobs before I got my break in the professional world.

MD: How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

Dr. Sizzle: It's tough out there. To put a price on something you spent a good deal of time on and expect someone topay that is really hard. If you're up and coming, or just not well known enough, you really have it hard. I have a hard enough time parting with my originals as it is and to price them to sell is almost impossible. I've been creating prints and selling limited numbers signed until I exhausted them to the point of selling the originals. Creating a website and swag helps a lot to promote myself and get the name Dr. Sizzle out there. It's really hard balancing time to paint, promote, work my day job, hold my family together … not to mention my nine million hobbies and other creative vices…

MD: What are your goals? What are your plans for the future?

Dr. Sizzle: My plans are to paint when I feel like it and not make it my job. It's important to me to keep painting a hobby and not my primary source of income. Once that happens it becomes work which is no fun. I paint for passion not for paychecks. Changing that would have a considerable effect on my art and my love for it. I plan to continue painting my Pin-Ups and
branch them off into a few directions and various series. I have a few products in the works as well as some videos and books planned, so stay tuned!

MD: Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?

Dr. Sizzle: Being a graffiti artist, I have worked on much collaboration on a very large scale. It's one of the best feelings. I hope to get out this summer and do a few more.

MD: What was one of the most memorable projects you've worked on?

One is a portrait I did of Miss Mia Sinclair which took over a year to complete and is one of my largest brush paintings. Mia passed away last October 2008. I'm glad I had the pleasure of working with her.

MD: What are the biggest changes you've seen in the art world since you got involved? Where do you see the art industry going in 5 years? 10 years?

Dr. Sizzle: Well I have to say the "Lowbrow" art scene has taken the world by storm. It was frowned upon and was never really accepted into the gallery and art world but now it is pretty much dominating the globe. I suspect things will evolve full circle. As people start to realize there is a difference between Lowbrow Art and Lowbrow posers. People will eventually go back to a more Fine Art taste and talentless crud will wash away. Then again who am I to say what is good and what is not. Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. So maybe the things I call trash and what people love and that will wash fine artists away AHHA. Who cares, art is art. People will express themselves whether someone likes it or not. I think if enough people hate you you're probably doing it well enough to piss people off it will eventually become the best thing the movement ever seen. Just like PUNK ROCK!

MD: Favorite painter/ artist:

Dr. Sizzle: I have tons of favorites, a few, in no particular order are;
Keith Wessner, Glenn Barr, Coop, Gil Elvgren, Rockin' Jellybean, Maxfield Parrish, Robh Ruppel, Kris Kuksi, Frank Frazetta, and many others.

MD: What are you listening to?

Dr. Sizzle: Old Punk from the early 80's

Website: http://www.drsizzle.com/

Shawn Dubin Q&A

2009-07-20T17:47:00.009-05:00

Shawn Dubin is a Philadelphia based illustrator and tattoo artist. He has published a number of books, including Dreary and Naughty and Friday the 13th of February.

MD: You're currently working on a new series of paintings?

SD: They were initially based on memories from Halloween throughout my life, starting in the late seventies and stretching up to the present. Once the idea solidified a bit, I felt compelled to illustrate those old costumes that came in a box- paperboard masks with terrible plastic jumpsuits that tied up in the back. If you were lucky they came with a cape or your parents got you one separately. My imagination always made them far more amazing than they actually were. From there, the series branched out into other time periods and less kitschy costumes. I could probably spend the rest of my life doing these.

MD: You've got quite a collection of work. What's next? What are some of your goals and/ or plans?

SD: At the moment, my writing partner Jason Ridings and I are preparing a package to send out to a few major comic book companies for consideration and keeping our fingers crossed.

Outside of that, I've started writing a follow up to the Untimely Endeavor (which is getting sent out to publishers for consideration this summer along with Land of Broken Dreams), begun work on the halloween paintings, plotting out a line of t-shirts/miscellaneous articles of clothing, and started writing something of a children's story. There are also more comic books in the pipes. It never ends.

I'm also hoping to find a gallery that's willing to show my work in the next year or so.

MD: You've published quite a few books...

SD: I had the fortune of working with John Lafleur on the Dreary and Naughty series a few years back. The first two in the series (which is slated to run up to seven books) are still available online. The third book, The ABC's of Being Dead, is finished and awaiting publication. As of the moment, the premise is floating around in Hollywood limbo with talks of it becoming a movie one day.

This summer, writer Glen Feulner and I are self-publishing a book called Worlds Without End which revolves around a female protagonist who travels throughout multiple realities, ultimately bringing about the end of each. Uplifting stuff. It will be available through Amazon, Borders, etc.

MD: The Untimely Endeavor comes across as mournful and poetic, with really interesting backgrounds...

SD: I wanted to explore the use of a "dip pen"; to illustrate something the way someone would have a century ago. I also wanted a chance to illustrate a number of different locales throughout the world that interest me while placing a fantastical character in each to stretch/warp the boundaries of the mundane. Naturally, I chose a well dressed skeleton named Wallingford for just this purpose.

The first illustration came about as an accident one night while sketching and is now the second plate in the book. It created the flavor for what would ultimately become the overall plot: Skeleton finds shrunken head in soup, shrunken head engrains itself in skeleton's day to day life, skeleton reject and abandons shrunken head, skeleton searches the world over for shrunken head, skeleton finds shrunken head. Ultimately, it's a story about friendship, loss and appreciating what you have.

MD: In addition to illustration, you're also a tattoo artist, yes?

SD: I've been tattooing in Philadelphia for twelve years now at Moo Tattoo on South Street. Recently I've been doing a lot of work that's similar to my illustration style. I hope the trend continues.

MD: You've worked on a number of comic books.

SD: I've been working with Jason Ridings (writer) for the better part of a decade on a number of projects. When we met I told him I'd never draw super heroes. He proved me wrong when we did a story called Guardians. It was a one shot comic chock full of super heroes of our making.

We've also been working on Thirteen- an ongoing supernatural thriller which is much further up my alley. The first issue is completely inked with the other five issues in the initial run thumb-nailed and ready for production. Conservatively, we have enough material for this series to last at least five years. I'm ridiculously excited about continuing work on it.

My cousin, Alex Dubin, and I worked on a project called the Eighth Dwarf which re-imagines the snow white story through a darkened lens. The first run of the series is written and thumb-nailed through to completion. He had originally written it as a screenplay which, conveniently, lends itself to being story-boarded into a comic book format quite readily.

I've also been working off and on for the last ten years or so on a vampire comic about a powerful family that stretches all the way back to the Roman Empire and their degeneration/search for humanity as their respective worlds fall apart.

If none of these find a home with an established comic book company, the plan is to self publish and see where things go.

MD: Your miniature paintings have so much detail. What's your process?

SD: I use ridiculously small brushes and sit hunched over these little bits of illustration board for hours on end, nearly going blind. It's actually a good deal of fun.

MD: Have you exhibited your work?

SD: Years ago. I'm in the process of looking for a venue to have a show some time later this year or early next year.

MD: If you were to build a house out of unorthodox materials, what type of house would you build?

SD: A hobbit hole or a giant tree house attached to a sequoia.

MD: Favorite movies?

SD: I'm a big star wars nerd.

MD: Playlist of a few favorite songs:

SD: Hard to pinpoint songs- but on any given day i'll cycle through some Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Howlin' Wolf, Pixies, Mulatu Astatke, Sinatra, Talking Heads, Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, etc.

MD: What are some of your interests?

SD: Music (making and listening), gardening, travel, good food and drink (both preparing and ingesting), history, living...

MD: Historical figure you'd like to have a beer with, given the chance?

SD: Aleister Crowley.

MD: Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?

SD: I really loved the Lucifer series put out by Vertigo. Collected the whole thing in trade paper backs and made my poor wife read it. She actually enjoyed it.

Also- The Preacher, V For Vendetta, Watchmen, Kingdom Come, Matt Wagner's Mage and Grendel, BPRD, Hellboy, Marvels and the current run of Captain America stories.

MD: Favorite visual artists?

SD: Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher, Maxfield Parrish, Heironymus Bosch, Edward Gorey, Shel Silverstein, Alphonse Mucha, Arthur Rackham...   

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

SD: I've been drawing since I could hold a writing implement. Haven't been able to stop since. My mother was a big supporter early on and really nurtured the bug. My neighbor/surrogate big brother was also something of an artist. He'd sit me down and show me how to draw things like Popeye and Snoopy for hours while our parents watched television and talked.

I went to the High School for Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia before it was in the gorgeous building it now inhabits. Also went to the University of the Arts briefly.
  
MD: Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?

SD: I was a record store/book store clerk for Tower for more than two years. While there, I drew a bi-weekly comic that went out with paychecks based on experiences I and my co-workers had. For the holidays one year I did an entire comic called "Tower of Babble" in which we, the employees, locked the doors of the store and massacred the customers. My boss sent it around to other branches both here and in England. It was quite cathartic. Nowadays I'd probably be reported for disturbing behavior that may lead to a nasty incident. All in good fun.

Website: shawndubin.com

Leo Boyd / Arg My Face

2009-07-16T12:26:00.023-05:00

LB: To me art is something that I'm compelled to make, something like the cup of coffee that I need to drink in the morning to wake up. It's a slap round the face and I have an almost physical drive to produce. The world we live in is driven by image and signs that jump up and down and shout at us, all vying for portions of our attention. There is a rubbish tip in our brains that is full of this stuff, from the Ladybird books of our childhood to the swine flu pamphlets we read and discarded just a few months ago. All this old information sits there, rotting, getting confused, and I feel I need to use it, to dig it up and paste it back together to create new and hopefully interesting pieces. Its psychic recycling I guess. I like my work to be funny. And dark. There is something satisfying about mixing the two things and it's always good to be able to laugh at the darker side of life. I also find the mundane fairly beautiful. I have a thing at the moment for traffic lights. To me they look like the strange totem poles of some technologically advanced society that worships three colored gods. I can't get enough of them.

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

LB: My mum is an artist and we were always encouraged creatively. I have very early memories of drawing felt-tip pictures of superman and then covering them in a layer of cellotape so that they would last forever. The pictures didn't last but my creative drive is still going strong.

MD: What are some of your goals and/ or plans?

LB: To keep doing what I do and strive to get better at it. I'd also like to visit Mars.

MD: Have you exhibited your work?

LB: Have just finished exhibiting in Bristol with three other Argists and am hanging an exhibition this week in Temple Bar with Eavan O'Sullivan, another excellent artist (and Argist) who creates these weird collage animals that would be the stuff of nightmares if they weren't so cute. The show is called What the Cat Dragged In.

MD: Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?

LB: At the moment I'm working for a community arts organization called City Art Squad but before this I have held a number of glamorous positions in Chicken Factories and mental homes.

MD: What are you currently reading?

LB: Just finished reading Light by M John Harrison and Nova Swing by the same author. Two books of brain twistingly good science fiction that will keep you on your toes for weeks after reading.

MD: If you were to build a house out of unorthodox materials, what type of house would you build?

LB: I'd build a tower out of MSG, coffee and twisted science fiction novels. That way I'd never sleep even if I wanted to.

MD: Playlist of a few favorite songs:

LB: I am a big Radiohead fan. I love their oblique use of sound and the way they can make even the most horrible thing seem beautiful. Check out 'four minute' warning on youtube to see what I mean. My friends get annoyed because I play Radiohead too often but I know that they love it really!

MD: What are some of your interests?

LB: I love surfing but I live on the wrong side of the country to do it as much as I want to so I am hanging on for 2012 when the world is supposed to spin on its axis. Hopefully that will send some good swell Dublin way.

MD: Historical figure you'd like to have a drink with, given the chance?

LB: Oooo this is a difficult question. I mean I'd love to go for a few drinks with Lenin mainly so I could get some photos of me and him in the pub but you could say the same of most historical characters. Lichtenstein is someone who I'd like to have met and Patrick Moore too but he's still alive so I guess that doesn't count?

MD: Favorite visual artists?

LB: There are too many to list outright but I love the work of the Pop artists, the Dada group, Otto Dix, Sigmar Polke and the Futurists.

Arg My Face Website: http://www.argmyface.com/

Sarah Tomlin Q&A

2009-07-10T16:06:00.004-05:00

Tell us a bit about yourself. I'm 26 years young and have been married to my high school sweetheart for 6 years! We have 2 dogs, one of which is house trained.

Tell us about your work. My love of photography stretches into nearly every field I can find work in but I love to travel. I love seeing new places and finding beauty in God's creations. One of my favorite quotes is on my website: "We look at the world and see what we have learned to believe is there. We have been conditioned to expect.....but, as photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs." -Aaron Siskind. I find that beauty is everywhere around us. All we have to do is appreciate it.

What are some of your goals and/ or plans? Ideally my goal would be to open up an art shop with my sister Christina! We both love the arts. Also, I would love to be on The Price is Right.

What are you currently reading? The July 13th issue of Time Magazine and celebrity twitters.

If you were to build a house out of unorthodox materials, what type of house would you build? Tree logs, rusted metal, stained glass, and toothpicks. I'd love to live in an old barn. Renovated of course, with central air and heat.

Playlist of a few favorite songs: Mad Mission by Patty Griffin, Lentil by Sia, and Spell by Marie Digby.

Favorite visual artists? I have to say that I am quite partial to photographers although I truly respect any type of artist. Loving what you do and putting your whole heart and soul into your work is the best part of life. Four people that DESERVE to be mentioned are Matt McClure, Rebecca Villarreal, Thomas Jack Hilton, and Thomas Krapausky. All of their website links can be found on the links portion of my site.

Your website(s): Sarahtomlinphotography.com

Caleb Stine Q&A

2009-07-04T09:50:00.012-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of catching your performance at the Honfest in Hampden, MD. Great show! Tell us a little about Hampden/ the Honfest/ the show.
Honfest is a celebration of the underdog, knowingly un-cool, 'laugh-to-keep-from-crying' attitude of working-class Baltimore, and it's a fun festival to play. People really seemed to like the new songs.

My 15 year-old neighbor who practices heavy metal on his front porch said "Man, I came and watched you for a whole hour and a half!" The highlight though, was the gentleman who liked the music so much that he put a Caleb Stine sticker on his cane. To me, that's a solid endorsement. Pretty cool.

You just recorded a new album. Tell us about it. Where was it recorded?
Here in Baltimore with my good friend Nick Sjostrom. We used the recording studio that he works at during the day, and basically recorded after-hours over the last year. The title of the record is 'Eyes So Strong and Clean' which means a lot of things to me, It's about attempting to stare honestly at the world.

That was the philosophy behind the recording. We tried a lot of new techniques, and I feel like I pushed it as hard as I could. This is, you know, the best I got right now. For better or worse.

Your songwriting process?

I have about 5 different processes I think! It's always changing, and over the years I've learned some different techniques to jumpstart those processes. It's key to stay open to the songs, so that when they come, you're ready.

This is the main skill of songwriting: learning to recognize the seed of a song. It'll come to you as a fragment of melody or rhythm, or a string of words, or a feeling. . . And usually you have to strike when you've got that first catalyst. You don't have to finish it right then, but you've got to capture the essence, or it'll be lost.

I think everyone has the potential to nurture and grow songs, it's just that most people have never considered it, or learned to notice the seeds.

What are you reading?

Well, yesterday I finished 'This Is Your Brain on Music', a Science/Music book that had some unique insights. I've been into the English Romantic poets again lately; Wordsworth and Coleridge are on the bed stand right now. Don Quixote is also sitting there. . . I keep coming back to that one. I seem to be rereading a lot of my favorites right now. . . The Dharma Bums. Oh, and I'm reading a collection of Raymond Carver short stories called 'Where I'm Calling From' that I'd recommend for it's sheer heartbreaking insights into everyday life.

Favorite movies?

I've got my old standbys: The Seventh Seal, 12 Monkeys, Rushmore. . . I've thought a lot about There Will Be Blood since I saw it.

Playlist of a few favorite songs:

Here's some recent tracks by friends that I really like:
'Hell on Earth' by Deer Tick

'Sight, Flight' by Wye Oak

'Idaho' by Andy Friedman & The Other Failures

'Keep Good Time' by Tommy Tucker

What are some of your interests?
Cookies. Chess. Drawing. Road-trips. Friends. My nieces.

Historical figure you'd like to have a drink with, given the chance?
I'd like to down some whiskey with Walt Whitman. Or chug Budweiser with Thomas Jefferson. Or sip merlot with Billy the Kid. Or go shot for shot with Mother Teresa. Or swallow hemlock with Socrates. . .

Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?

I've always been fascinated by Chris Ware's work. And I read the recent biography about Charles Schultz, which has given me a Peanuts higher-awareness.

Favorite visual artists?

Wow. . . van Gogh, Norman Rockwell, Turner, Thomas Cole, Chuck Close, Rothko, Annie Liebowitz . . . there's a few off the top of the head. Also, I'm really lucky to have a ton of super talented friends like Katherine Fahey, Michael Patrick O'Leary, Christine Sajecki, Magnolia Laurie, and Scott Denison whose work I get to watch evolve up close.

If you were to build a house out of unorthodox materials, what type of house would you build?

I'd build it out of bagels.

Last concert/performance attended? How was it?

I saw Those Darlin's open up for Elvis Perkins last week, and they were both engaged and alive. I appreciate performances where the musicians are present and playing to the people that are actually there, not some imaginary gig at Madison Square Gardens that they wish they were at. And Elvis was great. After the first song he asked the soundman politely for more vocals in the monitor, and he remembered his name! That won me over right away. Plus his band was great. Really good arrangements, and they were listening to each other, playing off of what just happened.

What are some of your goals and/ or plans?

Creatively, I really want to focus on writing. I want to be a better musician. There's just so much to learn and work on. In general, I want to live less selfishly and be more open to the world.

Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?

I don't know about discussing them, but I've learned a lot from everything I've done. From working at a Special Ed school to drawing story-boards for movies. It's been a rich work-life. I will say, I was the ideal employee at McDonalds when I was 16. I'd run the drive through and say things like "Thank you for flying Ronald McDonald Airways. As you pull up to the first window remember to return your trays to the upright and locked position. . . "

Your website(s):

Calebstine.com

Myspace.com/calebstine

Levi Leddy Q&A

2009-06-30T17:44:00.007-05:00

Hometown:
My hometown is Dallas, TX. I still reside in the Dallas area. I enjoy living here, but the summer heat and the allergies zap the energy out of me.

Medium:
My medium of choice is acrylic paints. I occasionally incorporate spray paint in some of my paintings, it just depends on the painting. I paint on canvas, wood, masonite, plexi-glass, and just about any other flat surface. I just add gesso to these surfaces and it makes for a nice background to work with. I usually stretch my own canvases. It saves some money and makes me feel like I created the entire piece of artwork at the end of the process.

Artist Hero:
I was inspired by my Great Uncle Karl and my Great Aunt Uzila. They were professional artists from Germany. My Great Uncle painted modern art and my Great Aunt was into impressionism art. As a child, I visited Germany a few times. They had an amazing studio. I always thought it was fabulous to be able to do what you loved as your profession. I have an original painting from my Great Uncle hanging in my house. It was created in 1972. It is a painting that I cherish.

What's your studio like?
I have an empty room that my 4 year old daughter Trinity calls "The Art Room." I keep all of my artwork and stretched canvases in my studio. The flooring is concrete, so I do not have to worry about ruining carpet. Trinity has her easel and her artwork set up in her corner. I do not paint on an easel. I usually use a laundry bucket to paint my smaller paintings. Very unorthodox.

What are you currently working on?
I currently have 3 large canvases stretched. I am going to try and complete these three paintings by the end of the summer. Last year I painted several small pieces, so I figured I would change things up and go large. I am thinking of trying to incorporate a space-like atmosphere, combined with organic shapes that appear to come to life. The large space allows for more things to come to fruition.

What are you currently listening to?
I have been listening to a lot of Optimus Rhythm. They are a Seattle based band that incorporates rap and melodic beats. Very interesting music.

What's your dream project?
My dream project would be painting a wall mural on a building in a downtown setting. In Dallas there is an area called Deep Ellum. There used to be a tunnel that included murals from many artists. The tunnel was torn down recently to make room for the rail system. It was so great to view all the amazing art as you passed through town. I would love to have the opportunity to provide artwork that people could witness on a daily basis.

Day job:
I currently work for UDR.com as a Website Content Specialist. UDR owns many apartments and townhouses throughout the United States. The website allows the consumer to lease via the internet. I am in charge of organizing the photography shoots for our various properties. After I receive the photos, I adjust them and load them onto our site and our affiliate sites, I also work on design, drawing floor plans, and various content related issues. I really enjoy working for UDR. They are a fabulous company that truly values their customers.

