99% talks to Joseph O. Holmes
Posted in: interview On: November 20, 2009 By:kara
Danziger Projects (James Desk), 2009 by Joseph O. Holmes
JBG artist and 20x200 superstar, Joseph O. Holmes, was interviewed on Behance's creative productivity and organization blog 99%. Joe's series Workspace was the focus of the conversation, which is his "ongoing attempt to examine the quasi-private spaces people carve out of their public work lives."
From an excerpt,
99%: What makes a particular space interesting to you?Joe: I'm immediately drawn to a workspace filled to the brim, dense and layered, accumulated over a long period of time. I like to believe that a workspace reveals much about the person who works there, but honestly, that aspect doesn't interest me. My main criterion is how it looks—the lighting, the colors, the repeating details. I'm drawn to the odd symmetry, to the overall shape of a space. And of course the things—the photos and tools and notes. Everything else—the usefulness, the organization—is secondary. I don't consider the project documentary or typology work; it's about the strange beauty of these accidental sculptures. But of course I'm happy if people take more from the images.
Read the full interview with Joe here.
For those of you in New York, you can also see images from theWorkspace series in-person; they are currently on view at Rag & Bone in Soho (119 Mercer Street). Joe's Prospect Park #2, of which there are a handful left on 20x200, will also be featured in Mixtape, opening at Jen Bekman Gallery tonight from 6–8 p.m.
Jen + Gina Talk Shop Part Two
Posted in: interview On: September 3, 2009 By:sara
Brooklyn Morning by Youngna Park
Picking up where we left off last week, Jen and Gina Trapani delve into Brooklyn nostalgia, circuitry and swimming as they wrap up their chat and Gina's stint as guest curator. Thanks again to Gina for taking a break from Smarterware and joining us here!
..........
| Gina: | I got really nostalgic about several of the NYC photos. I really miss Brooklyn so much, which is why I chose Brooklyn Morning. It photo-tugs at my heartstrings. Those little pieces of colored paper on the sidewalk got me. |
| Jen: | Aww! That is by Youngna Park, who is a very webby photographer. She did one of our very first editions and now she's the Associate Producer of all the JBP sites! Plus, she's been involved with the gallery forever. She was one of the very first Hot Shots in 2005. And, she is a photo-blogger. Remember those? A dying breed. |
iSketch104 by Jorge Colombo
| Gina: | Oh yes, I do remember those, fondly! And, of course, Jorge Colombo's iSketch104 is also a predictably geeky pick on my part. I must confess: I'm a little judgmental about people who stand around staring at their phones when out in public. It’s the whole disconnection/being absent thing. Keep in mind that I do this all the time; we judge things in others we don't like about ourselves. So, what I love is that Jorge turned that right over on its head. And now I can think, "Well, maybe that person is making art." |
| Jen: | Hah! Wow, that's totally great. And yes, they just might be. Have you seen the films of his process that are on The New Yorker's website? They are incredible. |
| Gina: | Yes, that New Yorker cover blew my doors off. The video was amazing. |
| Jen: | I was SO PROUD! They have been posting new ones every week. Actually, I was late for our little IM rendezvous because I had a long breakfast meeting with Jorge and I got to take a peek at his latest videos this morning. |
| Gina: | On his phone? So cool! |
| Jen: | Plus—best thing ever—he started making a sketch of me! |
| Gina: | OMG. |
| Jen: | I think that it's easy to assume that it's the tool that makes the drawings interesting—especially since there was so much coverage about [Brushes] the iPhone app after the cover came out—instead of how to support the artist, GRRRRR. But seeing his process, right before my eyes, really drove home how it's really just a set of tools, and he uses them deftly. |
| Gina: | Agreed, that was pure skill on his part. Yeah, my reaction was, "Wow, this person has put in years of work to get to the point where he can do that with that." |
| Jen: | Yeah, it's clear to me that someone could be a total brushes master and never coax such layered, emotional stuff out of their phone. He combines NYC nostalgia with the very cutting edge of technology. |
| Gina: | Yup. |
