| // Mar 19, 2008 |
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| Artist Feature by Todd Brooks / Pendu Magazine and Gallery |
1. - Q: When did you first start making artwork? Is there a particular artist or group of artists that really sparked your interest in making art?
A: I first started making artwork in Junior High when I realized my printmaking classes were the only classes I could stand. What I really fell in love with were the pre-war woodcuts depicting strife and unrest in the world. There was something about the graphic hard-line message that intrigued me.
2. - Q: Did you go to art school? If so, what effect did art school have on your art? In what ways did they make you better? Do you feel you were taught things that you now have to “unlearn”?
A:I went to school at SUNY Purchase. It was just good to be around so many different people with varying styles who loved to make shit all the time. Environment is huge for me, I like to have other’s opinions as sometimes I get stuck. My teachers were great at teaching process and leaving subject matter to the student.
3. - Q: What keeps you inspired to continue making new work?
A: Our current administration.
4. - Q: What themes do you find yourself most attracted to and returning to in your work?
A: I keep a vested interest in work that says something to people. It doesn’t matter if it looks great on the wall as long as they’re thinking about the message. I am pretty simple in that respect.
5. - Q: How much of each piece of your artwork would you consider comes from an intuitive or spontaneous sense of creating and how much is analytical and planned out?
A: It’s really all intuitive. I spend most of my time working from train of thought… all my work has layers of thoughts in layers of inks.
6. - Q: How important is music to your art? Do you listen to certain music when working? Any particular musicians?
A: Music is huge. I listen to mostly bands on constellation records when I work (Do Make Say Think.) There is something sad about making art and I don’t want to accidentally hear any Black Eyed Peas or some shit because I might stab the canvas.
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7. - Q: Do you have a favorite cultural critic, philosopher, or psychoanalyst that you enjoy reading/learning from? Has their work directly or indirectly influenced you and if so, in what ways?
A: Herman Hesse probably. I also got a lot of good advice from Antonio Frasconi, my book-making teacher.
8. - Q: Who is your favorite young author right now?
A: Young authors are tough… maybe Dave Eggers but I am not a fan of memoirs and that’s all I see these days. So I will say George Orwell, who is my favorite author.
9. - Q: Is there a young visual artist right now whose work particularly has your attention?
A: Christian Little, Scott Meyers, Cory Barber, Charlie Ly.
10. - Q: Do you make a living as an artist? If not, and you don't mind sharing, what is your day/night job?
A: That’s a funny question. I design wallpaper and teach printmaking.
11. - Q: What are your future plans?
A: I would love to start my own business in silkscreen. I love to play and record music so it looks like I am screwed financially.
12. - Q: Any cryptic messages that you would like to send out to the readers?
A: “We Did It.” Just kidding… I don’t know, Free Palestine?
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