Favorite gallery:
My favorite gallery would have to be the Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas. I have shown many times at this gallery. Clockwork and The Art of Skateboarding were the most recent shows that I participated in. The crowd and atmosphere at this venue are always great.

Forthcoming shows?
I have a solo show on Saturday, August 8th. It will be at The Whitney Gallery (aka The Factory Shoppe). The address is: 2650 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226. I will have over 40 pieces of artwork on display. It should be an amazing show. I have never featured all of my artwork at one time. Usually, I have my artwork scattered at different galleries. I am really looking forward to this show.

I will also participate in The Art of Skateboarding 2, at the Janette Kennedy Gallery on November 7th. The address is: 1409 South Lamar, Dallas, TX 75215. Every artist is given a skateboard deck and given the freedom to create whatever they desire. It is truly an amazing show. The original Art of Skateboarding raised over $44,000 for the Scottish Rite Foundation.

Website: www.artwanted.com/levileddy

Nathan Markham Q&A

2009-06-22T18:07:00.010-05:00

Hometown: Born in Louisville, KY 1975. I divided my childhood evenly between Sweetwater, TN near Knoxville and Hendersonville, TN near Nashville.

Currently Resides: South Florida / Broward Co.

Medium: I love Paint. Water based media, minerals, powdered and liquid pigments, clear and iridescent varnish and glazes - metallic spray paint and collage - on canvas, on panel , on paper.

Artist Hero: Niki de Saint Phalle.
Also I learned a lot about teaching painting from Sandra Reed at Savannah College of Art and Design and Jo Shan Ma, her assistant.

Paintings and Drawings I enjoy looking at:
Puvis De Chavannes, Paula Rego, Turner, Redon, Rossetti, Hans Hoffman, Ignes, anybody's sketchbooks.

What's your studio like? Chaotic at the moment.

What are you currently working on? I've really been experimenting with powerful "transient" pigments that can only be covered up with mediums that resist from the backside of a layer. Pigments that rise to the surface, so the first layer of the painting is very important (as it continues to bleed to the surface throughout the process.) Sometimes I collage with pre-dried pieces of acrylic paint scraped from a glass surface. The dried paint stops the bleeding. I used batik dye and wax with ceramic glaze the other day, that was interesting.

What are you currently reading? Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education, Studios by the Sea: Artists of Long Island's East End (Hardcover) and Primary Colours by Serena Mann.

What are you currently listening to? My wife is from Barbados in the Caribbean. And has introduced to me (over 14 years) a fascinating array of old reggae, calypso, and Caribbean folk music. This is my favorite right now, but there are hundreds we've collected: "Carry Go Bring Come," by Justin Hinds & the Dominoes...and I love the guitar sound on Eddy Grant's "Do you Feel my Love." I'm desperately trying to replicate it on my set up at home.

I am also addicted to Freshair.org.uk and their August coverage of the Edinburgh Scotland FRINGE Festival! Funny funny funny...and The Charlie and Lola Soundtrack (I am father of 2).

What's your dream project? Aside from what I'm doing now:

Seriously.
1. Starting a Non-Profit that provides Educational / Arts travel for children of low income families in South Florida. It's really difficult to get field trips that leave the state, it is not a small world after all....authentic travel experiences are usually a common denominator in the lives of kids who have grown up to become adults who give back to their own communities - they have a broader world view. It's not enough to escape poverty - inspiring kids to grow up and end it would be great.

2. Building a summer cottage boathouse studio on lake Papineau in Ontario. Sweet. Maybe an Artist in Residence grant retreat. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1915997

Not so Seriously. Slightly more dreamy.
3. My paintings somehow inspire a musical starring John Cleese, Daniel Day Lewis and Judy Dench!!!! That would be super.

4. Appearing on an Episode of the now over "Monarch of the Glen" TV show.

5. Or owning a really small T-Shirt company that uses quirky one liners. Like "I brake for High-lighters" or "Tacos make it easy" with a picture of a bulldozer on both.

Day job:
Art Educator: Elementary Magnet School -
Subject: 3D Art/Murals/Stagecraft - Teaching partnership with Broward Center for the Performing Arts. During the summer, I work at interesting places, like: Children Services Council funded Summer Arts Camps, Lovewell.org, and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation National Headquarters Lending Library - MSfocus.org

What else are you currently working on? Editing a book of travel journals - I'd like to publish it. I've been fiddling with it for 10 years. I wrote it in 1999-2000, on a "round the world" trip with my wife to 12 different countries.

My wife is a photographer, she documented our entire trip with over 5000 photos and 24 hours of video footage. (This was before we owned digital cameras.)

My recent paintings, video collaboration and show are based on one page from the India portion of those journals and the photos.

Also, I recently graduated with a MS Ed. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Nova Southeastern University.

Favorite Gallery? I'm gonna go big and say - AGO in Toronto and National Galleries of Scotland

Website: nathanmarkham.blogspot.com

Shannon McLaughlin/ You Wanna Talk Jive

2009-06-15T18:05:00.011-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a 25-year-old gal living in Philadelphia with my husband and our six pets. Several years ago, I graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Communication Design (concentrating in illustration) and am currently the Editor-in-Chief of a local monthly publication called Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine. Writing and editing have always been one of my main interests, but illustration will always be my obsession. I tend to devote my evenings and weekends to illustrating, which is definitely a relaxing transition from the fast-paced publishing environment.

Tell us about your recent artwork.

My most recent series, "say hello to my little friends," consisted of exotic pets drawn with colored pencils on cross sections of trees. As a pet lover, I'm around animals a lot, which is why exotic critters tend to seep into my work naturally. As much as I'd like to live in a world where I'm free to sip tea on my couch in the company of a fruit bat and ferret while watching Bravo TV marathons, I know that some dreams are too good to be true. Upon this bleak realization, I decided to surround myself with a fluffy menagerie of exotic pet illustrations.

I'm also working on a series of illustrations of dogs that have been rescued from local animal shelters, as well as dogs that are currently in Pennsylvania shelters. I plan on eventually having a show exhibiting these works, with proceeds donated to the PSPCA, where I have recently become a membership benefit partner (www.pspca.org/donate/membership). Ideally, I would like to use these illustrations for a children's book I plan on writing that will educate kids and their parents about the benefits of adopting the family dog through a shelter.

Have you exhibited your work?

Right now I'm expanding my exotic pet series for an upcoming show at the Philadelphia International Airport, which will be on exhibit in one of their main terminals from May through November 2010. I've already shown the series thus far in Philadelphia at Cafe Estelle (http://www.cafeestelle.com/) this past April, which was a success. I completely adore the quirky employees over there, who are an absolute pleasure to work with (plus they have the best breakfast pizza everrrrrrrrr).

What interests do you have other than art?

Apart from art, animals and writing, I'm also interested in music and I'm a huge pop culture geek. I'm completely addicted to Lost and wouldn't mind it if Sawyer walked around shirtless in my living room, that's for sure. I also love spending time with my husband (who shares my crush on Sawyer, shhhhh) and having quiet nights together with our pets.

Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?

Most of my friends are photographers, so I haven't really been able to collaborate with any of them, but I'm definitely open to the suggestion! I've certainly been in my fair share of photoshoots with artsy friends.

Who and what are your influences?

My brother, who is nine years older than me, was (and still is) a huge influence in my artistic career. He took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew about drawing and painting. From teaching me how to sketch characters from "The Little Mermaid" to touring me around art museums in New York and making sure I read Artforum every month. He always supported my interest in making people smirk by exploring odd subject matter. I also respect the fact that he has always been honest with me and doesn't hold back with constructive criticism. Family members usually want to hang every piece of your art on the fridge, even when inside they are thinking, "Dear god, that is one ugly ass drawing." It's nice to have someone to go to who will tell me when my work is great or where I need to improve. I've learned so much from him, from marketing my work to building a comprehensive website and learning how to "edit" my portfolio and to not just show everything I've ever created.

I'm also influenced by my husband and friends who are always motivating me to keep on truckin'. Animals have always been inspiring to me, especially trying to get the word out about how important fostering and animal adoption is. Other influences include: flea markets, junkyards, vintage yearbooks and children's books, super bright & tacky patterns, trips to art stores, my Google Reader and browsing Etsy.com.

Looking back, how has your style changed?

In college, my style was much more painterly and I tended to use mostly oil paints or make mixed media pieces that combined found objects and drawings with marker on layers of tracing paper. I think I went from going out of my way to try to be uber conceptual to now just drawing things that make me happy and come to me more naturally. I've always been pretty fascinated by brilliant, vivid colors and attention to detail, and I think that is still consistent in my work.

Have you had any other careers? How have these influenced your career as an artist?

Apart from being an illustrator and Editor-in-Chief, I was also a salad bar bitch for a while at the Old Country Buffet, which I ended up creating a zine about. I was also a hostess at Red Robin, but I only lasted a few days there after memorizing their massive menus. I was a cashier assistant at Costco one summer but got tired of lifting everyone's giant-sized food out of their carts, so I quit that as soon as humanly possible and decided to draw poodles instead (super responsible, I know). Seriously, who needs a container of mayonnaise that big?

Favorite films:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Harold & Maude

Least favorite films:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Oh my god, worst CGI evah!) or I Know Who Killed Me (so bad it's almost good)

What are you reading right now?

Several books on Italy since the hubs and I are planning our belated honeymoon for next Spring.

Favorite music:

The Flaming Lips, Ben Folds, Travis, Beck, Johnny Cash, REM, Bowie, Magnetic Fields, My Bloody Valentine, Ryan Adams, Whiskeytown, Rufus Wainwright, Remy Zero, The Pixies, Paul Westerberg, The Bad Plus, The Replacements, The Velvet Underground, Jeff Buckley and many more!

Favorite comic strips/comic books:

I love graphic novels, especially anything by Harvey Pekar, Scott Mccloud, Julie Doucet, David B., Art Spiegelman and Marjane Satrapi.

Last concert/performance attended: Travis at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia last month.

Website: http://www.shannonmclaughlin.net/
Etsy: http://www.youwannatalkjive.etsy.com/
Blog: http://www.youwannatalkjive.blogspot.com/

Jen McCleary

2009-06-07T12:55:00.027-05:00

Jen McCleary is an artist who works with mixed media and digital collage. She also creates one of a kind jewelry using antique watch parts, optical lenses, and found and repurposed objects. By day Jen works as a graphic artist. In her spare time, she’s a coordinator for Handmade Philly.

Jen, when and where were you born?
I was born in Coatesville, PA, in 1977. I lived in the same house for my whole childhood and my parents still live there today.

What was it like for you growing up?
We (me, my parents, and my younger sister) lived about a 20 minute drive outside of the city of Coatesville. The city itself is one of those old, slowly dying PA steel towns with lots of problems, but where we lived it was still almost rural. Definitely suburban, but the houses weren't packed close together, everyone had lots of trees and there were no sidewalks and not much car traffic. I spent a lot of time outdoors, playing with my sister or kids in the neighborhood, riding my bike around. We didn't watch very much TV or play a lot of computer games or anything like that. If I wasn't outside I was probably reading- I was a huge bookworm (and still am). We were quite close to Hibernia County Park, and when I got old enough, I'd take off and wander around over there alone for hours. While I was away at college they flooded part of the park to put in a manmade lake. Some of my favorite trails are now underwater- it's interesting to think of the traces of those trails maybe still being down there.

I've only realized in recent years how much certain aspects of how I was raised influenced me in a positive way- thinking about the whole DIY craft movement, the idea of making things by hand. My mom made most of my and my sister's clothes until we were teenagers, and my dad had a woodworking shop in the basement. They had a huge garden, which at the time seemed like drudgery, but now I appreciate the value of growing your own food, making your own tomato sauce and I wish I had my own garden. Right now I have in my apartment furniture that my dad made and jam that my mom made, which is pretty cool.

What did your parents do for a living?
My dad was an engineer. I can never remember which kind even though he's told me several times. I think he designed the electrical or heating/cooling systems for manufacturing plants or something like that. He used to bring home printouts of these amazing floorplans and flowcharts and things. I still have some of them, and have incorporated some of them into different collages. He retired from engineering a while ago, and now works as a teacher aide in an elementary school, providing one-on-one assistance for a boy with autism who is in a mainstream class.

My mom trained as a secretary, and is the library aide for the library of the elementary school that my sister and I went to. She basically does everything the librarian does except teach classes. I think she started working there when I was in third grade, and stayed ever since. The library recently got rid of their old wooden card catalogue drawers, and she was thoughtful enough to ask if I wanted it. I love things with lots of little drawers. It weighs a ton, but looks awesome and is great for storing odds and ends.

Were you involved with the arts as a child?
Definitely. I always loved art class the best, the feeling I got from making things. I also played piano for most of my childhood, although I think that was more frustrating for me than making art. Art was more liberating, more fun, whereas piano was stressful, it had to be "right." I stopped taking piano lessons around the age of 13, around the same time that I started focusing more on art. I went to ordinary public schools that didn't necessarily put a priority on the arts (the high school had a darkroom years ago but by the time I got there it had been turned into storage for football gear). But had some fantastic teachers who I can truly say influenced me for the better. My elementary school art teacher offered private lessons at his home studio one evening a week for four or five students. That was a great experience- we got to do stuff we never got to do at school- ceramics, screenprinting, woodblock prints. My art teacher junior and senior years of high school was wonderful too. At that point I was really focusing on art and knew I wanted to go to art school, and he was always helpful and encouraging and wrote some fantastic letters of recommendation.

How would you describe your work?
I like working in a number of different media and having multiple projects going simultaneously. Right now about half of what I do is digital (digital collages and photography) and the other half is more traditional (mixed-media collage paintings and handmade jewelry). I love the flexibility of working digitally, but if I spend too much time on the computer I crave the immediacy and tactile nature of working by hand with actual materials. It’s funny though if I mess something up in a painting the first thing that comes to mind is “undo! undo!” I think being able to hit that undo button on the computer makes it easier to try different things, but sometimes with the traditional media being forced to work through a mistake and go in a different direction has the same end result. My imagery comes from a number of places- I wander around taking pictures in the city, so there's a lot of urban imagery, but I also love and am inspired by nature. I like exploring dualities- natural/manmade, light/dark, etc...I like decay and texture and especially color...

Tell us about your education…what did you study?
I studied Painting and Printmaking (double major, BFA) at Tyler School of Art. I spent one semester my junior year studying in Rome. Art school was simultaneously an amazingly wonderful and horribly frustrating experience. By the end of my senior year I realized that I wasn’t really a painter and I wasn’t really a printmaker. I was interested in
mixing things up, painting on prints, printing on paintings, making collages and books, and I didn’t really feel like there was a place for that. I didn't really find the class critique thing helpful at all- hearing twenty different conflicting opinions just left me confused and uncertain. It took me many years and a lot of work after I graduated to feel confident about my art, to feel that I was making the work that I needed to be making.

When I was in school I hated the idea of using the computer to make art, but I soon figured out that I was completely wrong about that! I started exploring what I could do using Photoshop to manipulate images and starting to create digital collage work. I eventually figured out that I’d be a lot happier if I could do something more creative as my job, so I took a Continuing Education program in Print Design at University of the Arts. After that I got a job doing graphic design full-time at Penn, and took advantage of the staff tuition benefit to do a Master of Liberal Arts program. It was an interdisciplinary program, so although I focused on the general areas of art/art history/culture, I took classes from a variety of departments including English, Political Science, Sociology, East Asian Studies, and History. It was perfect for someone like me with varied interests. I just completed the program this past December. It was a lot of work, taking classes two nights a week, working fulltime, and also still trying to do my own art projects, but I think the difficulty of it made it more rewarding. I really believe in continuing to learn and grow throughout life, whether that is formal education or just self-education through reading about different things and trying new things. I think I'm going to start taking some more continuing education classes- I want to learn sewing and metalsmithing.

How have you been influenced by the art community? Who/ what inspires you?
I’ve been pretty uninvolved in the art community, at least until the last few years when I joined the Philly Etsy Team/ Handmade Philly and got more involved with selling my work at various local events and shops. I've never been that comfortable with the traditional fine art world, which I think can be very insular and overly competitive and pretentious. I feel much more at home in the DIY/crafty/handmade world, which I think is more open and accepting and fun. I've never had to write an artist statement or feel like I had to justify what I'm doing and why I'm doing it at a craft show. I like selling my work at local art/craft events because it's fun to just set up a table and put stuff out there and see what appeals to people. It's awesome getting to talk to the people who are buying my work. I like the idea of art being for everyone, that it should be affordable and part of everyday life, not just something for wealthy people to invest in or something to go visit in a museum. I feel that the traditional boundaries between "art," "craft," and "design" are blurring and overlapping, and that overlap is where some really interesting things are happening. It's been cool to meet other people like myself who work in a number of different mediums. I think that whether you're making paintings or photos or dresses or cookies, it all comes from the same kind of creative impulse that should be nurtured whatever form it takes.

Do you have a career/ job (other than the art you create independently)?
Yes, I work full time as a graphic designer at the University of Pennsylvania, since the summer of 2006. For the six years before that I worked as a production editor with an academic publisher, and before that I worked for a small internet/catalog music company. I worked for the music company part-time while I was in school, and was quite happy when my boss said I could work full-time once I graduated, since I was completely freaking out about what I was going to do to support myself. I think I started working before I even graduated from school- I had to take a day off to go to my graduation ceremony.

I’ve pretty much always had some kind of full time job in addition to making art, and that’s a decision that I’ve very deliberately made. I don’t think there’s anything romantic or inspiring about the whole stereotypical “starving artist” thing. I have a pretty low tolerance for uncertainty and stress, so I can’t imagine that worrying about if I can make rent every month and fretting over the number of things I've sold or not sold would make me a better artist. I’ve always been afraid that depending on my art as my sole means of income would make it stressful, which would be awful since making art is one of the great pleasures of my life. So far things have worked out well enough. I like having the extra income from art sales and freelance work, and sometimes I do think about the possibility of trying to support myself entirely with that but I'm a long way away from that being feasible or even desirable. The main drawback to having a regular full time job is sometimes feeling that I lack enough time to focus on my art, but it’s just a matter of making efficient use of what time I do have. Luckily I seem to do well without very much sleep.

Have you had any careers not related to art?
Yes, the publishing job. It was fine when I started out there, when I thought of it as just a "job" and not as a "career." It was something I did for money to support my art. But I was there for a while and did a good job so I kept getting promoted, which normally people think is a good thing. But it actually caused me a lot of stress, because I felt things shifting from a "job" to a "career" and I didn't want that. I felt like if you're in a management position in a certain field, then that's what your primary thing is, and anything else you do is just on the side like a hobby, and I wanted it to be the other way around. It was a good job that I liked for the most part, and I worked with some really great people, and I did get to use my design skills sometimes, so it was very difficult to leave. But I knew that I was not on the right path and was increasingly miserable. I decided I wanted to find a job that was more specifically art-related so I wouldn't have so much of an identity crisis about what my focus was. I got really lucky with a design position opening at Penn at just the right time. I was worried at first that doing creative work all day would leave me with little energy for my own projects, but if anything the opposite is true- it all kind of feeds into each other.

Do you consider yourself an artist who works with contemporary social issues?
Not really, not overtly or deliberately anyway. When I make something, it’s never like “I’m going to make a painting about X.” My process is more intuitive, experimenting as I go and letting a piece develop even in different directions than I might have expected. When it’s right, when something is working, I know it somehow. There are a number of social issues that I am interested in, which may seep into my work. I’m sure some of my images, particularly the landscapes, could be read as commentaries on post-industrial urban decay or environmental destruction or something, but it’s not deliberate. I like leaving things open for interpretation rather than being obvious about what something is supposed to mean.

What are your goals? What are your plans for the future?
Right now I'm focusing on making some new work, new paper collages and watchpart jewelry. Things have been a little slow on Etsy lately, and it's so easy to get too wound up in the numbers, the "oh no, I've only sold X this month!" When I start getting like that I know it's time to step away from the business stuff and just focus on making stuff. That's why I choose to have most of my income come from elsewhere, so I can do that. Overall I feel like I'm in a pretty good place and I'm happy with how things are going so I'm not making any radical changes to what I'm doing. I hope to add shopping functionality to my own site soon, and maybe take on some more freelance design work. I'll probably look for more local shows to sell at and also new shops to consign work with. I have a bunch of half-finished projects sitting around- magnets and coasters, tons of unfinished collages...

What are you currently reading?
I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. I love a good post-apocalypse story, but I wasn't blown away by The Road. It was ok, but I didn't love it. Lahiri is one of my favorite writers- most of her stories are about immigrant families from India, but even though they are about this very specific set of people, they are also about human relationships in general, love and loss and difficult circumstances. She has a lovely way of conveying all these tiny details of life and describing things, which I've also noticed in the work of other Indian writers such as Arundhati Roy. I don't know if it's a cultural thing or a language thing or what, but I like it.

I just started reading The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro. I wanted to get his Remains of the Day since I'm on a mission to read all the Booker Prize winners, but the library didn't have it. I like reading one non-fiction book and one fiction book simultaneously. I'm about to start on a book called Maps of the Mind: Charts and Concepts of the Mind and its Labyrinths." I picked it up from the free book pile at my job. It looks really interesting- illustrations and explanations of different historical and modern conceptions of how the human mind operates. I like reading things from all different fields- science and philosophy and history, whatever catches my eye.

What are you listening to?
Right now I'm listening repeatedly to the soundtrack to a computer game called Neotokyo. It's by an Australian composer, Ed Harrison. It's really excellent music that stands on its own apart from the game. It's mostly electronic, but has live vocals and instruments including violin, which I'm a sucker for since I play violin (badly!) myself. I mostly like instrumental electronic music, multi-layered, complex, and beautiful, and this definitely fits those criteria. It's the perfect music to paint to!

What’s on your mind lately?
Thinking about how I define artistic success for myself, because I'm not sure that the standard American equation of success equals fame and fortune really works for me. By the standard definition most artists are "failures" so I think we really need to rethink that. I think that success has something more to do with living a meaningful life and producing the work that you need and want to produce, but I'm still trying to formulate exactly what that definition is and how to implement it.

I just started a new non-art project for my blog, where I'm going through all my underused cookbooks one by one and making each and every recipe...should be fun and interesting...I love cooking, it's another creative outlet that is strictly a hobby. In the past I toyed with the idea of pursuing cooking as a career, but again I ran into the same problem that I'd lose the pleasure of just cooking for my own enjoyment if I made it my job!

Do you have any upcoming shows/ exhibits?
Yes, I'll be at InLiquid's Art for the Cash Poor at the Crane Arts Building on June 13-14. AFTCP is absolutely my favorite event to participate in, and this will be my fourth year. It's always a lot of fun and has a great mix of artists. I always have to exercise a lot of restraint to not spend everything I make on other people's art! I always buy something though, because it gets boring having nothing but your own art on your walls.

Jen McCleary's Website & Etsy Shop.

Mark Mattson Q&A

2009-05-27T11:35:00.029-05:00

What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

Well, first and foremost, I'd have to say it started with my parents. I'd spend countless hours in any museum possible with my parents; art's never not been around in my life, I suppose. My mom is an artist, among other things, and my dad really is, too, though he practiced architecture, and it's something I always took for granted, that art is everywhere, or at least was around us. I'd draw naked portraits of people in kindergarten, because of all those naked baby angel portraits floating around the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, and of all the nude portraits in books that I'd see. I didn't get into painting until high school, where, thankfully I had some fantastic teachers, worked on film, video, animation, illustration, design and painting in college, and have generally been making work steadily the whole darn time, really. I'd also probably still like to be a Berke Breathed/Bill Watterson/Charles Schulz hybrid-beast, who also paints.

Some professional gigs I've had, and still do, include kids' book art director, advertising art director, product designer, video game designer, illustrator, muralist, and interactive designer. I've made many products containing Elmo and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many products containing licensed characters of whom I will not mention. I would love to be that guy who gets to put his signature on every product in the universe that contains his own licensed character, no matter what product it is, but this has not happened yet. I am super-contact-able, however.

How would you describe your work?

I tend to boil down what I do lately as "things that should not have faces, but with faces."

Like, anthropomorphic versions of pretty much anything that speaks to me in its special humanized, anthropomorphic way. I think mostly I deal with relationships, and nuance, and miscommunication, and things not said, between people, or ketchup bottles, or whatever, and with subtly-expressed desire. Sometimes I'll say "Pop Surrealism", just for fun. Robert Williams said of that "cartoon-tainted abstract surrealism", which I like. He didn't say that of me, he's never heard of me, but he said that of the movement. Subtle heartbreak and terrific whimsy. But fun. How about that?

Have you studied art in school? What did you like best about the school you attended? What advice would you give to anyone considering going to school vs. doing it on their own?

I graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design, where I studied illustration, painting, and design. I also went to arts-centered junior highs and high schools, Stivers and Colonel White, in Ohio; and I went for a time to NYU for animation. I attend lots of kids' book conferences, and video game conferences, too, where I take a lot of classes, still. Classes are fun!

The best thing about CCAD was to be able to focus, all the time, on art, and not be so stuck in my own brain all the time about it, which is a serious danger to anyone making anything. Everybody, or at least most everybody "gets it", that act of art-making, and it's not an anomaly that you seriously want to study something that the rest of the country probably thinks is bizarre and/or essentially unnecessary to everyday life. Dang, did I just say that for most of America? Edit that in post. I had some fantastic teachers in college as well; especially the ones that most students probably thought were bonkers.

Well, it's not like you "need" an art degree to do art, but, for me, college was like a 24-hour master class of art and art history, with like-minded people, giving me perspectives and ideas that wouldn't have come from staring at myself in the mirror 24/7. I do plenty of that now, and it's really no good for anybody. No, but, being anything creative can be incredibly isolating, and getting a network of folks from school is an awesome first step to not going crazy. No guarantee, but still.

How have you been influenced by the art community? Who/ what inspires you?

As far as inspiration: children's television and literature, pop and contemporary art, video games, mass-market mail order catalogs, pictures of food, french comics, all-ages comics, educational filmstrips, New Yorker cartoonists, the Nintendo universe, humor writing, music. I get a lot from studying every parking lot in every strip mall in America, and highways, too. Night-time artificial lighting is intoxicating.

Going to galleries and museums really helps, because I'm in the same space as the work, which is hugely important to understanding my own relationship to it. And talking to people in the art community is hugely important, again, just to get out of my own stupid brain for a while, you know? No creative vacuums, fer cryin' out loud, which is something I always have to remind myself.

Do you have a career/ job (other than the art you create independently)?

I'm also an illustrator, game artist-designer, and full-time-dad to an amazingly amazing five-year-old.

Have you had any careers not related to art?

Not really, I guess; for a few years during and after college, I worked in a library, when I was avoiding the real world for as long as I could, but I was still making stuff on my own.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

This is one of the hardest parts, right? How in the heck does one handle that kind of thing? I, as many folks might tell you, am almost entirely right-brained, so that stuff came the slowest to me, as I'm sure it does to a lot of creative folk. I've always hated selling things, even when I was kid, it's all like door-to-door fund-raising to me. I should probably get an agent. Again, I am super-contact-able, all you art super-agents out there.

That said, I have as much online presence as possible; I maintain a blog (mattsonStudio.blogspot.com), a more illustration-based website (www.roxmedia.com/mattson), an Etsy Shop (mattson.etsy.com), a t-shirt and merchandise shop (zazzle.com/mattsonstudio), and I'm on Twitter and Facebook, and Digg, and Technorati, and all of that stuff, just to make sure I pop up in as many searches as possible, and to try and reach folks, you know? It's been so awesome to get to know people all around the world via internet means, through forums, and social media, and all of that; it's really gratifying, and it's really opened up a great way to reach people not in my zip code. But I love my zip code, too, no, really, 19119, I truly do.

It's also really helped getting involved with local creative groups as well: The Handmade Philly Team is amazing, and fun, and talented, and inspirational. It takes an art village, you know?

I hand out a lot of business cards, and flyers, and try to go to a lot of conferences, which I usually find completely worth it, for a lot of reasons, too. I'm aspiring to be a lot more awesome with my guerrilla marketing methods, as well, and, yes, I'm officially registered as a business now, with paperwork proof, and everything; thanks a lot, Philadelphia city business tax, you're awesome, no really.

What are your goals? What are your plans for the future?

I only want to work on terrific projects, no matter what they are, and I want to be able to do that: I want not to be bitter at the end of my life.

Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?

I always pretend that I am an electronic music composer, but that's probably another story. I always write, which I also love. I've done a fair amount of collaboration; I find it really rewarding, in general. Filmmaking is a totally collaborative process, as is game-making, and book-making. I'm always trying to collaborate on comedy projects, with varying degrees of completion, i.e., none.

I co-made a wacky art publication in college, called "Stir", which I loved doing, thanks, CCAD, for the opportunity, and I've embarrassed myself numerous times with my songwriting collaborations. Again, another story. I'm game for anything cool, though.

What was one of the most memorable projects you've worked on?

Wow, I've gotten to work on some incredible projects, and I hope the best is still in my future, not in my "Diff'rent Strokes" past, sorry child cast of "Diff'rent Strokes", I mean no disrespect. Most infamous, perhaps, draw your own conclusions as to the quality and relative happy memory quantity of said projects, were making illustrated books starring "The Wiggles", and "Jay Jay the Jet Plane." End comment.

What are the biggest changes you've seen in the art world since you got involved? Where do you see the art industry going in 5 years? 10 years?

Um, this always depends; I've worked in different industries, of which some are dying and thriving at different intervals...I have no idea, really; I guess the constant wane of the print industry is always on the table, though. Illustration contracts seem cruddier now, maybe. Art was always hard, and it still is, and where are the answers?! Where!? Wherrrrrrre???!!! I wish I knew, but I think art will always matter.

Favorite painter/ artist:

Wow, this is like the hardest thing anyone can ever ask me; not even artists, just name your favorite anything, and I become a super stupid person; it's just how my mind works, I'm awful at any kind of favorite list-giving, whereas then I just seem completely without opinion, but really, I'm just completely and entirely daft with names, when asked directly. Really sucks at parties, when asked, like, biggest celebrity crushes, or something.

But, OK: I think if Ed Ruscha, James Marshall, Claes Oldenburg, Arnold Lobel, Philip Guston, Tom Wesselman, Louis Trondheim, Anselm Kiefer, Ed Keinholtz, Charles Schulz, Rosemary Wells and Robert Altman were hybridded into a science fiction mega-human, that would be the most amazing person who ever lived, at least creatively. This is where writing interview answers really helps. If I had to pick only one, I guess I'd go with Ruscha.

What are you currently reading?

Right now I'm reading "Broken Angels", a sci-fi/noir follow-up to "Altered Carbon", by Richard K. Morgan. I'm always re-reading "The House with a Clock in its Walls", because I love it, love it, love it. I'm usually reading several books at once, because of my rapidly deteriorating attention span, and I love reading The New York Times and The New Yorker.

I'm also always reading six thousand children's books, both for my daughter's sake, and my own personal obsession. If it weren't for the children's section of The Free Library of Philadelphia, we'd owe millions upon millions of dollars, just to support our kids' book habit in the house.

Is there a book that has strongly influenced you?

"The Runaway Dinner" kills me every time I read it, which is a lot. It's by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman. I think anything I read by James Marshall or Arnold Lobel is a miracle of ink and paper, and I can't believe it, they are so fantastic.

What are you listening to?

Everything, curse you, so appealing "Shuffle Songs" Mode, eating my precious remaining attention span.

I'm currently really, really into M.I.A., Tim Fite, Andrew Bird, Talking Heads (still), and Lupe Fiasco, though.

Websites:
http://www.roxmedia.com/mattson
http://mattson.etsy.com/
http://mattsonstudio.blogspot.com/

http://zazzle.com/mattsonstudio

Angela Davidson Q&A

2009-05-21T17:02:00.007-05:00

What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

My mom says I was born with a crayon in my hand. I don't remember not being involved with art.

How would you describe your work?

I do all kinds of things, including painting, but the last couple of years I've been focused on making original crocheted creatures. I would describe them as whimsical, colorful, humorous, and occasionally demented.

Have you studied art in school? What did you like best about the school you attended? What advice would you give to anyone considering going to school vs. doing it on their own?

I went to University of the Arts and majored in painting and drawing for my undergrad. I loved being part of such a diverse artistic community. I would advise someone considering art school that you absolutely must be self motivated and self driven, otherwise you are unlikely to get anything out of art school besides massive debt.

How have you been influenced by the art community? Who/ what inspires you?

There's a big difference between the art community and the crafts community. Both are a source of inspiration, but I have found the crafts community to be much more supportive. I love going to craft shows to see what other people are doing. I am also a little bit obsessed with street art- I love the color and the freedom of it. Most of my favorite art comes from people who haven't been corrupted by art school.

Do you have a career/ job (other than the art you create independently)?

I'm currently in graduate school at UArts, studying art education.

Have you had any careers not related to art?

I waited tables for several years, I worked at Whole Foods for a while, and a few other soul-sucking tedious and torturous jobs…

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

It's always hard to put a price tag on something that you put your heart and soul into. But I am learning as I go.

What are your goals? What are your plans for the future?

I'm not much of a planner. I can hardly see past this afternoon. If you're not stuck to a plan, the possibilities are endless and you'll never be disappointed.

Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?

Not so much. When I'm really involved with a project, I have tunnel vision until it's completed.

What was one of the most memorable projects you've worked on?

Recently, the crocheted giant squids, especially Big Al.

What are the biggest changes you've seen in the art world since you got involved?

I would have to say technology has had an enormous impact for artists, for both creating and marketing. I see the digital realm taking over more and more and I have to say I'm a little bit scared.

Favorite painter/ artist:

Definitely Frida Kahlo.

Is there a book that has strongly influenced you?

Ummmm… not really. If I had to pick one, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Nothing beats a really great epic novel.

What are you listening to?

I'm obsessed with the John Butler Trio right now. Other than that, I'm pretty much stuck in the 90s. Pearl Jam and Ani DiFranco will always be number one in my heart.

Website: AngDavidson.etsy.com

Allison Ostertag Q&A

2009-05-13T16:36:00.031-05:00

Allison Ostertag is a photographer, painter and a non-practicing ceramic sculptor. By day she teaches inner city adolescents how to run fruit stands and about basic nutrition. In her spare time, she's a coordinator for Handmade Philly and has been an Etsy seller since 2007.

I understand you were born in Philadelphia? Yes. I grew up in Overbrook in West Philadelphia and lived here until college, when I moved away to Alfred, NY, a very small college town in rural Western New York that has a fantastic ceramics program and I studied ceramics and photography. I also lived in St. George, Utah and New Orleans, LA and taught adult education and high school art and photography.

What did your parents do for a living? My dad is retired from the recreation department where he ran centers around the city and refereed basketball games, played in volleyball leagues, ran summer camp programs and let me teach art on and off starting when I was 14. Now he volunteers full time for his neighborhood church. My mom is a therapist, but she was a teacher for many years, then got her master's in social work and worked with children with special needs, then started therapy with families of police officers and firemen probably 10 years ago.

What was it like for you growing up? My childhood was crazy and nice. I'm reading Augusten Burroughs' "Running with Scissors" right now, and it reasonates a lot with me. My childhood and adolescence wasn't quite so crazy and berzerker, but it was far from normal. I did get to go to great schools that had programs supporting my art interests, including working with Susan Rodriquez, a renowned teacher and author with a doctorate in art who teaches at the University of the Arts and happened to teach at my elementary school.

Were you involved with the arts as a child? I know I painted in preschool when I was 4 or 5 and I don't think I ever stopped. I wanted to be a famous artist with a studio in New York. We kept sketchbooks for my art classes and painted and drew and we got to take photographs of our school with borrowed plastic cameras. We took trips to the art museum and the fabric workshop. I still have all of my sketchbooks.

How would you describe your photos? Your paintings? My photos are like alien documents to send back to the home planet. I want to see everything. They are a great way to get me outside. They are like an excuse to go exploring in the woods and travel and grow creatively. I'm starting a new series of photographs of tablescapes of food that I cook and eat, kind of combining my day work and art work. My paintings were purely started as therapy to chill out after the daily stress of teaching. I started buying cheesy paint by number kits that I thought would be funny, lighthouses and palm trees with sunsets, then I transitioned to painting on wood I found in the trash; pictures from house and garden type magazines found on recycling day in New Orleans' garden district. I love saturated bright colors and these magazines were filled with them and I painted simple compositions and shapes from the magazines. I enjoy painting.

Tell us about your education…what did you study? I went to Alfred, where they expect all students to learn many disciplines before concentrating on an area of study for their senior thesis, and even then I had a dual show of ceramic sculpture and photography made into sculptures with plexi and wood. They make everyone study what I would call "how to make things well" freshman year, which I wasn't prepared for, so I just struggled until the semester was over. Then they actually started teaching us specific things. That time was beneficial; it prepared me to think in the time between high school and college.

How have you been influenced by the art community? Who/ what inspires you? I love art and many artists and I enjoy seeing museum shows and gallery openings and meeting other artists, but the formal art community is a bit too pompous for me. It's like an insular group that brainwashes its members into following specific rules. The handmade movement, though, is more where I see myself, people who don't look down their noses at your art and know there aren't any rules and there's no reason why we can't be supportive of each other and work collectively. When I first joined the Philly Etsy Team (now Handmade Philly), I was thinking it was like Womanhouse in Fresno in the 70's and we were breaking all the ideas about how artists could work together and help each other meet our artistic and personal goals and those two things could go together, personal didn't have to be set aside for art, they could coexist and intertwine. I love this group and all of the people I've met through it.

If you were going to have a career other than art, what would it be? I'd like to teach science, be an archeologist or a CSI or detective.

Do you consider yourself an artist who works with contemporary social issues? Not at all. I was never good at political art. I've dabbled at sculptures of recycled coffee cups and thoughts of instillations of all my personal trash for a year and personal/emotional self-portraiture, but I don't feel like pushing my point of view on others. I am photographing natural spaces and animals I think need to be appreciated, enjoyed and expanded. If you like a beautiful picture of a landscape, and you then find out it's a public park and go visit and discover the beauty for yourself, that's going to lead you to help preserve that space.

What are you listening to? This American Life on NPR.

Do you have any upcoming shows/ exhibits? I'm showing my photographs and photo collages of Fairmount details and storefronts right now at Rembrandt's Restaurant in the Z Café. The exhibit is on display until May 31, when we are having a closing reception. Check out my blog for details: http://www.phillytravelnaturephoto.blogspot.com/

City Slides Q&A

2009-05-07T10:48:00.013-05:00

According to my sources, Drew, you rode your bicycle from Baltimore to Philadelphia last weekend. Tell us a little about the trip.

The trip was pretty exciting for me. I got rid of my car and have been riding my bike everywhere for about three years. This trip was kind of the pinnacle of all that riding. I did it on my fixed gear Bianchi, so I am pretty proud of that (100 miles on a fixie is no joke). As far as the actual trip went, the first 50 miles was a lot of fun. Maryland has some beautiful stuff going on, and the Conowingo Damn is pretty awesome. The last 50 miles was a different trip, it was more about survival. I started getting some serious pains in my elbows and shoulders and had to make some adjustments to my bike in order to endure. Also, route 1 is basically a highway complete with exit ramps and tractor-trailers. It wasn’t your Sunday ride in the county (what we call the country side in Baltimore). I saw a lot of mono-cropping farms along the way. Lots of small towns doing their thing and that’s always good to see. All of the cops along the way smiled and made me feel good. There were also share the road signs the entire trip so I felt safer knowing that. Seeing the Philly skyline from the top of a hill in Media was like Dorothy seeing the Emerald City. I did it, am proud of that, and encourage everyone to get on a bike and get moving.

City Slides is a Baltimore based band. Tell us a little about the city and surrounding areas (Hampden, etc).

(Drew) Baltimore has adopted me with its big beautiful arms. I am from Gloucester City, NJ (across the Walt Whitman Bridge, next to Camden) and moved down here about 3 1/2 years ago for a job and girl. I lost the girl, but still have the job, so it’s all good. Baltimore is the city of neighborhoods. I live in Remington, kind of an in-between neighborhood. We still have our crime and all, but it’s getting a lot better. I live with songwriter MacGregor Burns and local rock-violin legend the VCR. If you’ve ever seen the Food Network show Ace of Cakes, I live a block south of that place. I moved here from Hampden, the quirky artsy sceney neighborhood north of Remington. I loved Hampden, and would def. go back, but the stars have placed me here. We actually do a pretty regular gig in Hampden on the “Avenue.” We busk outside, probably our favorite thing to do, and maybe the thing we are known for the most. Unlike a lot of other cities Baltimore’s street performing scene is small. Except for the performers down on the harbor doing their thing you don’t see much. I do, however, feel that is about to change. We are actually going to be busking the Station North Arts Festival this coming Saturday with a bunch of our friends. It’s complete freedom, it’s what the music we play is all about, if you consider us a folk band.

John lives in Govans, and has an amazing garden and raises bees. He lives with his many cats and dog, and beautiful wife, Lesley. John and Lesley are amazing people. Their home has felt like home since day one. They have that remarkable ability to make you feel welcome and relaxed immediately. John has been a huge influence on me as a human being. He has also helped my confidence; he really gets behind me when I come up with new ideas, or bring old ones out of storage.

Patrick and Atom live in a cozy neighborhood called Hamilton. Hamilton is the shit. Great art; bars; people. Almost all of my friends live in Hamilton, and if I had a family I’d take care of them there. The gardens that Atom and Patrick maintain there are top notch. You really have no idea, you’d have to come to experience. The local spirit in Baltimore is amazingly strong. I have never felt such strong support for local ideas anywhere else in my life. Hamilton encompasses all of this.

Tell us a little about each member of the band.

None of us owns a TV set. Okay, I’m Drew. I write the songs, sing the songs, and play harmonica. I am 26 years old and this is the 5th band I have been in. My previous bands primarily being punk bands, and of course a member of the legendary Baltimore band Good Guise. I am a strict vegetarian and bike advocate. I am currently involved in the urban gardening movement in Baltimore. I also cook, and organize events around the city. I definitely tell the worst jokes in the band, but make up for it with my serious winter beard.

Patrick- You can find Patrick in a tree or dancing to good music. He likes talking and listening too. Patrick whistles with the birds and barks at the dogs. He plays accordion in Cityslides and has been playing with the guys since Good Guise. As a retired classical pianist, Patrick enjoys cleaning for others and rockin’ epic reggae jams on concert grand pianos.

Decker- I'm 58, married to Leslie, born and lived in Baltimore, play a 1933 National Resonator guitar, I cut some fingers off my left hand Oct. 07 so now I have to use a bottleneck, I try to stay engaged with family community, do no harm and such.

Atom- Adam loves cheese and he does small things on a large scale. He is about to get hitched on an island this harvest season. He is a maker of many things and has many on-going experiments. As a retired falafel chef, he spends his days gardening in Baltimore city and rearranging rocks. Adam likes to write songs on guitar and in City Slides he plays the bass.

Describe the music you write, record, and perform.

Our music is “streetgrass.” We aren’t schooled in playing any type of traditional music, and what we come up with comes straight out of our psyches. Therefore, we reflect our individual experiences and surroundings. Our songs all come from our work, whether it be gardens, children, biking, friends, family, the world from the radio news, it goes in the brain waves and comes out music waves. In the true spirit of localvorism we keep our sounds close to home. I am hugely influenced by two main artists: Propagandhi (Canada progressive thrash) and Bob Dylan. I want to take on the social ills of society in a poetic way. Crafting words that intrigue and, if successful, cause listeners to be proactive. I only write when I am inspired, which is hard to come by, but is never dry. Music for me has always been a way of inspiring people, and a cause for change. It’s not a new idea. My songs come from something I cannot explain and don’t even think about that much. I never try to write a song, it’s either there or it isn’t. As for recording, we haven’t gotten there yet. I do some stuff in my room on Garageband just so I can throw it up on Myspace so people can have an idea of what we are all about. We’d love to record, but are waiting for the right time. Performance is another thing totally. We are all very uniquely different and that is ever present in our performance. Right now we are very focused on doing original material that speaks of who we are, and what we are all about. It’ll show, come see us.

Who designs the art for your CDs and flyers for your shows?

Various friends. We have the best friends, everyone is quite amazing. I am working with Philadelphia artist Emily Andrews for our CD cover. It’s getting there. I actually did a flyer today for a show we have coming up. Mike Clarke (commonseed.org) did this amazing poster for this huge event we just held called the Urb Ag Gala, or urbagala, for short.

Have you had any careers not related to music?

We are all Renaissance men. (Drew) I am a teacher currently, teaching cooking and nutrition. I have worked in demolition, fence installation, dishwashing, landscaping, ticket-taking, web design. You name it, I’ve probably done it.

Patrick- piano teacher, house painting, construction, sculpture, landscaping, gardening, cleaning, organizing...

Atom- Stone Mason, Gardner, Chef, Recycling yard worker, Consultant… I have never had a career related to music (taxable income).

Decker- I worked for Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus for 36 years doing building maintance, doing work for folks when they cant't afford contractors, grow plants, rob bees and putz

What are your goals, musically?

(Drew) All I want to do musically is discover my innermost artist, and never let anything get in the way of that. I just want to write the best songs I can write, and have fun doing it. I take it pretty damn serious, but am able to laugh at myself along the way. I’d like to sell out the 2640 space as a headlining group, and meet Bob Dylan (already met Propagandhi). Play for those who will listen, and that’s about it. I’d love to be in the position where I could write songs all day if I wanted. I’ll wake up in the morning and start something, then have to go to work and lose it, which kinda sucks.

Patrick- I enjoy when we connect with the music so tight that we are one mind; flowing and growing together. I think it’s cool when this can extend to our audience, especially when we play on the street!

Atom- keep it interesting and edgy without being obnoxious and preachy.

Decker- I provide the dirt and then watch it grow, my responsibility is to do my best to support whoever is putting themselves up front, I'm honored to stand with these fellows, Drew is a powerful poet and he's growing rapidly as a songwriter, Atom is pretty much a legend within our circle with his creative nature, I sense the potential for some amazing art and relational growth reflected in our music.

Do you have side projects you work on?

Drew- no, but I do poetry and short stories.

Patrick- I have been teaching piano at a music school part time for about four years. I would like to write individualized curriculum for each student I teach. In this way, my students could get valuable customized attention. This means I need to learn all styles of music for piano; classical, jazz, reggae, blues, honky-tonk, etc. I have been recently bartering with a private piano student for cooking lessons. This has been a very unique experience I would like to cultivate. I write words and create music. One day the two will merge as one.

Atom- Yes…..good guise band, solo stuff- Atom Fisher

Decker- I play with some folks from my Church, we get down with the Lord from time to time for special music

Favorite lyrics to a song?

Drew- my song? My favorite lyric is from For Rebecca, “It’s all in the same sentence, the beauty of remembrance.” That line is all about letting your guard down and letting love come flowing into your life, but love can be like a sentence and ends in different ways sometimes; exclamations, question, or just periods. I wonder if the person I wrote that for has ever heard it. As far as other lines go. I’d have to go with Dylan, “The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face.” Beautifully poetic. The kind of poetry where you know what he’s saying without thinking, but have no idea what he’s saying when you do stop to think.

What are you currently reading?

Drew- Jesus, I am an addicted reader. Let’s see, luckily I am by my bed and my books are here. Finishing Seedfolks and A Confederacy of Dunces, picking at Rimbaud’s work and Vonnegut’s Bagambo Snuff Box (short stories). About to get into American Fascists and Finnegan’s Wake (a present).

Patrick- Holy Bible, Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, how to fix your bicycle by helen garvy, Art & Physics by Leonard Shlain. Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss.

Is there anything that you would like to share with our readers?

Drew- Destroy your TV, get a bike, plant a garden, elect yourself, write a song, make your way to the Gawdenyu!

Atom- Things are looking up. This “economic crisis” will breath life back into people, forcing us to live in community again.

Patrick- climb a tree... or dance... or both... at once!

Decker- Stay connected to your passion and respond to those things that are written on your hearts with an honorable pursuit

Website: www.myspace.com/cityslides

Morgan Craig

2009-03-17T17:26:00.016-05:00

What is your background?
I was born in a suburb of Philadelphia. As a child, my family moved around, only to end up back in the Philadelphia area. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, which began with a paper route at 11, and led to my working full time throughout my high school and college years. I believe this has helped both with my development as a painter, and the formation of a cohesive body of work.

How would you describe your work?
The relationship between the interiors of buildings and the psychological makeup of the soul of man continue to be the fulcrum of my concept. For me, the interior of each edifice represents a multitude of semiotic messages written by the inexorable hand of time. In reality, buildings are as ephemeral as the ever-changing landscape, and the human form, prey to the vicissitudes of existence.

You’ve been to Chernobyl in Ukraine. Tell us a little about this trip. What series of events lead to you taking this trip?
The Ukraine was a welcome sojourn from my daily existence in the occident. The trip provided me with an abundance of subject matter, as well as an experience I will never forget. Standing atop a high rise in the middle of an abandoned city, can be a truly overwhelming experience. It was very hard to remain focused on the task at hand-gathering source material-and not become engulfed by all of what had happened in the Zone of Exclusion. My heart goes out to all of those who perished, suffered, and continue to suffer because of man, his avarice, and his insatiable thirst for power.

Tell us about a memorable experience you’ve had…
When evaluating a building, always make sure that it is unoccupied. Early one Thanksgiving morning, many moons ago, I received quite a surprise, when two men with cell phones came barreling out of a building.
I had been considering the structure’s potential for quite some time. Because of its close proximity to a thriving-well, I don’t know if thriving would be the best word to describe it, but let us remain positive-neighborhood, I felt it was best to attempt to gain access at an early hour, on a holiday. I surmised that most would still be fast asleep. My girlfriend was filming a documentary of my process, and thus decided to tag along. I brought along my mastiff, Tolstoy, as well.

We were out of the car for no more than 5 minutes, when the men appeared. Lucid, I remained. Any sense of panic would have caused more of a mess. Calmly, I explained to the apparent “man in charge” my intent. After allaying any fears he had of my vandalizing the building, he proceeded to tell me a tale of schizophrenia, drug addiction, and living in an amalgam of buses. I was denied access, but the tale he wove was worth the foiled attempt.

Do you have any other trips planned? I have a few trips in development, but nothing is indelible.
What about industrial decay appeals to you? The amount of abstraction within a subject deemed representational; the relationship between something manmade, and the elements that Mother Nature has at her disposal; the ability to toy with fact and fiction weft together by the irrefragable hands of time. Structure is metaphor.

What advice would you give to anyone considering going to school vs. independent study?

School provides a framework which forces one to produce, or fail. Unless you have incredible drive, independent study can lead to indolence.

Tell us a little about your experiences as an art teacher.

I could write a book, no, make it a several volume set. I think we will leave it at that.

Have you had any other careers, related (or not related) to art?

I briefly worked for a now defunct magazine.

How do you stay involved with Philadelphia’s art community? Are you a member of any local arts organizations?

I’m a bit of a recluse, and, at times, rather socially inept, therefore, I find myself to be somewhat removed from the Philadelphia art community. I have rather incendiary opinions about some of those individuals involved in Philadelphia’s “art” community that, for the sake of singing your reader’s ears, I will keep to myself.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
At the nascent point in my career, I had a fortuitous bit of good fortune: I was able to sell several paintings on my own. I was grateful, but had the prescience to know that I needed to find gallery representation. I have received a tremendous amount of support from the two galleries that currently represent me: Wexler and Lawrence Asher.

I have also had some experiences with galleries and individuals who were duplicitous, and engage in a variety of subterfuge. Fortunately, I was privy to their game, either through friends, people who had already fallen prey to their deceptive ways, or my own intuition. Needless to say, I cannot name the aforementioned parties, as I would risk legal action. Suffice it to say, when journeying through the bowels of the art world, one must tread carefully.

What are your goals? What are your plans for the future?

One of my goals has been, and continues to be to remain relevant to the discourse of contemporary art. I would also like to see my work continue to evolve, be it in size, scope, direction, or concept. The future is so unpredictable…

There are some inherent risks involved with exploring abandoned buildings and structures. Do you have a list of items you bring with you when visiting a new site (rope, rappelling hooks, flares, etc)?
(laughter) Some things are better left unsaid…

What are you currently reading? The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn.

Books that have strongly influenced you?

Celine’s Journey to the Edge of the Night, Proust’s 7 volumes of Remembrance of Things Past, Cioran’s A Short History Of Decay, various works by Russian writers including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Gogol, the existentialists, Lefebvre, Bulgakov, and countless others. Literature has always been a significant part of my life and work.

Is there anything that you would like to share with our readers?

The George T. Stagg and the Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year are some of the best bourbons I have ever tasted. I recommend that you seek them out, and have a taste for yourself.

Do you have any upcoming exhibits? I am involved in a group show in Reading, PA. There are a few more in the works, but nothing definite.

Website: http://www.morgancraig.org/

Check out Morgan's current exhibit at the Wexler Gallery in Philadelphia. Show runs from March 6 – April 25, 2009.

Sonya Berlovitz

2009-03-09T21:50:00.011-05:00

What is your background? How did you get involved with theatrical costume creation? I grew up in the theatre. My dad was an amateur actor and my mom was a professional seamstress. They both encouraged my involvement in Community Theater as a child actor. Throughout junior high and high school I sewed most of my own clothes. As a young adult I was able to start sewing for a theatre company run by my sister and three other artists – they gave me my start in costume designing professionally.

How would you describe your work? Do you have an area of expertise/ specialty?
Many of my costumes have been constructed from several fabrics of the same color pieced together. For me this represents a kind of painting with fabric. Seams are sometimes left on the outside with raw edges showing, sometimes cutting across a costume at an odd angle so as to make the inner workings of a design visible to the eye, as if turning the process to the outside. I try to keep my designs fresh; unexpected; with details that sometimes surprise. I’d like the viewer to think of my costumes as a part of a theatre architecture that is revolving and evolving, never static. If I had to pick an area of expertise it would be in original works with a lot of movement.

Have you studied fashion design in school? What did you like best about the school you attended? What advice would you give to anyone considering going to school vs. doing it on their own? BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Certificate from La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. I loved La Chambre for the discipline it taught me and that is where I learned to drape. I loved the Art Institute for encouraging my individual artistic voice. Well, since I have done both (I went to the SAIC when I was 30) - If you’re going to go to school choose one that is in a city and has a program that you feel passionate about – then figure out a way to afford it. There is great value in doing it on your own, but having the luxury of time you get in a school to research and develop your skills is invaluable. It’s a gift everyone should have.

How have you been influenced by the theater/ fashion/ costume community? Film community? Who/ what inspires you? My background in fashion and painting has contributed strongly to my process. I often draw on both contemporary fashion and historical references as inspirations. By using this eclectic approach I believe I can speak more directly to the audience by giving them something with which to identify. I am constantly researching designers’ new collections; in particular the Japanese designers Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. I am strongly influenced by the poetry in their work. For any given production I will look at film and other theatres’ versions to see what kinds of interpretations have been made of a story. It’s a way for me to have an inner dialogue about the work.

Do you intend/ plan to continue to work in theatre? Do you see yourself working in film? Some other entertainment industry? Yes, I will always be working in theatre in some capacity. I have actually designed a few independent, lower budget films. I would like the chance to design another film, but since they usually require an overwhelming time commitment during a shoot, it’s often difficult to combine the two fields.

Have you had any careers not related to art? I have many times throughout my life taken on secondary jobs to supplement my income. Everything from waitressing to daycare.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist? It’s difficult. I am not naturally an aggressive person and I think you have to have a bit of that to make a good business out of your art. Although, I’ve been a costume designer for 29 years so in some regard I’ve succeeded.

What are your goals? What are your plans for the future? I am hoping to branch out into designing for more regional theaters outside of Minnesota. I would like to incorporate more travel into my work as I find it very regenerating and inspirational.

Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past? I am almost always working on commissions for clothing I’ve designed. More specifically, I am currently working on two wedding dresses, one for a woman who has written a script and will be presenting her ceremony in a theatre complete with extras.
As a costume designer I am always collaborating with other designers, the director, actors and technicians. My longest collaboration was with Theatre de la Jeune Lune of Minneapolis where I had designed over 50 productions – most of them directed by Dominique Serrand, one of the five founding members of the company.

What was one of the most memorable projects you’ve worked on? 1929 for Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis and Paris. It was the first production I designed and had a bigger cast than any project I’ve worked on since. More recently The Miser which was a co-production between American Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. It toured around the country for two years with largely the same cast. All of the elements, design, direction and actors were in complete harmony on that project.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the costume industry since you got involved? Where do you see the industry going in 5 years? 10 years? I’m probably aging myself by saying this, but younger designers today don’t seem as willing to work for little just to gain experience. There doesn’t seem to be as much value placed on the process.

Favorite painter/ artist: Some of my favorites: Sonia Delauney, Picasso, Matisse, Egon Schiele, Anselm Kiefer, Maira Kalman, David Coggins

What are you currently reading? Azar Nafisi’s “Things I’ve Been Silent About”

Is there a book that has strongly influenced you? “New Fashion Japan”

Sonya's Website: www.flickr.com/photos/sberlovitz/sets

Joe Duffey & Whatevers Clever

2009-02-20T17:46:00.031-05:00

Tell us a little about each member of the band.

Joe: I’m 27 and from the Olney section of Philly. I sing and play acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, jaw harp and kick drum. My wife Aria Mascaro (26) also sings and is now six months pregnant with our second baby. My brother Brendan Duffey (23) plays keys for the band. He plays bass lines with his left hand while filling out our overall sound with his right. Drew Saracco (21) is our drummer, bassist, and electric guitar player from Cheltenham. Each of our songs require a different set of Drew’s skills. He’s also the drummer in a band called Sports. Dan Gallagher (27) is from Bucks County and pretty much takes care of everything else that makes up our sound. He sings and plays guitar, mandolin, and banjo, depending on the song. Dan is also the lead singer and songwriter for the band Crow vs Lion. We’ve all known each other for many years but grew separately as musicians, only to come together in the end for the cause of making music.

How would you categorize the type of music you perform? What genre would you say it fits into?

Joe: Jack Firneno of Crow vs Lion once described our music as darkadelic chamber folk. Even though I’m not sure what that means, I think it pretty much explains it in a nutshell.

Dan: I'd say there are a couple of things that make our sound unique to a point where we don't necessarily fit into one genre. As a band I believe each of us feels that every song should be approached differently, meaning that there is no real formula to the way a song is put together.

Aria: I always say it’s a folky, rocky, alternativy, kinda jamboree…

Describe the music you write, record, and perform.

Joe: My lyrics are definitely dark, but our chord progressions and arrangements range anywhere from angry to jubilating. Our music is very sarcastic in a lot of ways. I write about wanting to escape reality, my contempt for conformity, my disappointment with humanity, and about being an atheist in a religious world. But our music still tends to make people happy because of the style and delivery. My words are very poetic and metaphoric, but I don’t write songs about love or sunsets. Overall we’re strict when it comes to writing for the sake of simplicity in terms of chord progressions and melodies, but due to the complexity of some of our recordings, we’re not really minimalists.

We record our music in Whatevers Clever Studio, which is actually my basement in Jenkintown. Most of the recordings were finished between 2006 and 2008 before the band was even formed. I write and record the majority of the music and then collaborate with my brother Brendan on piano parts and bass lines. Drew and Dan came in later to add some accents of their own. We record onto my laptop using Protools plugged in through the Mbox, simple as that. My basement is filled with different instruments and we try to get lost in the midst of them while we’re recording. The sound of our recordings could definitely be described as lo-fi. Recording with crappy mics and low quality equipment is what gave it that effect in the beginning, but as we’ve upgraded our studio we’ve tried to hold onto that basement sound and will continue to do so. I’ve always appreciated bands with a more rugged homemade sound.

Aria: If you listen closely, our son Grayson makes a few guest appearances cooing or crying in the background of the recordings. He would cry or shriek and we just thought, “Well he can be a part of all this too” and the recordings stuck.

Joe: Our live performances are more energetic than our recordings, and obviously more collaborative. Drew wrote all new drum parts for the live shows and plays with much more ferocity than what you hear on the album. And Dan brings a whole new style with his banjo, mandolin, and guitar than what I had originally recorded. I sit upfront with either my guitar or mandolin and play the kick drum while playing and singing. The heavy kick drum is prominent in both our recordings and our live shows, and me playing it enables Drew to be free to play bass lines or guitar solos when need be. It’s an unconventional set up, but we want it to feel like we’re just hanging out with the audience as if we were in their living room.

Who designs the art for your CDs and flyers for your shows?

Joe: I’ve been painting and writing poetry for as long as I can remember. So I put those skills to use in Photoshop when creating our ads and promos. I’m a do-it-yourself kind of person and having the band has given me all sorts of excuses to spend my free time writing and creating art. It’s a large part of why I love having the band; it’s like an endless art project.

What type of music did you grow up listening to?

Joe: I actually grew up on nothing but underground hip-hop. I was into groups like Dilated Peoples, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang, Jurassic 5, Mos Def, Talib Kwali, People under the Stairs, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Gang Star, Cool Keith, etc. It wasn’t until I discovered Modest Mouse, Interpol, The Shins, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Okkervil River, Kings of Leon, The White Stripes, and My Morning Jacket that I forgot about rap and dove into discovering new bands to the point of obsession. I now listen to an endless array of musical groups including Dr Dog, Man Man, The Avett Brothers, Langhorne Slim, Bright Eyes, Beirut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Devendra Banhart, DeVotchKa, The Decemberists, The Cave Singers, Ugly Casanovas, and many, many more.

Aria: And Joe opened my eyes to all new musicians starting the day we met, it was like someone showed me a world I didn’t know existed, I had pretty much always listened to classic rock: Led Zepplin, The Doors, Janis Joplin, etc.

Drew: I was kind of the opposite of Joe in this respect. Nirvana was my favorite band since I can remember and I grew up listening to all of the early 90’s grunge/indie rock (which is still probably my favorite music) like Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Pavement, Modest Mouse, etc. My father also raised me on your typical 60’s acts like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Pink Floyd. My two favorite time periods are definitely the 60’s and the 90’s but now I listen to a wide variety of music. At the moment I’ve been listening to: My Bloody Valentine, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, The Beach Boys, Grizzly Bear, Daniel Johnston, R. Stevie Moore, Mudhoney, Joy Division, The Rolling Stones, Atlas Sound, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Scratch Acid, The Vaselines, The Flaming Lips, and the list goes on. My favorite album of all time is “Loveless” by My Bloody Valentine.

Bee: Growing up, I was down with a lot of the stuff Joe would play on the boombox like Tribe, Common, and J5. Sublime, Cake, Gorillaz, Nas, The Flaming Lips, Allman Brothers and Gang Starr were early staples of my music diet. Saves the Day awkwardly got me through my awkward years. I love Radiohead. To this day, I always preferred instrumental music and listen to a few classical pianists like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. Being introduced to Modest Mouse (specifically, Lonesome Crowded West) marked the beginning of an enlightenment period for me in which I got to know a lot of my favorite music today, including The Beta Band, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Interpol, Man Man… Lately, I can’t get enough of Sound Tribe Sector 9.

Dan: When I was real young I heard a lot of Irish Folk, the only music my Dad ever listened to. Later I listened to Nirvana, Wu Tang, Tribe Called Quest, Lost Boyz, The Roots, White Stripes, Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, Beastie Boys, Sublime, The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, The Sweetheart Parade, Hezekiah Jones, Bright Eyes, Langhorne Slim, and countless other artists and songs.

Any plans to create a music video?

Joe: We’d definitely like to create a video for The Short Necked Giraffe. The lyrics are so vivid and obviously comical that we feel almost obligated to do so. Drew is in his senior year at Temple’s film school and he’s majoring in Cinematography so we’d be fools not to take advantage of his skills. Once he graduates in May we’ll start putting something together. But, once again, it’ll most likely be a do-it-yourself type of operation… I’m messing around with Flash now.

Aria: It’s gonna be awesome, I’ve already gotten a taste of what’s to come.

Have you had any careers not related to music?

Joe: As of now, I’m a dad and a marketer for a wholesale ribbon company. Before I decided to go to college when I was 23, I was an HVAC tech from the age of 19 until I graduated. Aria is a mom and a bookkeeper for a construction company. Aria: I have also worked for a small finance company, worked in food prep, and bartended. Joe: Drew is a clerk at a local video store and a film student at Tyler Art School. Brendan is a student at Catholic University in DC. Dan: Dan has a day job.

How have you handled the business side of being a musician? What are your goals, musically?

Joe: We know enough people in the city to fill up the venues that we play, and that family is growing every show. As long as people keep showing up to our gigs, we’ll continue to be able to book great venues. We’ve found that people are more than willing to help us find great places to play as long as we can bring out people to drink the beer. It’s pretty much all networking and if you’re polite and courteous to booking agents, owners, and sound guys, one gig will lead into the next pretty smoothly. Considering we’re an unsigned band that puts together CDs in my basement, there’s not much business involved. We’re really just trying to have fun with the music. I would say that my highest hopes for the band would be to one day share the stage with the likes of Man Man, Dr Dog, or Okkervil River. I can’t really think about anything cooler than that.

Dan: Yeah, that would be killer, another one of my goals for the band would be to play at some outdoor festivals; Philly Folk Fest would be a great time.

Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other musicians/ artists in the past?

Joe: I’ve produced and recorded music for a few friends: Louis Elliott and Bill Khoury of The Marments, Brian Givnish, Greg Bernt aka John Dillinger, Jared Costa, Adam 12 with The Small Businessmen, and of course Dan’s band Crow vs Lion. You can find all these guys on Myspace. I also put the ads together for The Philadelphia Independent Craft Market, which is run by my friend Julie Roboczi.

Drew: I am always involving myself in more projects than I can handle. I used to play guitar in a band called Ugh God and now play drums for a band called Sports. Before that I used to just make lots of noise on my own and call it “art.”

Dan - I write songs and play guitar and banjo in the band Crow vs Lion. Joe and I are thinking about doing some shows in between now and the summer while the band is on hiatus. I also collaborate with one of my band members, Jared Costa, who is a solo acoustic artist.

Brendan: I am a side project.

Have you studied music in school?

Joe: Nope. I did take a couple guitar lessons with a friend of a friend and studied piano theory growing up. Never really took it seriously until I was at least 22.

Drew: I tried. Well, I auditioned to get into Ithaca College’s music school but was rejected and I am actually happy that I was. Music is something that I enjoy playing with other people for fun and if it became part of my academic curriculum I would have lost my mind and probably my love of playing it. Since then I’ve been trying to forget all of the theory and technical stuff I’ve learned over the years.

Brendan: No, I took piano lessons from a young age, and made pretty slow progress until I was 14 and a friend of mine hooked me up with his teacher, who began training me in the Suzuki Method. My development as a musician progressed much faster during that time. Now I take tips and notes from a jazz piano teacher my sister and dad get lessons from, Tim McKinstry.

Dan: No, I started when I was around 21, although I wish I had started earlier. Years of writing beforehand made the transition pretty natural.

Aria: I was raised around music; it was always being played in my home. I always sang, as long as I can remember. I took piano for about 5 years and I had some voice direction for about a year from an incredible teacher, Anthony Newett (the man’s a genius). I am sure I would have continued, but a fire destroyed our piano, and it was irreplaceable, and so I continued without direction.

What do you like best about performing live?

Joe: Playing music is just a satisfying experience. It’s just that much better when people are there to appreciate it. I like the shows where the crowd becomes just as important to the energy of the experience as the musicians.

Drew: Hitting the drums as hard as I can.

Brendan: Performing live as a group shows people who hear our recordings the separate entities within our band as they come together to create good music. I love intensity.

Dan - Watching Drew hit the drums as hard as he can, and watching Brendan play the melodica in pajamas with feet.

Aria: I love our families getting together and I love to see my dad at the front of the crowd, rockin’ out with the best of them. He makes it for me.

Favorite lyrics to a song?

Joe: This answer completely depends on my mood, but for right now it’s Neutral Milk Hotel’s Oh Comely.

Drew: The lyrics to the song “Drain You” by Nirvana.

Dan : Bob Dylan - When The Ship Comes In

Bee: “Styrofoam Boots/ It’s All Nice on Ice, Alright” by Modest Mouse

Aria: Okkervil River- Dead Faces

Play list of five favorite songs:

Joe: It would be a really frustrating experience to even sort out my top 100 let alone top 5. I could say that the bands that I mentioned above are among my favorites.

Drew: Yeah, same as Joe. See above.

Bee: I agree with them., but here’s five…Styrofoam Boots, One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket, Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C, Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist by STS9, Sit Down, Stand Up by Radiohead,

Dan: Alright, I'll bite. I'll even give you six. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues, White Stripes - I'm Bound To Pack It Up, Johnny Cash/ Shel Silverstein - A Boy Named Sue, Beatles - Long, Long, Long, The Rolling Stones - Sway, John Lennon - I Found Out

A book that influenced how I live my life:

Joe: Although I’ve been an atheist since 5th grade, God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens was pretty compelling. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone.
Bee: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Dan - Anything by Shel Silverstein

Aria: This is hard; I have read so many amazing books. Barbara Kingsolver- Animal Vegetable Miracle

What are you currently reading?

Joe: “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond

Drew: Jesus’ Son by Dennis Johnson and Our Band Could be Your Life by Michael Azzerrad

Brendan: Coincidentally, “The Buddhist Tradition in India, China and Japan” by William Theodore de Bary

Aria: Dress your family in corduroy and denim, David Sedaris. Love everything he writes.

Favorite painter/ artist:

Joe: Salvador Dali, Ralph Steadman, Marcel Duchamp, Picasso… along those lines. I also like a good many Renaissance painters and sculptors, and also Scott Avett and Adam 12.

Drew: Francis Bacon is my favorite painter. As far as artists are concerned, I admire a great deal of filmmakers, writers, and photographers.

Dan - M C Escher and Shel Silverstein

Brendan: Norman Rockwell, Dalí, Picasso, Alex Grey

Aria: Salvador Dali, Frida Khalo, Monet, Andrew Wyeth

Is there anything that you would like to share with our readers?

We just finished a long period of playing out, and our (Aria’s and my) baby girl is due on June 6th. Once she’s all settled in we’ll be back to playing for the summer. In the meantime we’ll be writing and recording in Whatevers Clever Studio, so stop by if you’re in the neighborhood. You can find us on Myspace, You Tube, and Facebook, so keep your eyes and ears open. Thanks to everyone who has been with us so far; the journey has just begun.

Joe Duffey & Whatevers Clever Myspace

Joe Duffey & Whatevers Clever Facebook

Elohim Sanchez Q&A

2009-02-17T11:56:00.010-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Mexico and I moved to New York, and then Montreal, about 10 years ago. I studied first to be an engineer and it actually took me a while to realize that my creative drive wasn’t only a fleeting thing. I started to take it seriously about 5 years ago when I enrolled into film school and started painting.

Other than art, what are some of your interests?
Traveling, getting outside my comfort bubble. I’m trying to rebuild a vacation house I own in Mexico. I wish I knew more about construction so I could work on it myself.

In what city do you currently live? What are a few must see spots you would recommend to a tourist?
I live in Montreal. If you come here, forget about the tourist sites. Go to all parties, walk on the icy sidewalks and climb the Mount Royal at 3 in the morning.

Where did you study? What did you like about the degree program in which you were involved?
I studied filmmaking at the University of Montreal. Some of the most interesting courses I took had to do with the relationship between cinema and the other arts, like painting, architecture, dance, or music.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions?
It’s been very hectic in the last few weeks but I don’t have anything coming up. Some of my paintings are displayed at Galerie Zone Orange in Old Montreal. Other than that, a friend of mine and myself are thinking of putting together a multidisciplinary show (paintings / photographs / video) along with other artists this spring or summer.

What are you currently reading?
Nothing. The last book I read was “L’étranger” by Albert Camus. I liked its strong affirmation of individuality and the character’s desperate longing for life as it is, with all its defects.

Describe your paintings.
My paintings are all about energy and color, about feeling awake and alive. They are a personal statement of how I’ve chosen to perceive the world around me. I’ve been experimenting with different subjects and methods, but I feel this is just the beginning and I think I will definitely keep trying many different things over the years to come.

Describe your films. What are they generally about?
I try to remain close to my own life and people around me, I feel I need to be honest and I don’t think it would be right to talk about things I don’t know or that I haven’t experienced myself. In the few short films I’ve directed so far the recurring themes seem to be: solitude, friendship, and love. I’m also interested in the way characters perceive the world around them and the way they interact with it.

Describe your photos.
I like my photos very much, it’s always fun to make them because I don’t look for them, they come to me. I see something in particular that strikes me as beautiful, then I point and click and I’m just happy I was there at the right time to take the picture.

How has your style changed over the years?
I’ve been painting and filming for only about five years, so I think it’s probably too early to say.

Where do you paint/ film?
I paint in my apartment. I wish I had a huge bright studio with a nice view of Montreal’s skyline and all that, but so far it’s only in my dreams. As for films, I like to shoot at interesting places in and around the city.

What type of music did you grow up listening to?

I grew up listening to Mexican pop singers and the usual Latin-American fare. When I first heard classical music I was eleven years old and I was struck in awe. I couldn’t believe such beautiful music existed and that nobody around me had ever listened to it or even knew it existed.

What are your goals, artistically?
I simply want to do with my life the best I can possibly do.

Is any of your work political?
In my opinion all art is political in itself, by the things it chooses to show or not to show. These days the simple act of making art is a political statement. I think cinema, because it portrays people in society, has the most potential to be political. It can, in very subtle ways, criticize the way society works or propose new visions of how it should work. In my case the closest I’ve been to making an overtly political film was when I shot “March 2005”, a short improvised documentary about the student strike that took place in Quebec that year. I don’t exclude the possibility of making patently political films in the future.

What has been inspiring you lately?
I’m trying to put my finger on exactly what it is that makes the film “Tropical Malady” (by Apichatpong Weerasethakul) so beautiful.

Do you have side projects you work on? Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?
I’m working as a Director of Photography in a new short film by a friend of mine, in return for him making the soundtrack for one of my videos last year.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
Art is not business. At most, there is a marketing side to it, but I don’t think it is ever that complex. I think my paintings and my films should speak by themselves, I simply try to show them at every opportunity I have that doesn’t cost too much money. The hardest part is to have my work seen by people other than family and friends, and even harder is to reach people who are actually interested in buying art. The Internet has been somewhat helpful in that respect but it’s by no means the solution to all problems. I personally wish I had more contacts and acquaintances in the professional art market.

How do you keep motivated in the studio?
I listen to music. I don’t work when I don’t feel like it, but I try to work as regularly as possible. I keep in mind people who have written to me in the past to tell me they like what I do. If none of that works, then I think about my dwindling bank account and one or two upcoming exhibitions for which the paintings aren’t ready yet!

Where do you come up w/ the titles for your film and paintings?
I should start naming my paintings “Untitled”. I’m not good at playing with words and besides I don’t think paintings should need an external reference or explanation. Titles for films usually come from the lack of a better idea. So, no, titles are not my thing.

Are there any interesting anecdotes related to your work that you would like to share?
The other day I was sitting at a coffee shop with a friend of mine. It’s a place where you can make your own pottery. I was telling my friend about trying to be a painter and how hard it was to survive as an artist. A lady sitting next to us overheard our conversation. She was having trouble drawing a cat on one of her pots and since I had just said I was an artist, she asked me to help her. I had the hardest time drawing a cat that looked like one. I finally drew a recognizable cat at the 5th attempt, and I felt so embarrassed I quit the place right afterwards. I try to justify myself by telling me it’s because I don’t draw cats very often. I never draw cats, it’s the truth.

Play list of five favorite songs:
Leo Brouwer : Un día de noviembre
Michael Nyman : Memorial
Wim Mertens: Birds For The Mind
Astor Piazzolla : Duo de Amor
Arvo Pärt : String Quartet No.5

Movies you love so much you've watched them more than twice:
8 1/2 (Federico Fellini)
Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders)
Fanny & Alexander (Ingmar Bergman)
Une partie de campagne (Jean Renoir)
Blade Runner (Ridley Scott)

Elohim Sanchez’s Website: http://www.elohimsanchez.com/

Q&A: Sagine Cave

2009-01-13T17:13:00.004-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.
I love to surround myself with loving, happy and positive people. My family and my friends mean the world to me. I was born in Gatineau and raised in Ottawa. I am in constant love with the arts and funky music; soul music is my favorite! My favorite color is lime green and I love candy.

Which artists have most influenced you and why?
My inspirations are Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Gustav Klimt, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Haitian Art, and anything Cuban.
Other than art, what are some of your interests?
I enjoy travelling, cooking and seeing new things. I am an elementary school art teacher, I teach cartooning and arts and crafts.

In what city do you currently live? What are a few must see spots you would recommend to a tourist?
I currently live in the fantastic city of Montreal. The Museum of Fine Arts is always a great place to go see all types of exhibitions. Tam Tams is always a beauty during the summer too. http://citynoise.org/article/5313

Did you study art or are you self taught?
I started drawing at the age of three without any guidance. I started taking art classes last year. I draw and paint in my free time so I can practice new techniques.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions?
Boutique Fly (St- Catherine O.); Different Styles (Atwater); Black History Art Show (Concordia)

Favorite song? Positive Vibrations- Bob Marley

What are you currently reading? Raising Kanye

Website? http://funkysoulfulart.blogspot.com/

An Interview with Cary Savage

2009-01-02T10:08:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year.

What are some of the best aspects to living in Montreal? One of the best aspects of living in Montreal is the multiculturalism. The diversity of languages, foods, and arts is very enriching for an artist or anybody for that matter. I also love to be so close to the countryside. In a matter of 40 minutes you can go from attending the annual Montreal Jazz Festival to taking a hike in the Laurentides.

Are you currently recording? I have just finished a recording dedicated to the music of J.S. Bach and Isaac Albéniz. I chose these two composers because they were the most influential in my pursuit of learning the guitar. Even though Albéniz never wrote for the guitar, his music is reminiscient of the folk music from Spain. Albeniz was very fond of the guitar and he was a fan of the transcriptions that the famous Spanish guitarist and composer Francisco Tarrega made of his music.

Do you compose music? I do compose some short pieces preludes and etudes for guitar. I definitely spend more time working on transcriptions and interpretations of works I adore by some of the great composers of our time. My first CD is representative of the variety of composers that I look up to.

Tell us about some of your collaborative music projects and ensembles.
For the past few years, I have been working primarily on performing concerts for solo guitar. I love the feeling of being on stage alone with complete control over the music being performed.
In the past I have performed in a variety of ensembles including a duo for two guitars, voice and guitar, violin and guitar, and flute and guitar. The guitar works well in a variety of small ensembles. I never use amplification so I prefer to play in small ensembles where all the nuances of the guitar can be heard.

Where is the best place to perform music?
I love to perform in old cathedrals and churches. I love the church St. Jean Baptiste in Montreal. This is where I recorded my first CD. I have also played a couple of concerts there. The natural reverb lends itself well to the guitar especially with the music of Bach.

Do you play any instruments other than guitar?
I played some piano but I have dedicated myself solely to the guitar. It takes a lifetime to master the instrument.

Do you sing?
I sing when I am working on new works to try and figure out how I want it to sound. Any serious musician will tell you that singing is essential to any instrumentalist. It helps us transmit what we hear in our head to our instrument.

Is anyone in your family musically inclined?
My grandfather played the saxophone and performed in big band. My parents appreciate music but do not play. My father has always loved listening to jazz and big band music from the 30’s and 40’s.

Where do you go for historical sheet music?
I often shop at a large music store in Montreal called Archambault. They have a variety of sheet music for classical, Spanish, and Latin guitar. I am also a member of a guitar forum called delcamp.net where there are a variety of discussions about the classical guitar and a huge resource of sheet music for classical guitar.

What are a few of your goals for the upcoming year?
To play a number of concerts around the U.S. The program will be in support of my second CD.

How did you initially become interested in playing music?
I played when I was very young because my parents suggested I play an instrument. Later, when I was a teenager, I was captivated by the playing of electric guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

What was one of the most memorable performances you’ve put on?
I really enjoyed playing recently in Rochester, NY at the Memorial Art Gallery. I played there 8 years ago for my final exam of my Bachelor’s degree. My playing has changed dramatically since then so it was interesting to reflect on these changes.

Who bought your first guitar for you?
My father bought me a Fender Squier electric guitar when I was 15. After about a year, I fell in love with the acoustic guitar.

What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading a book by Naomi Klein called The Shock Doctrine. I am very interested in politics and current affairs.

Website: http://www.carysavage.com/

Ryan and Anthony of Mad Maude Press

2008-08-13T18:17:00.043-05:00

Interview and photos by Jamie Bezozo and Ruth Schanbacher.

Would you begin by explaining what letterpress is?
Letterpress is the original printing process. It’s as Guttenerg invented it in the 1450s, movable type is inked and then pressed onto paper. There is a difference between what we do and the original method: we don’t use a lot of movable type.

What most influenced you to get involved with letterpress?
R - I was influenced by the equipment; the first time I ever saw a letterpress was actually at the Smithsonian a few years back. But it was all stuff I couldn’t touch and all I wanted to do was mess with it. The first time I got to mess with printing equipment was maybe a year or two later. It brought me back to the Smithsonian experience and then I realized I could probably build a press.

A - I'm an artist/ illustrator. I got down with these guys because I used to rent studio space. It was a way for me to do something hands-on. This was a way to be creative and do something that was art related.

Do you have any interests aside from art?
R - Right now I devote 100% of my time to this. I am developing a new type of ink that works better with letterpress. We have found that ink available commercially is not really good for letterpress because it’s a little too tacky and when you thin it out the pigmentation isn’t as intense. So we are interested in researching to find ways to improve the process.

A - pretty much everything extra is art related… mostly painting, I mess around with 3-d stuff every now and again, I like sculpture a lot and I try to get out, go to the beach and travel… I'm not here as much as Ryan. Ryan is here from the morning to the wee-hours.

What do you want the average viewer to see/ appreciate most in your work?
The craft that goes into the actual print. You can print 1000 things out on a laser print really easily. We look at each individual print before it goes to the customer. We double and triple check to make sure all measurements are square, all dimensions are lined up, the ink is laying perfectly. As a stationer, our quality of work must match the customers' style and customers are very demanding. Every single item that we print is unique.

What is your favorite body part (on yourself)?
R - My favorite body part is actually the coccyx. It’s the human vestigial tail. It lets me consistently be conscious of my evolution. It would be so much easier if I had a tail. It would be like a third hand.

A - I like my nose. I don’t know why, I think it's cool. I like its lump right there. Not everybody has this nose, I like it.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
R - In a houseboat but it doesn’t matter where. The freedom of a houseboat, the ability to float with the birds and ducks...and I wouldn’t have to pay Philly city wage tax.

A - I would probably say like the Canadian wilderness somewhere. No humans, wild moose running around, tons of stuff to just look at.

What’s the one place in Philadelphia that you’ve been meaning to go to but haven’t gotten around to seeing yet?
A - if you look on a map of Philly you see this big park. Its this big giant patch of green with a lake: Roosevelt park and Meadow Lake. I wanna check that out. I think you can probably go fishing down there. I haven’t gone fishing since I've lived in the city. We could go fishing from Ryan's houseboat! There's also a science building… the Wagner Free Institute, I've been meaning to go there for the past 3 years.

R - On the Ben Franklin Bridge there are these little huts, it used to be that when you were traveling over the bridge you could stop and there would be coffee shops and stores on the bridge. I'd like to check those out.

Did either of you study art?
A - I got a degree from the University of the Arts in Illustration. I got another degree from Rockland Community College in Graffic Design… that’s in NY. I took various classes here and there.

R - I didn’t study art; I'm an advertising major. That was kind of a driving force to get in letterpress.

What's the largest size you can print?
Its actually 12 inches by 18 inches. The letterpresses aren’t designed for giant printing.

Where do you buy your presses? Who sells them?
There are a lot of people selling presses these days because the industry is picking up. We just cleared out a garage. Part of the deal was I would get all the printing equipment but the place would have to be spotless.

Who maintains your machinery?
The machinery has a tremendous way of not breaking… so we maintain our machinery. I've always been a tinkerer of various things.

For more information: http://www.madmaude.com/

Ahlen Moin Q&A

2008-07-26T20:41:00.008-05:00

Interview conducted by Jamie Bezozo

While at the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival we noticed Ahlen's eye-catching artwork. We caught up with him later and found out a little bit more about him and his work...

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Philly but I live in Delaware now. I was raised Catholic (K-12) but lived in Hunting Park, a tough section of North Philly. I like to cook, especially recipes that my Grandmother cooked for me. I've traveled around the U.S. and also visited Spain and Puerto Rico.

Image: Crockett

How would you describe your style in art?

Science fiction greatly inspires my art. I have a bent towards "Hard" Science Fiction- I like to research my subjects and depict futuristic elements that can be backed up with current science. I do two kinds of painting. I do works on paper using ink and watercolor. I also do acrylic and ink on board.

Did your family encourage you to be an artist?

My grandmother encouraged my art big time. (Everyone else...not so much.) My grandmother was the first to recognize my talent. She watched me draw cartoon characters at an age when other children were still scribbling.

Do you have something lucky/a ritual you do when working or before an art show?Yeah. It's called "last minute crunch time." A week or so before a show, I become a hard person to live with, until I'm finished everything.

Do you have any additional interests aside from art and painting?

I created a theme called 8008. All of my work fits into a narrative. I intend to tell this story with images, words and sounds. So far, the images (my paintings, etc.) are coming along well. I am currently working on a short story that's a prequel to my paintings. I've begun work on a graphic novel. Everyone keeps telling me I "have to do the graphic novel." I appreciate the enthusiasm but It's just going to take a lot of time and effort. I need everyone to be patient.

Who (artists and non) are some of your role models and why?

When I was in high school I was really impressed by Gauguin and Magritte. Post-Impressionism became my favorite artistic period. I drew from those artists in my earlier work. While in college, I went to see the Francesco Clemente retrospective at the Guggenheim. His watercolors floored me. I bought a watercolor set on my way home that night.Also, comic books are a big influence. I've always been a big fan of Daredevil. I couldn't take my eyes off of the covers David Mack did for DD in 1999. In 2001 Alex Maleev started his amazing run on DD. I met both artists at The Wizard World Philly Convention soon after. I told Alex that his art challenged me to be a real artist. I spoke with Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada at that convention, too. Quesada said that the team of Bendis and Maleev were "the best team ever to work on DD." Quesada also said I had good taste in role models.

Image: LSI

How do you decide what subjects you choose to portray in your painting?

It was really hard to make a decision on subject matter. I read a lot for about ten years- on all kinds of subjects that interested me. I kept up on current events. Finally, I noticed something. Every book I read and every subject I kept up on, caused me to speculate on humanity's future. So, I decided to depict the future I see growing from what concerns me today.

What is your absolute favorite thing to eat?

Breakfast. Any time, any place. I love breakfast food.

What color best describes you/fits your personality and why?

Orange. I love Autumn. When I look out and see orange in the trees i feel good.

Do you have a website where fans can check out your work?

I'm working on it. For now you can find me at Myspace: www.myspace.com/ahlenmoin

Eco-Libris Q&A

2008-07-18T06:12:00.012-05:00

Q&A with Raz, CEO and co-founder of Eco-Libris

Interview conducted by Jamie Bezozo

Tell us about yourself and what your company does.
I'm the co-founder and CEO of Eco-Libris (http://www.ecolibris.net/ ), a green business that works with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores, and others in the book industry to balance out the paper used for books by planting trees.

Millions of trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold worldwide. We want to raise the awareness to the environmental impacts of using paper for the production of books and provide people and businesses with an affordable and easy way to do something about it: plant one tree for every book they read, sell or publish. Customers also receive a sticker made of recycled paper for every book they balance out saying “One tree planted for this book” and can later display these stickers on their books' sleeves. Publishers can use our logo in their cover designs to indicate one tree is planted for that book. We have partnered with three highly respected US and UK registered non-profit organizations (SHI, AIR , RIPPLE Africa) that work in collaboration with local communities in developing countries to plant the trees. These trees are planted in high ecological and sustainable standards in Latin America and Africa, where deforestation is a crucial problem, and planting trees not only helps to fight climate change and conserve soil and water, but also benefits many local people, for whom these trees offer many benefits and an opportunity for a better future.

About me: I spent a few years in financial management and business development positions and also served as an advisor to the Israeli Minister of the Interior. Afterwards, I co-founded Hemper Jeans, an eco-fashion jean company focusing on producing fashionable jeans made of hemp. I write on green business for the second-largest newspaper in Israel (Ma'ariv). I hold an MBA from Tel Aviv University and live in Delaware with my wife, Peleg and our baby Shira. Besides developing, writing on and breathing green business, I like playing soccer and watching Woody Allen films and old episodes of Seinfeld.

Do you find that it is difficult to be an entrepreneur in your business in this day and age?
I think it's a great time to be a green entrepreneur. It's still very challenging but there's already a lot of awareness to the need for change and you see more and more people and businesses that are looking for ways to go green. Maybe in 2-3 years it will be even easier, but I think that timing is very important, especially when you're an entrepreneur with an innovative service or a product, and now it's definitely the right time, at least for me, when it comes to greening up books.

Is it hard to get some of the bigger businesses to get really interested in helping the environment?
Yes. But I guess it's much easier if you compare it with 2-3 years ago, when the environment wasn't such a mainstream issue. A lot has changed in the last couple of years and I believe that the big businesses will get more and more familiar with environmental issues when they see that by helping the environment they also help their bottom lines. I think that regulation, such as giving carbon dioxide a price, would contribute to this process as well.

Are you involved in art at all or any other clubs outside of your company?
Unfortunately, no. I wish I had more time.

What motivated you to get involved in this business?
My strong belief that green business can make a difference and my love of books and trees. I wanted to establish a green business that would become an agent of change and would help move the book industry towards sustainability. I knew it would take some time to get to the point where all books are made in an environmental friendly manner, and I wanted provide people and businesses with a simple and affordable tool to do something about it in the meantime: plant a tree for every book they read, publish, write or sell.

What do you think is the best environmental knowledge you could share with others that could impact them to make a difference?
My recommendation would be two books we reviewed lately on our blog and are about two important issues when it comes to green living - parenthood and urban living. I believe both of them have the knowledge base and the ability to drive people into making changes in their lives:

'The Urban Homestead' by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen - http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2008/07/mondays-green-books-urban-homestead.html

'The Green Parent' by Jenn Savedge - http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2008/04/mondays-green-books-series-green-parent.html

Where did you go to school? Did you gain anything from the experience?

I went to school in Israel. I mainly gained good friends and the love of playing soccer!

What are your favorite song lyrics?
Baby Lemonade by Syd Barret is one of my favorites:

In the sad town

Cold iron hands clap

The party of clowns outside

Rain falls in grey far away

Please, please, baby lemonade

In the evening sun going down

When the earth streams in, in the morning

Send a cage through the post

Make your name like a ghost

Please, please, baby lemonade

Im screaming, I met you this way

You're nice to me like ice

In the clock they sent through a washing machine

Come around, make it soon, so alone...

Please, please, baby lemonade

In the sad town

Cold iron hands clap

The party of clowns outside

Rain falls in grey far away

Please, please, baby lemonade

In the evening sun going down

When the earth streams in, in the morning

Send a cage through the post

Make your name like a ghost

Please, please, baby lemonade

If you weren't in this business, what do you think you would be doing as a career?
Maybe become a full-time journalist (I do it now as a freelancer). I love writing articles for the newspaper - it's very challenging, but also fun. Another option would be to write travel guides (green travel of course!). I've always envied the guys who write these guides.

Do you have any advice for other people hoping to become entrepreneurs and start their own company?
Do it because you love it and not just because you think it's worthwhile; otherwise it won't work. Try to have some fun on the way and be patient!

Justin Santora

2008-05-21T06:45:00.018-05:00

[Untitled], 2008, enamel on skateboard deck

How do you decide on the subject matter that you chose to portray? I'm attracted to mundane aspects of the human experience. I used to hate drawing the human figure, and I think it shows in the stylized nature of this particular work. The stuff I’m doing now is more realistic. I really enjoy accentuating the more ordinary facets of daily life—people doing athletic stretches, sitting in waiting rooms, conversing in offices, etc.

When you approach a piece, how much of the process is intellectual for you and how much of it is gut instinct; simply letting your hands work? I think my process is largely cognitive. I tend to work intuitively and gestural, but it's almost always in the parameter of some kind of idea. I try to give my work a lot of thought, particularly when it comes to the use of color and concept. I love making obscure cultural references or connections to political or philosophical ideology, neither of which are present in the works featured here, incidentally.

I Hate Our Answering Machine, 2008, enamel on skateboard deck

Tell us about your recent artwork. Lately, I've been thinking about the corporate exploitation of subcultures within the framework of Capitalism. I did a series of enamel drawings on skateboard decks depicting scenes from the white-collar workplace. It was sort of my way of commodifying the business world the way skateboarding and punk rock are being co-opted, neutered, and sold back to us. I think there's a lot of humor in this concept.

What artists have influenced you and why? The first artist I ever really liked was probably Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes. I used to read his strip every day, and I wanted to grow up to be a cartoonist. Watterson’s integrity and the message he injected into his work shaped some of my own principles while I was growing up.
I really like Liechtenstein, Francis Bacon, and Oldenburg for their respective senses of humor and unique intellectual approaches to art making. Studying their work really got me thinking about content, context, and process.

Did your family encourage you to become an artist? Yes. From a very early age, my parents have been very supportive. I think they might have expected something a little more traditional, but they've always encouraged me to pursue art.

"Untitled" 2007, Xerox collage on paper

Describe the environment and atmosphere in which you work. Do you generally work alone or with people?
I’m currently using my bedroom as a studio space. I have large rolls of white paper that I can tape up to the wall for sketches and notation. I usually keep a running tab of ideas, concepts, and connections while arranging a composition. I prefer to work alone. I just try to stay relaxed but focused. And to enjoy myself, of course.

What interests do you have other than art?
I’ve been skateboarding ever since I was twelve, so that’s always something I make time to do. I also love playing music. I was actively playing in bands for about six years. I’d really like to get out playing more shows again. I’m also interested in politics and the general workings of the world. I am vegan, too, so animal rights are also important to me.

http://justinsantora.blogspot.com/

DC Briggs Q&A

2008-02-28T18:30:00.014-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.
A) I am a native of Washington, DC. After years of trying to discover who I am as a person, I managed to find myself as an artist. It’s always manifested itself through various avenues but now I am aware of. My method of creating my art work is through the use of photography. In my mind I see very vivid images and I do my best to translate those images into something that the world can see as well.

Tell us about your recent artwork.
(A) Some of my more recent creations deal with a reflection of what I see is going on in society. I try to create images that provoke my audience to engage in some form of introspection. I present the good and the bad because they both make us who we are as individuals and as a community. Recently I created a piece that deals with our ties to China. I also have a new piece that I hope will spark a conversation about the true meaning of freedom and liberty. Hopefully it will be the launch pad for our journey back to true freedom.

What interests do you have other than art?
(A) Ahhhh, my interests. I love music because my entire nature of being thrives on a rhythm of some kind. Those who know me best know how I will make beats on anything. I have come to accept that it’s an involuntary action. Without music, I would be insane. I am big on politics and news. Being from DC, if you don’t have any bit of a passion for politics then you have no awareness of the world around you. It’s such an integral part of the culture of this region that it becomes almost imbedded in your DNA. Overall, there is no one set group of interests that I have because I like to engage in anything that captures my attention. My work is inspired by the world and life as a whole. This allows me a limitless spectrum of stimulating messages to communicate to the world. The only constant is that each message is presented in my own perspective and left open for each member of the audience that sees my images to develop their own perception of the journey that I lead them on.

How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?
(A) Oh! That’s simple. I would explain it to them as visual communication through the use of emotion. For the blind, emotions are like visual images. Stevie Wonder is a master at making his audience see images in their minds through the emotions that he describes in his songs. I hope to one day sit down and explain my work to him.

Is any of your work political?
(A) Of course. I am from DC. In this city, everything and everybody is political. I remember the gangsters that I saw growing up. They were even political. I came to realize that everything is political. I tried to ignore that aspect that kept coming out in my work but it just comes naturally so I now embrace it fully.

Favorite short story or poem:
(A) Actually, I don’t have a favorite. Everything that I read parks itself into a special place in my mind and soul. What I have read that stands out to me changes from day to day. Everything that I read becomes a part of the composition of my personal philosophy so there’s no way to truly pick out a favorite.

Favorite lyrics to a song:
(A) “ I can tell you know how hard this life can be, but you keep on smiling for me.” –Cee-Lo Green

What are you currently reading?
(A) I am currently reading a book by George Carlin “When Is Jesus Bringing The Pork Chops?”

Renee Nordholm/ GreenerMe

2008-02-26T23:02:00.002-05:00

Tell us a little about yourself.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Very loyal to my city and state! Tulsa is a great city for all ages. I began crafting as a small tot, making hemp, floss and beaded jewelry. A good friend of mine and I would always play “business” writing checks and making invoices. For our restaurant we made special menus. I’ve always loved business and crafting, and am happy to have found a niche that allows me to combine the two.

Tell us about your recent work.
I’ve been working with all types of ribbon lately. It gives my invitations a special elegance!

What interests you?
I love cats and have three myself. I love music such as Steely Dan, the Beatles, Beirut and Blackalicious. I must have music while I work! Lastly, I enjoy reading about business tactics/ethics and psychology.

How would you describe your work to someone who could not see it?
Handmade wedding invitations! Printed text applied to hand cut papers, which are then hand glued to more paper and embellished with ribbon or other accessories. Everything, aside from the envelopes, is put together with my own two hands.

Favorite lyrics to a song:
“You’re never going to find it if you’re looking for it.”

What are you currently reading?
Drop the Pink Elephant, by Bill McFarlan

Colleen Catherine Q&A

2008-02-07T17:53:00.000-05:00

Tell us a little about your websites.
I have designed my website with the little web designing skills that I have!! It is a pretty basic site, but it does feature most of my past and current collections. Check it out: http://www.colleencatherine.com/
There is also a link to my etsy page, where you can purchase some of my work online.

Tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I started designing and creating jewelry about 5 years ago. I studied Art History and Metalworking in Pennsylvania, Rome, and New York City. I am currently selling my work in a few stores in Philadelphia. They are the Curiosity Shoppe on South Street, Mew Gallery in the Italian Market, and Bambi Gallery in Fishtown.

I have been teaching a metalworking and jewelry design course for the past two years at the UC Arts League in West Philadelphia, as well as a sculpture class to 7-9 year old at Fleisher Art Memorial. A current project is developing a ceramic/metal mixed-media course at the Arts League with a fellow designer and ceramicist, Yasha Bulter. (ucartsleague.org)
Also, I have jewelry/metalworking studio is at the Philadelphia Institute for Advanced Study, also known as PIFAS, in Fishtown, where all my work is made.

Tell us about your recent artwork.
Right now, I am designing the city collection. This collection includes: earring, necklace pendants, and bracelets. Designing this collection has been very experimental for me, as it is the first collection that I am using a precious metal, silver. My past collections have consisted of mixed media, such as electric wires, clock pieces, copper, aluminum, plastic, etc.
In the city collection, I am trying to recreate the look of a city environment that is in a wearable and simple form. Here, I am taking the look of Philadelphia’s environment, breaking down into basic shapes/forms. The viewer can see just a resemblance or in some cases, just a line of the original space, so this design really becomes my personal view of the city.

Describe the environment and atmosphere in which you work. Do you generally work alone or with people?

Working at PIFAS is a very open and social environment. When designing and piecing my work, I am usually alone in my studio; however, PIFAS is comprised of 18 studios, with about 22 artists working on a variety of different mediums. The space is very creative and positively effectual on my work.

Is it quiet or do you play music?
Ha, usually music is being played whether it is mine or the artist in the studio next to me!

What interests do you have other than art?
Other than art, I am very interested in social change and education. I also work at a literacy non-profit called the Children’s Literacy Initiative. Basically, we reach out to urban teachers, PreK to 3rd grade, to provide them the professional skills and instruction they need to educate their students in literacy.

Benoît Dhennin

2008-01-27T12:21:00.000-05:00

Tell us a little about your website(s).
http://www.benoitdhennin.net/
Seulement un aperçu, en vue de donner une idée de mon travail photographique et vidéo. J'essaie d'y inclure quelques mots au sujet de mon travail, mais je préfère laisser le spectateur libre d'interprétation.
/Only a preview to give an idea of my photographic and video work. It is not a finality, just a way to meet people.

What are you currently reading?
Nicolas de Crecy & Joann Sfar's comics, Freud, Kafka, Dashiell Hammett, Jean-Luc Parant

Tell us a little about yourself.
I try to do what I need and what I want. Want to live and work slowly, without pressure.
/J'essaie de vivre en faisant ce que j'aime ; d'accomplir mes obsessions du regard comme elles apparaissent.

Describe your recent artwork.
Lié à des voyages dans les pays autour de la mer Baltique (Lettonie, Lituanie, Estonie). De la vidéo en mode documentaire, mais plus un travail sur le voir que sur le sens. J'essaie de placer mon corps en des lieus où il puisse entrer en résonance avec l'espace et les personnes présente. La vidéo me permet de guider le spectateur dans le temps, bien que j'essaie de le laisser désemparé, sans trop de repère, afin qu'il se construise une oeuvre entre mon support et lui-même. La photographie est en cela plus radicale et exigeante.c'est donc lié au déplacement, à la marche, la dérive urbaine, sans intention préalable.
Je recherche une image assez éloignée du sens, dénotée, pour introduire un trouble du regard.
/My artwork is link to travels, around Baltic Sea for example. I'm working like a documentarist, but with a severe esthetic point of view. I believe that art is a documentary point of view, a way to know the world around and inside us.

What type of planning and preparation do you engage in before starting on a new project? Preparation about a trip : where to sleep (I prefer at people place), Where is the money for that... I have to diced wich camera I'll use, wich means how I will use my walking body axe to meet people and place. Je ne vais pas quelque part pour faire quelque chose. seulement pour être déplacé, une destabilisation nécessaire pour être libre aux événements et rencontres fortuites.

What interests do you have other than art?
Love. Looking at people.

Favorite short story or poem:
Les roses de saadior les yeux from Jean-Luc Parant

Favorite lyrics to a song:
Trouble every day — Tindersticks or Brassens

Sufiz

2007-12-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

Tell us a little about your website (www.sufiz.com).

The website is made by secret ops agency.

What are you currently reading?
I'm reading the book of the dead as of now.

Tell us a little about yourself.
A little about myself im a out of work artist who doesnt get paid anything for my art.

Describe your recent artwork.
Recent work is experimental spaz.

What type of planning and preparation do you engage in before starting on a new project?
No planning just madness.

What interests do you have other than art?
Music watersports and the history of mankind.

Favorite short story or poem:
Short story: the little train one.

Favorite lyrics to a song:
Favorite lyric: by nwa "fuck the police."

TreMundo: Traci Nelson Q&A

2007-11-21T11:55:00.000-05:00

Tell us a little about your website(s).

Tremundo is a reflection of self and a little piece of my world. The site highlights a few of my creative outlets and vanguards I’ve met along the way. I try to continually update the site based upon latest work and new projects that I might be experimenting.
The power of the web is often underestimated and using a website not only helps to promote my own work, also helps to network and learn with other artists! There’s an amazing amount of talented artists in the world, networking has become so vital and also serves as a great tool to learn and inspire any artist.

I also have a book website, wakingtotears.., that promotes my book and as a tool for people to connect with similar situations. My book site is the side of me that uses words as art. A voice for myself as well as many people and opens the eyes to those who just might think they are invincible.

What are you currently reading?
ADORN magazine…great mag referred to by another artist and luckily enough to find in a craft store. Full of new ideas and great tips for various art and craft projects.

Tell us a little about yourself.
How much time do you have…this would take too long…basically I try to live a simple life while bombarded by a complex life. Truly appreciate the little things and keeping it simple all the while living life as a woman, mother, artist, author, activist and all around jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none!

I once read that not utilizing our creative outlets is like having perpetual PMS. I find myself seeing the world with what can I make with that? Did you see the color and form of the clouds? How did those sneakers end up on the phone wire? How did they make that? Can I try to transform that into something that works with what I’m doing? Curious to what surrounds me while utilizing that creative outlet as therapy!

Most important, I have amazing mini-me’s that are the jewels of my life. They are my greatest inspirations, trials and most rewarding part of my life. They are a part of everything I do and keep me busier than I ever imagined!

Describe your recent artwork.
Always working on some sort of project from textiles to recently experimenting with collage and printmaking at home, utilizing the falling leaves, oils and the joy of caran d’ ache crayons! I’ve noticed that I’ve had a trend of having some form of trees in my most recent works. Ever notice how leaves are like snowflakes…no two alike?

In addition to my personal art, currently working on a new community project with anti-violence efforts similar to Peaceful Vizion. New project is a voice for Philly youth and a remembrance of victims, witnesses and survivors of violence. There is more than one generation deeply affected by violence and their voice has been quiet for too long. Our future has been muffled by the violence and seek to be heard and will be through their art.

What type of planning and preparation do you engage in before starting on a new project?
More than anything, there is something that inspires me to do a new piece of work, be it a person, place or thing…something that has evoked an emotion that needs to be put into art. I play around with image and tools until I find what is working with what I am feeling. Must have music on, great lighting and escape into that little place I go to when I create!

What interests do you have other than art?
Have a bad habit of this incredible need to pick up that lonely piece of furniture along the curb, take it home, nourish it, refurnish it and create a new piece from someone’s trash. I’m always amazed at what you can find and how disposable we really are in this society!

Love the outdoors, be it the woods or the sand between my toes. There is something serene about the ocean that seems to put me in my place and remind me how small we really are in this world. Spend time near the ocean all year round, the air is refreshing, always find something to inspire the creative part of me and cleanses the soul.

Favorite short story or poem: to be nobody but yourself e.e. cummings

Favorite lyrics to a song: It's a toss-up between:

“Let me take you on a trip, Around the world and back …” ”World in My Eyes” Depeche Mode
“Then you really might know what it's like...” “What It’s Like” Everlast

Q&A with Sierra Brown

2007-10-07T08:24:00.000-05:00

Sierra Brown, a Cal State Long Beach student, swam 11 miles through the ports to her campus as part of an art project. Brown thought up the "Port To Class Supercommute" as a way of encouraging people to get out of their cars and take alternative forms of transportation.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 28-year old MFA student at CSULB and I live in San Pedro, Ca. I was raised in Flagstaff, AZ and Albuquerque, NM but fell in love with surfing at 16 when I moved to Perth Australia. Since then I’ve lived and travelled around the world. For the last 4 years I have supported myself as a graduate student by working 6 months per year as a wildland firefighter on the El Cariso Hotshots along with intermittent work on sport fishing and dive boats. Last year I obtained my 100-ton captain’s license, quit working for the forest service, and I continue to work on boats. I prefer water over fire.

Describe your recent artwork.
Most of my recent work revolves around concerns related to global consumerism and the transportation not only of goods, but of ourselves. I’ve been working on a video series called Import that includes numerous 3 to 5 minute clips of cargo ships, cruise ships, and oil tankers moving through the Ports of LA and Tokyo. The Port-to-Class Supercommute is a sort of reaction to Import, where starting from San Pedro I will navigate through the Ports of LA and Long Beach in 8 different human powered methods as I commute to my Monday night class at CSULB. I had an intimate encounter with the busiest port in the western hemisphere on October 1st when I crossed its 11 mile span by swimming for 6 hours and 37 minutes.

What type of planning and preparation do you engage in before starting on a new project?
In the case of the Port-to-Class Supercommute it took me about 6 months of brain storming and research to come up with the design of the project. There were many small, but important details than I needed to cover, such as the legalities of swimming through the port. I had to prepare by researching long distance swimming and then doing the right kinds of training swims to feel confident in the project. It seems like I’ve been on the phone for the last two month just trying to plan out the logistics for Port-to-Class.

What steps do you take to minimize the risks involved in a project?
Take vitamins, and notify the port police. I forgot to do the latter last time.

What are you currently reading?
Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox. It’s been a refreshing break from academia, and she makes me feel like a wimp! She swam across the Bering Strait in 1987, easing cold war tensions in an area where borders were closed, and swam across the Ohio River in Cincinnati when water quality standards were going to be decreased. I discovered Cox and her book after I came up with the idea of swimming through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and it may have been the determining factor in my finish. I never knew the act of swimming could have such social and political power.

Favorite short story or poem:
The Big Orange Splot, by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Tell us a little about your website.
My friend, Rick Logan, helped me tremendously with my website. I wanted a nebula, outer-space kind of theme to go with the concept of long-distance endurance travel in the Port-to-Class Supercommute project. The website also contains a blog where I’ll be posting the aftermath of each week’s commute from San Pedro to CSULB, as well as a survey of videos and art from undergrad and graduate school.

To read or listen to 89.3 KPCC's interview with Sierra Brown: link

Sierra's website

Q&A with The Other Woman, an Art Collective

2007-10-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

About The Other Woman:

The Other Woman is an art collective formed by four female artists, Aubrie Costello, Laura Graham, Darla Jackson, and Laura McKinley, in order to cultivate opportunities for group critiques, discussion forums and exhibitions.

Revealing the beauty and the sadness of the everyday is one of the unifying thematic elements of the collective. Their personal experiences combine with elements drawn from the outside world to shape each individual's vision. The collective provides an environment where each woman can approach making art in her own way that is unique, yet cohesive with the work of the group as a whole.

Tell us a little about your websites.

Darla Jackson: Well at the moment we operate between two sites. The website for our collective ( www.theotherwomancollective.com ) is a place for us to share what is going on with the group in a more formal way. We have a portfolio for each artist, a press and reviews section, information on the group and upcoming shows. The other is our Myspace page ( www.myspace.com/forladies), which acts as a more informal way for us to connect with people and tell them about our shows and other events. And I must say, Myspace helped us get together quite a crowd for our panty raffle!

Laura McKinley : Our website is just a little baby right now, but she will one day grow up to be a beautiful lady, befitting of her name. For a while we worried about having a "professional" website but then Darla had the great idea to stick to the basics for a while, and our site was born -- functional, informative, with a simple elegance. One of the best things about our site is that Darla is obsessed with updating it, so you can visit regularly and always find new images or information about upcoming shows and other fun stuff.

Aubrie Costello: The Other Woman's Website..It's clean and organized..two things I am not...and it was designed by the superhuman Darla Jackson, a fabulous person so organized she should get medals, a lot of them, for it.

DJ: Awwwww shucks…..

Tell us about your recent artwork.

AC: My recent work is a continuation of a mission, so to speak, for clarity. I'm trying to get to an aesthetic place with my work where its elegance strikes a cord with the viewer, one that encourages a moment of reflection, an emotional response to the state of the world, the state of a mind. My latest work talks about a deep rooted confusion, naivety, exploitation. My biggest influence is the bombardment of excess I experience as a young American female conscious of the elephant in the room day in and day out.

Laura Graham: Hmmm... my recent work. Well, I feel like for a long time I really struggled with how I wanted to portray my ideas. It wasn't until the past year or so that I feel like things have really started to come together for me artistically and gain momentum. I've always felt more satisfied by doing things the hard way. I didn't want to just stumble across things in the street and take photos with a digital camera- not that there is something wrong with that, if done well that can be very difficult too. But I really love the idea of being deeply connected to every aspect of a piece. I lovingly place every object where it needs to go. I
build the walls and make the interior, develop the characters and make the masks. I think there is a lot of disconnection going on in the world today and this is how I have started to resolve that for myself. Plus it's a way for me to experiment with things I wouldn't normally get to do. Like faux finish a room or build a cradle.

DJ: The body of work that I have in progress now is a series of animal sculptures based on 16th and 17th century vanitas and game paintings. Each piece uses symbolism to convey ideas of what is and is not important in life. Kind of calling attention to the superficial things that people want, pursue or worry about. The way I am approaching this, and all my work really, is trying to pour my emotion into it and hope that the viewer responds to that. I feel like if you're true to yourself and that your work is honest, people can't help but to relate to it on some level.

LM: I have recently been working on some life-size self portraits that depict me in the various roles I play in my life at this time, specifically a wife/homemaker, a legal secretary, and a martial artist. By separating these persona's and using similar poses, I am drawing attention to the contradictions present in my life, which I believe are present in the lives of many young women.

What are the positives and negatives of exhibiting together, as a group?

LG: A definite positive is we can help support each other. We all have different sets of skills that are strong and combine to the benefit of the group as a whole. It's nice to have three lovely ladies as a major source of encouragement as well!

LM: Exhibiting with the three founding members of The Other Woman is full of positives! I think that our work shares common thematic elements that tie the art together, but we each focus on different media so the overall look of our shows is diverse, but conceptually cohesive. We also serve as a wonderful support group of sorts, and are continually motivating and helping each other to grow and develop as artists. I know that I am achieving much more since joining forces with these amazing women and am so thankful to be part of this collective.

AC: Positives with working with these three women...a drive I haven't had in so long. Confidence and strength to talk about real shit and experiment. They are such amazing minds...I just sit there and listen. I think we know as a group that it is important to keep are individual voices, though times they do intertwine.

DJ: The positive is the support system we have in place. Any help that one of us needs, from aesthetic opinions and decisions to physically moving and installing artwork, there are three other people there, ready to help. Laura Graham's macaroons are also a very positive aspect of exhibiting as a group, since they usually make an appearance at the openings. The negative is scheduling...It's hard to get us all in the same place at the same time sometimes but if that's our biggest problem, I think we'll be ok...

Describe the environment and atmosphere in which you work.

Do you generally work alone or with people?

AC: I like the input and advice of the amazing artists which are my friends. With that said, I really work alone. It's very stressful and emotional for me but it has magic moments.

LG: I work in a lot of different environments depending on the photo I'm working on at the moment. I like to embellish strange, forgotten little corners or design completely new strange, forgotten little corners. I tend to like to work alone or with the minimum number of people needed to pull off the final product. I feel bad inflicting my focus mode on people. I kind of go into my world when I'm making things.

LM: I currently have a small studio in my house that I use for painting, sewing, and all things art-related. I usually work alone, but my cats offer their help frequently and insistently. They are especially handy with brushes, pencils, and knitting needles, but I do not always agree with their artistic choices.

DJ: Right now I'm actually sculpting in the kitchen, since my studio is under construction. But primarily what I look for in a working space is good light, a clean surface and enough room to get back from my work to see what's going on in each piece. I generally work alone now but have never minded working in a space with someone else. Having someone there to see what you can't when you've been staring at a piece all day is really helpful.

Is it quiet or do you play music?

LG: I usually start out playing music to get myself in the mood but realize hours later that the music has stopped and I didn't notice. Again, the focus mode.

DJ: It depends on how I'm feeling. I need either total silence or a constant stream of Eminem and Immortal Technique, both very intense musicians. Sometimes fancy ladies need hard core, revolutionary hip hop in their lives.

LM: I like to play music, but honestly, when things are going smoothly, I barely notice whether it is on or off.

Tell us a little about yourselves.

AC: I recently graduated from school. I live alone in a New Jersey suburb and work construction with my dad.

LG: I love making things from scratch. I think that in itself is a forgotten art. It's completely nuts to me that they actually sell pre-made, pre-packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the grocery store. Nuts. I'm a crazy dog lady. If I didn't live in a little apartment in Brooklyn I would probably have about 8 dogs. I also love to travel. I think it's the best way to jump start your brain and remember to see things in a different way. If I'm only exposed to
the same things day in day out, I have trouble being creative.

DJ: I'm a sculptor living and working in Philadelphia. I'm a part of the Center for Emerging Visual Artists Career Development Program, which is great. I am obsessive compulsive about the administrative end of art. I frequently bite off more than I can chew but still manage to get it all done somehow. And I love a good tea party.

LM: I am an artist, a legal secretary, and a black belt. I like Woody Allen movies, Outback Steakhouse, and mustaches. I dislike talking birds, touching butter, and legal secretary-ing.

What interests do you have other than art?

AC: Music. Recently I've been fantasizing about playing the violin. I write little things here and there. Antique stores. I have always felt a connection to the past, to others' lived in things.

LG: Ooooh, all kinds of things. I imagine it's hard to be an artist without lots of other interests to draw from. I love trying anything new. I love fashion, I love to cook, travel, pretend I can play instruments, look up strange maladies and medical disorders, play with my dogs, have tea parties, and of course, hang out with my ladies, The Other Woman.

DJ: Exciting things such as f ixing up my house into a state which it is livable, c urating shows for artists I like, drinking tea , macaroons, b aking pies, b runches, seeing art that makes me want to fight people to own it , birds, g etting mail, p in up and light lunches, step teams, h olding birds, f lea markets, when the good guy wins, and playing chess , but I only like it when I win..

LM: I really enjoy karate, yoga, baking, hiking, and reading, and spending time with fabulous ladies, eating crepes and looking fancy. I also like discussing with my husband the many imagined adventures our cats have during the day while we're at work.

What are you currently reading?

AC: Katherine Mansfield, Stories

LG: Naked by David Sedaris. He is hilarious.

DJ: My email. Does that count? No actually I am currently reading a book called Make your own luck.

LM: A book about time management. Nuff said.

Favorite short story or poem:

AC: Recent favorite: Ursula Rucker's poems featured on The Roots' "Do You Want More" album.

LG: The recipe for French macarons. Well, I think it's pretty poetic.

Favorite lyrics to a song:
AC:I have so many that have really affected my art but I'll just share some recent lines on The bird and the bee album:

"Are you prepared for the atom bomb? Are you prepared for my aching arms? Are you prepared? Are you prepared? Are you prepared for serenity? Are you prepared to disagree?
Are you prepared? Are you prepared for me?
Do you know who I am? I'm alive, you understand? Alive Alive Alive"

LG: Jasseron, by Emily Loizeau. This guy is singing to his lady that he has a fabulous anniversary gift for her. She guesses what it could be- candies maybe? A watch? As it turns out, the gift is side by side plots with a view in the lovely little cemetery of Jasseron. I think it's quite romantic.

DJ: "Look, I've never had a dream in my life
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven't pursued
I knew what I wanted and did it till it was done
So I've been the dream that I wanted to be since day one!"
Aesop Rock, No regrets

LM: Stuck in my head right now is Brand New Key... "don't go too fast, but I go pretty far."

What's next for you as a group:
DJ: In November we are having a show curated by Steven Earl Weber (co-director of the 201 Gallery), that will be split between 2 venues, the Coral Street Arts House and the 201 Gallery. It runs from November 8th through December 6th and the openings will be held simultaneously on Thursday, November 8th from 6-9pm. Laura Graham and Laura McKinley will be showing at the Coral Street Arts House and Aubrie and I will be showing at 201 Gallery. We're offering free prints to the first 100 people that visit both venues. Hope you can join us!

The Other Woman at 201 Gallery and the Coral Street Arts House

201 Gallery
1400 N. American Street, Suite 201
Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.236.2872
www.myspace.com/201gallery

Coral Street Arts House
2446 Coral Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125
215.739.0310
www.nkcdc.org

The Spinning Leaves

2007-09-03T19:15:00.000-05:00

Michael Baker and Barbara Gettes, of the Spinning Leaves, met up with us at Fuji Mountain on Chestnut Street. They’ve been recording, and hope to have an album produced by this fall or winter. Michael says “We've gotten really enchanted lately with recording - hoots and hollers and wooden pump organs and whispers and sitars and horns and so many inspiring players and friends. It's exciting. And we're planning some excursions in the fall with Hoots and Hellmouth and Hezekiah Jones and Andrew Lipke which should all be very interesting.”

Michael and Barbara explained to us that their songs are mainly about love; they’re interested in societal change. They hope to enable people through mutual empowerment and community building, and they’ve been working on a grassroots media campaign to reduce gun violence in Philadelphia.

Barbara is currently bartending at a vegetarian Ethiopian restaurant in West Philly. She has a background working in education and the non-profit sector. Michael attended Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and was a history major. He moved to Philly one year ago to focus on music. He’s not the only musician/ artist in his family; his cousin is the Button King, who’s been featured on a number of television programs over the years (Johnny Carson, Geraldo, etc.) – you might want to check out this video: SCButtonKing.

Check out their website to watch videos and while you’re there, be sure to listen to “Promontory Wind” with its haunting melody and angelic vocals and the mellow “Transister Radio.” Upcoming shows (September and October) include NY, NH, VT and PA.

Karl Bielik

2007-07-20T17:49:00.001-05:00

A little while back in June, we noticed the art of Karl Bielik and checked out his site. We wanted to know more, so we sent him a round of questions, which he replied to.

Your websites: http://www.karlbielik.com/ - paintings; http://www.terracestudios.co.uk/ - gallery: http://www.myspace.com/lark2006 - band.

Favorite short story or poem: The Bluebird - Charles Bukowski

Favorite lyrics to a song: "Rhodedendrum is a nice flower" from Do The Strand by Roxy Music

What are you currently reading? The Heart, edited by James Peto. It's a welcome trust exhibit based on the heart (factual and fictional) and before A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard - James Frey

Tell us a little about yourself. I'm a painter and musician and that's generally what i do.

Favorite movies: It's a Wonderful Life

Tell us about your recent artwork. Large scale oil paintings, abstract with text and dealing with the idea of departure, failure, leaving and not using any black paint.

Describe the environment and atmosphere you work in for us. Do you generally work alone or with people? I work in both art and music in the studios/gallery that I run. I work alone when I paint, with other band members in Lark in two separate studios.

Is it quiet or do you play music? Music in both

What interests do you have other than art? Music, literature, film, second hand things, socializing.

Jessica Stafford

2007-07-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

Your website(s): www.jessicastaffordsart.com
My website is constantly being updated with my art and a list of my current shows.

Favorite lyrics to a song:
"Soldiers come quickly, I feel the earth beneath my feet." from the Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley.

What are you currently reading?
"How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist" by Caroll Michels, and "Limbo" by A. Manette Ansay

Favorite movies:
I Heart Huckabees, Little Miss Sunshine, Amelie, Garden State, and Boondock Saints.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Petaluma, CA. I've always loved art, and started oil painting at 14. I went to San Diego State University and earned my BA in Painting and Printmaking with an Art History minor in May 2006. Since graduating I traveled to Costa Rica and Peru. I missed my family and moved back to Petaluma, where I work at Whole Foods Market as a chalkboard artist.

Tell us about your recent artwork.
I have been working on a new series called "Quarter Life Crisis." I've been creating more collages in birth control pill cases and painting on canvases.

Describe the environment and atmosphere you work in for us; do you generally work alone or with people? Is it quiet or do you play music?
Right now I am working in my apartment. I generally like to listen to music or talk to my roommate if she is home. When I was in school I loved to talk while I created. I met great friends in schools by having conversations while painting like Suzanne and Adrienne.

What interests do you have other than art?
I like to do yoga, exercise and travel. I'm also very passionate about helping the environment. For Christmas last year I gave every one renewable choice energy wind power cards, and energy saving light bulbs in a reusable canvas bag.

Michael Ryan

2007-06-29T16:33:00.000-05:00

Your website(s): http://www.michaelryanart.com/

Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born is Southern California in 1982, grew up there always knowing I wanted to be an artist.

Tell us about your recent artwork.
I have quite a few paintings and drawings I am working on that are a continuation of this series/theme thats been on going for a couple years. Its ever evolving, but there is an underlying world throughout. Using historical models contrasted with contemporary elements and environments to depict the replacement and direction we are going in regards to spiritualism, the physical world, industry, individually, many other societal elements. Also very much dealing with human condition, the physical effects of a corrupted heart. Everything is being corrupted and polluted, but there is always a glimmer of hope, maybe a chance for salvation. Im also very much in love with just beautiful portraiture and am working on a series of portraits as well. Theres still alot of beauty left in the world and the soul but it just seems like its in front of a really ugly and disturbing back drop, and that beauty cant help but be polluted alot of the time.

Describe the environment and atmosphere you work in for us; do you generally work alone or with people? Is it quiet or do you play music?
Yeah I usually play music, either pretty heavy and fast music, or movie scores and classical. I usually prefer to be alone.

What interests do you have other than art?
I pretty much read when I'm not painting.

http://www.manufactured-dissent.blogspot.com/2007/06/michael-ryan.html

Anna C.

2007-05-21T17:20:00.000-05:00

Among other things and non-things
Anna was birthed in Philadelphia in 1975...

i was born like all of us and there were green plush carpets that I crawled on
up stairs and into a room where I was funnily received and
Brought back downstairs to our apartment from the well-received intrusion on adults fucking
and there was a yellow room and a crib w/ orange and green and pink and white plaid walls which the cracked ceiling was rectangularity framed by and there was a bathtub that was a huge pool to my scale, that my parents made and I learned to swim in, before i learned to talk and a “dinning room” with tin punched silver dragon walls where many bananas were mashed by gums and then baby teeth then there were pigeons that would fly in the window of the new home we stole from them and my mother in the adjacent room , who heard me scream, coming in to swat them away from me and their former home, with a broom and there was space and light funneled though two story spaces, opened up, in an old Victorian building being re-broken-down, after it’s most recent inhabited (/renovated) past/life, as 1930’s tenement housing we found strange things small skeletons in opalized bottles, in 1 and a half feet of dirt, we dug out of the basement. closets, Victorian, original to the place, with toilets in them, small divided cells where people lived Victorian stencils and frescos -broken, on ceilings and passageway walls, when we removed the many years of layers layers of years of wall paper
Then there was living there in transformation walking over plank bridges to my bedroom, with the curtain wall and I mean the wall was a curtain, not the architectural term “curtain wall” a curtain I drew my favorite beings/characters on: Dracula, Alice in wonderland, the Cheshire caterpillar and others, when the hall was being leveled there there was space and time and the sound of records in bright, light, space david bowie, KISS, Marvin Gay, Beatles, Diana Ross, Echo and the Bunny Men, Prince, Michael Jackson and more this is where I was born again and again i am not religious but am reborn again and again through life, films, music, light, space, body, love, sick, muse...

Unni Woodworks

2007-05-02T16:45:00.000-05:00

Two Handcrafted Lanterns Made from Recycled Materials
http://www.unniwoodworks.com/

Shoji Lantern

Description of Lantern: Shoji - the modern term for translucent paper doors or windows - was the inspiration behind this lantern upon finding a piece of corrugated plastic in a curbside throw away. The side cutouts originated with two free-hand pencil lines that were then transcribed and cut allowing just a hint of light to sneak out of the sides. The slightly curved and beveled top help to frame the gentle glow of the Shoji.

A hand rubbed wax finish over oil and polyurethane was applied bringing out the beautiful grain contrasts of the red oak sides and Spanish cedar top and bottom.

Material sources:
Thrown away corrugated plastic, a pallet, an old bed rail, scrap plastic laminate, store bought lighting and cord

A Light From Lincoln Foods

The white birch lantern features mortise and tenon joinery, pyramid plugs and chamfered edges with a finish of clear lacquer and wax.

All wood and glass (and the top 2 screws) have been recycled from the old Lincoln Foods building in Lawrence Massachusetts.

For more information on Joe Unni and his work: http://www.manufactured-dissent.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

Yuko Adachi

2007-04-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

Your website(s): http://www.superfineartist.com/ or www.YUKOADACHI.com

Tell us a little about yourself. I was born in Tokyo and was raised in Japan, Paris, London and the United States of America. I traveled extensively while I was young. I acknowledge cultural differences between countries and respect them as a historical legacy of humanity, but deep in my heart, I just feel that I am a person, just like anyone else, who just wants to connect with people from soul to soul. I am humbly fascinated with how every human being is born with a talent unique to themselves. The contributions of every one of us have the potential to make this world better. I just happen to be born to become an artist. I feel I am here to share and nurture my gift with others. I’ll rejoice the moment we are able to share in being alive through my works. Today, I live and work in Boston with my partner, Swiss artist Andreas Gmur.

Tell us about your recent artwork. My works reflect my genuine love for life, an appreciation of being alive and my interest in expressing the spiritual journey during the process of creating art. I find it my responsibility as an artist to stay genuine to what it means to create art works and to understand how art can be so important to support and foster the potential human spiritual evolution. To me, art is about exchanging the pure energy of love by staying true to my present self, and by giving the best of my purest present energy. I paint and draw in many different styles and I want to stay that way. I do not want to get imprisoned in my own creation as long as I can stay creative and free and to trust myself. Just like art, music and books have enriched my spiritual growth; I want my work to be a part of encouragement and discovery of beauty and strength for the growth of inner life within all of us.

When did you first realize that you wanted to work w/ art? I told people I wanted to be an artist when I was 5.

Can you explain how you decide on the images you use in your work? I do not have any images I work with from the start till the very end. I have no idea what comes up next and that keeps me excited because the sky is my limit when I create art. The imageries will all come out naturally through the dialogue between the blank sheet of paper or canvas I start off and where it takes me is an unknown path, otherwise, why bother doing art? To me, art is about trusting human potential and opening myself to the higher ground that is yet to be awakened so I can be in touch with the universal energy of life. It is a way to be in the state of ultimate nothingness filled with everything about life.

Can you describe the environment and atmosphere you work in for us? Do you generally work alone or with people? Is it quiet or do you play music? I can never work with anybody around me. I can not even work well when I detect my own presence. It is hard to get there every time but when I am able to purely become one with the present moment to the point that I forget my identity and I am no longer bounded by my physical body, I feel as if I become a ball of energy. When I catch that later after I snap out of it, I feel that I was in the ultimate creative environment. Sometimes I play music when I make art but it all depends on my mood. I love music so it is always in me. I use music to get myself into a meditative state or when I try to bring out certain emotions that I need to get in touch with.

What interests do you have other than art? Food, music, singing, travel, books, yoga and nature. I love throwing parties with my own cooking. I have a tremendous joy in making delicious and creative food using ingredients I have never tried before and presenting them in such ways so that the guests enjoy the ambiance of the party. I love music and can not live without it. I play instruments but I am not proficient. If I were musically gifted, I would have loved to be a musician because I feel music is the most powerful form of art to reach the human hearts.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist? People react very well to my work and I am not too worried about my future as long as I keep creating the best works I can in the given moment, but the business side of art is hard especially for someone like me who will not trade the freedom of my creativity with commercial success. I used to think that I want to make a living with my art but learning the downside of it, selling art is secondary to me at this point and I try to bring money for living from other sources to pursue my true calling as an artist without any distraction of financial stress. I do not want to paint just to fill up the gallery walls to have a look of a coherent body of works like a factory without any artistic connection to the work. If it naturally happens, that is fine but I do not want to create art for any other reasons except for expressing my inner voices to connect with other souls. To me, that is real and I want to be true to my art. I see the importance of exposure so people will notice your work and your presence as an artist, so I try to show my works when I think the venue is right for me. I feel that fundamentally, true art and business, they should not interfere each other. Each stands on its own. I am learning to take time to find a gallery or art rep who understands what I am and encourages me to stay true to my path. I know it will happen.

Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past? Yes, 2 years ago, I was fortunate to be discovered by two talented musicians, Ai Isshiki and Sakiko Mori, who offered to create original music for my paintings and I also painted listening to their music and we put a show together. They performed a live music in front of my paintings and audiences and the energy of the show was beautiful. You can check the reviews at: http://www.meniscusmagazine.com/6_issue_site/6pages/vibes_i6_019.htm

Who and what are your influences? I am just one of the living entities in the universe, so everything around me influences me including physical and non physical matters. My most positive influences are spiritual connection to the energy of life, especially with people who are on the similar energy vibration as me and all the nature.

Looking back, how has your style changed? I don’t know if I can call it a change but I can definitely see the growth.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I am unable to think about too much of a future given the fact that all I have is now. If I am still alive in 10 years, I will be excited to learn what I am at that moment. I shall see!

Have you had any other careers? How have these influenced your career as an artist? Once I worked for a big firm and I did not have time to make art. It made me realize that if I do not create art, I die. So here I am. I want to dedicate my energy to create art as much as possible.

What are the best and worst parts of your work? Best part is when I look at my work, although it came through me, I feel the art work has a life of its own and some of my own works moves me when I am feeling down and gives me much love. Worst parts? If I do not like my work, I let it sit for a while till the day I feel I know what to do with it, so I need lots of storage!

Have you studied art in school? Besides taking other classes, I took some art classes at Georgetown University in Washington D.C, and I received my second bachelor's in painting in Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University and I also attended the School of Museum of Fine Arts as a selected exchange student. After graduating art school, I took continuing education classes at Mass College of Art.

Do you plan each of your pieces in detail beforehand or do they evolve as you create them? They evolve.

People in your field whom you most admire: I admire any human beings who are genuine and passionate towards what they do, so there is no specific single person who I admire.

What has the reaction to your work been? Emotionally charged and positive. Some even cry.

Do you have the memory of a very special moment in you career? Yes, when I realized that my body is just a container for my soul when I am creating art and when people connect with my work and a total stranger came and hugged me and we understood each other’s energy.

Favorite songs/ favorite music: Songs I love are so personal and it does not mean a thing to anyone else so I will not list them here but I love acoustic music, Jazz, Bossanova, 80’s, soundtracks from movies and Classical music.

Favorite painter/ artist: I enjoy looking at Gauguin’s color palette and subject matters, Klimt’s design quality and handling of the paint, Magritte’s psychology behind the work, Francis Bacon’s composition and surface and energy, Picasso’s different stages in life, Sargent’s brush works and Van Gogh’s dedication and it goes on…

Magazines you read regularly: I don’t do anything on a regular basis except for making art…. But I sometimes read spiritual magazines if I feel like it and also look at fashion magazines to look at the photos.

Movies you love so much you've watched them more than twice: Sound of Music, E.T, Something Got To Give, Amelie, Waterloo Bridge, Roman Holidays.

Last concert/performance attended:
Concert: Gomez
Performance: Aoi and Komachi

Favorite authors, fiction: Osamu Dazai (Japanese author).

Favorite authors, nonfiction: There is a book I absolutely keep close to my heart which I would like to share with you. It is called “THE POWER OF NOW” by Eckhart Tolle. I connect very much with the contents of this book and it supports me to be who I really am when I feel lost and the world seems little overwhelming for me to handle.

Message from the artist:

Yuko would like to thank you for reading this Q&A, and she would like to wish you a wonderful day!

Joel Bergner

2007-03-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

While growing up in Illinois, Joel took a few art classes in high school and college, such as figure drawing and photography, though he was mostly self-taught and developed a unique style of drawing and painting inspired by his experiences in life and the people he encountered along the way. He worked various jobs, from roof construction to restaurant work, but it was community-based work that became Joel's passion and direction in life. He worked closely with schizophrenic patients in a mental health facility and then went on to work with the homeless population in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood as a homeless center and shelter supervisor.

Despite a busy schedule, Joel always found time to paint, often staying up most of the night creating large-scale and extremely detailed works of art that were intense, emotionally powerful, and increasingly socially conscious. Joel eventually turned to painting murals, and spent the summer of 2001 working on the mural "The Storm" in a Taylor Street cafe called Jamoch's (now called Demitasse Cafe).

During this period Joel spent time in Honduras and later in rural Dominican Republic, where he worked for short periods of time as a volunteer doing construction work and teaching.
The mural, entitled "De Frontera a Frontera," featured social commentary on the relationship between wealthy tourists, Dominicans, and Haitians on the island, as well as everyday scenes of life in rural and urban areas of the country. The mural, located in San Francisco, made such an impact on the community that it was voted the "Best Public Mural" at the 2003 Precita Eyes mural award ceremony.

In the spring of 2004 Joel worked for an organization in El Salvador as a teacher, and he was also an International Election observer for the presidential elections that year.
In 2005 Joel painted "El Inmigrante" on the corner of 23rd Street and Shotwell (in San Francisco), which was recently featured in the New York Times.

In the fall of 2005 Joel went to Salvador da Bahia, in Brazil, to live with the family of some friends. During these months Joel taught English and art classes for children and learned Brazilian Portuguese. He lived in a community of Candomble, an Afro-Brazilian religion, and painted four paintings of the deities, known as Orixas, for the community.

Joel continues to live in San Francisco, where he has worked for more than three years in a treatment center for emotionally troubled teenagers who struggle with violence, suicide, drugs, and other issues. http://www.joelsmurals.com/

Bill Dunlap

2007-03-22T09:16:00.000-05:00

Bill Dunlap has shown his art in many galleries and art centers across the country. He was a Spring 2006 Fellow and Artist-in-Residence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a painter, sculptor, illustrator, cartoonist living in a small town in Western Maryland called Cumberland. I moved here about six months ago. Before that, I lived in San Francisco for 15 years, and I still manage to go back there every few months.

Tell us about your recent artwork.
I’m working with cheaper, more ephemeral material these days, like butcher paper, sticks, string, and cardboard. I’m working on things large and small at the same time. The big one I’m working on right now is a 6ft tall and 25ft long mural on paper.

Have you exhibited your work?
I have, and I think I still enjoy it, but showing art can get to be a bit of a drag. There is a formula to getting shows, hanging them, opening receptions, then taking down the work that can get to be quite depressing. I’ve had over 50 group and solo shows over the past five years. I often tell myself that I should stop showing my art and just build my own private world on my property, kinda like Howard Finster did, but I guess I’m not ready yet.

Can you describe the environment and atmosphere you work in for us? Do you generally work alone or with people? Is it quiet or do you play music?
I generally work alone, and I work in various places around my house. I have a large-ish basement studio where I do most of my painting, but I will start drawing or building things with paper, string, cardboard, etc. almost anywhere. I also work in the woods outdoors making large stone and stick-pile sculptures. I prefer to work in quiet outdoors, just listening to the wind in the trees, but often the barking dogs drive me inside the house. There, I generally listen to music, most often classical.

What interests do you have other than art?
Some would include: nature, quiet, meditation, vegetarianism, veganism, animals, exercise, saxophone, flute, Shakespeare, history, poetry, literature, book collecting, listening to classical music, hiking, biking, philosophy, wood work, simplifying my life.

Have you collaborated w/ other artists in the past?
Not as much as I would like. People are very busy and it’s hard to find like-minded people near by. I enjoy collaborating with dead artists. I often take text from writers and images from old paintings and incorporate them in my own work.

Who and what are your influences?
Who: Mostly outsiders of one stripe or another. Among artists, that would be primitive peoples, developmentally disabled, children, visionaries (of the non-religious variety preferably), and the mentally ill (Artaud writing in his madness, for example).
What: Nature, quiet, animals

Looking back, how has your style changed?
I don’t know. I just keep trying to get at something, something elemental powerful complex hilarious stupid simple disturbing calming, etc. Lately, I’ve been working on (and dreaming of) much larger things.

Have you had any other careers? How have these influenced your career as an artist?
I worked for years as a graphic designer/web designer and co-founded an award-winning web development company in San Francisco called Terrascope. I did work for big clients like Travelocity, USAToday, Rand McNally, and US Bank. Luckily, the whole miserable thing imploded before I succeeded at drinking myself to death. What influence did this have? I realized I can’t hold a job or sit in long meetings. So what else is there but to become an artist?
Do you plan each of your pieces in detail beforehand or do they evolve as you create them?

A little of both, but the real driving force of creating, for me, is the totally unplanned spontaneous intuitive coming out that happens somewhere along the line. Every “art thing” I do has to have a lot of that in it.

People in your field whom you most admire:
This is a hard one to answer. I think I should stick with people I know personally, since I know their personalities and to some extent their intentions as artists. For me, the personality and the intent of the artist is intimately involved in the art work itself. Let’s face it, everyone has the potential to be creative and probably 90% of becoming an “art star” is determined by the amount of hustling done by the artist, so if you are an asshole as an artist I really won’t have much interest in your work. Some of the sincerest people I know following their own voices are Stephen Tompkins, Jake Watling, MariNaomi, Peter Kohler, Sean Samoheyl.

What are your most and least two favorite films?
Two of my favorites might be Tarkovsky’s The Sacrifice (although I haven’t seen it in more than 10 years) and The Third Man, or maybe La Dolce Vita, or maybe something by Kurosawa or Bresson. I’ve not seen a Hollywood blockbuster all-star cast type of movie since I was maybe 12 years old. I suppose something like that might be my least favorite film.

What are you reading right now?
I really like reading Shakespeare. Currently, I’m reading/re-reading Richard III. I’m also reading a pretty good book about semiotics in the visual arts. It’s called Visible Signs by David Crow. I also randomly poke into these to get provocative quotes: Joseph Beuys In America, and an Antonin Artaud anthology I have. Here’s a random quote from Artaud: “I hunger less for food than for some kind of elementary consciousness.”

Favorite music:
Some of my favorite songs are by Bob Dylan, and a lot from old time Appalachian singers like Roscoe Holcomb, Dock Boggs, and Bascom Lunsford. But lately I’ve been listening mostly to 20th Century classical music, with my favorites being Lutoslawski, Pendereki, Bartok, Berg, Schoenberg, and Webern.

Favorite comic strips/ comic books:
Even though my work has a lot of cartoony looking imagery, I’m not really a big fan of traditional comics or cartoons. However, I have been influenced a lot by Little Nemo in Slumberland and Lyonel Feininger’s comics from the early 1900’s. Among contemporary comics, I think Matt Brinkman’s stuff is, at times, pure genius.

Last concert/performance attended:
The most recent performance I saw was Bob Marsh performing as Mr. Mercury at an art opening I had at Receiver Gallery in San Francisco. Bob’s a genius, too (just like Brinkman in my previous answer) except that I know Bob. Which means I can follow him around town and bug him with thousands of questions. You can hear and see more of him here: http://www.myspace.com/bobisadoctor

Bill Dunlap's Website: http://www.billdunlap.com/

Erin Candela

2007-03-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Erin Candela's first solo exhibition, entitled “We, Needles Under Snow” opened in Montreal on December 6th, 2006. Erin’s work explores Canadian Identity and Mythology, through a combination of drawings and etchings. Candela approaches her work through story, history and narratives relating to the development of identity.

"Canadians, being part of a fairly new country, and being made up of a number of different cultural sources, have difficulty and are resistant to the application of a generalized cultural identity. We sit in the shadow of one of the loudest and most dominant countries in the world, and we react against it's overwhelming nationalism. This makes it that much more important that Canadians; that is Quebecers, recent immigrants, prairie peoples, Metis, Maritimers, and the rest, become conscious and recognize their own place in the world, their own history, and what it is that makes them part and parcel of this complicated and beautiful piece of land that we call Canada. This is not to say that we need to subsume our particular histories, nationhood or cultural backgrounds. That we guard and keep these differences is what makes us different and complex as a country. However, as Canadians, we also need to become more informed and aware of what connects the peoples of this geographical area. We are different, but we all choose to live and be here together."

Much of what is seen in Erin Candela's drawings is typical of what has been considered particularly "Canadian" themes: natural landscape, wild animals, portraits of isolation and estrangement, and the discussion around "multiculturalism". Her drawings are more than simple depictions of the established history, however. Over the past year, Candela has researched and talked with people about their own impressions of what being "Canadian" means, and her drawings reflect the beginings of a personal take on the essentials of a Canadian mythology. How do we situate the pioneers and explorers of our past stories with the political and social problems of our present?

For more information, contact Erin Candela at candelae@gmail.com or (514) 842-0540. http://www.myspace.com/candelae [Press release reprinted with the permission of the artist.]