| Jen: | One thing he was talking about today is how influenced he is by film. His idea of NYC was shaped by film before he arrived here and has remained an enduring touchstone for him through the years. He carries around the opening sequence of Woody Allen's Manhattan on his phone! We watched it together this a.m., and wouldn't you know it, there's a shared sensibility between those scenes and his drawings. This is the part where I will smugly remind everyone reading that I have THE BEST JOB EVER. |
| Gina: | Oh wow! Interesting. Hahaha, you do! |
| Jen: | Totally. I mean your gig seems pretty sweet too, but... |
| Gina: | It is. As someone who was born and raised in NYC, I feel like his pieces are so authentic. |
| Jen: | Yeah, they are definitely that, and plus there's so much that goes into them, so much feeling, experience. I loved sitting down at my desk and discovering that you chose one of his drawings, right after I saw him, because I am totally keyed-up about his work right now. And it's nice to hear that someone gets the same sense of the drawings without having been privy to our conversation. |
| Gina: | Good timing. He deserves all the support and kudos. I want to see more of these. |
| Jen: | Well, part of what we were talking about was future plans, for 20x200, of course, but beyond that. I'm hoping that Jorge and I are going to get to collaborate on some pretty interesting projects. Plus, I think you can expect to see a bit more from him in 20x200-land come Christmas. |
| Gina: | Excellent! |
| Jen: | OK, did you pick up on the fact that you chose three aerial shots and a globe to tie it all in? Was that intentional or instinctual? |
| Gina: | It was kind-of intentional. I love aerial photography and am obsessed with flight, in general. I actually flew a small plane once! And, I love small things representing big things and vice-versa, which shows in a bunch of my picks. |
| Jen: | YES. Again, I love seeing the perspectives of others on what we've released thus far. |
Howon by Hosang Park
| Gina: | And the Howon photo, my goodness. Circuitry, neurons, urban landscape—all that stuff in one photo. |
| Jen: | He is incredibly talented, that Hosang Park. He's going to have a solo show at JBG in the fall. And how did we find such talent? Hey, Hot Shot! |
| Gina: | That photo really got into my head. I can't stop looking at it. |
| Jen: | Also, maybe it's like, DUH, to you, but there is a surprising synchronicity twixt his aerials and Mark Richards' computer innards. Again, not something I would've sussed out myself, but you honed right in on it. |
| Gina: | Yes! We all have our fixations, and those kinds of patterns are mine. |
Houndstooth Pattern in Parking Lot, at Disney World, FL by Alex MacLean
| Jen: | And actually, because you opened that door for me, thankyewverymuch, I sense a less obvious kinship between Alex's wonderful Houndstooth Pattern and Mark's other edition, the aforementioned IBM mainframe. |
| Gina: | Yes, indeed. |
| Jen: | I can see why you're tuned into those details, naturally, seeing how you spend your days. |
| Gina: | Yes, it's pretty obvious. When I was done, I looked at the collection and thought it was pretty predictable for me! |
| Jen: | Well, I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you found so much that suited you. |
| Gina: | It was difficult to narrow things down. I had a dozen, I think. It was killer to do the edit. |
Untitled (Bondi Baths, Sydney, Australia) by Carlo Van de Roer
| Jen: | And as for Carlo's swim selection... I could be confusing you with another kick-ass female, tech-world superstar, Ms. Esther Dyson—her whole Flickr stream is riddled with hotel pools from all over the world—but are you a swimmer? |
| Gina: | I love swimming, and years ago I was pretty diligent about hitting the pool more often. I did my first triathlon last year—a super mini-sprint—and got back to the pool to train, and this photo took me back there. I love how the water bends the repeating lane lines, and that angle is perfect, with the tiny swimmer. So good. |
| Jen: | Yea, for sure. Man, what is it with rad ladies I know and triathlons? Erika of Mule Design-fame just finished one last weekend up in Napa. |
| Gina: | It's one of those addictive challenges. |
| Jen: | One that's lost on me to date, alas. I did just buy some running shoes, however, inspired by the good habits of Alaina and Liz Danzico. (This is a veritable who's who of my favorite web-world women.) Hehe. |
| Gina: | Good running shoes are key! Alaina's running is really inspirational. |
| Jen: | Yes, and the thing I love about her is her pragmatic attitude. She said to me: "I run so I can eat." She loves to eat and knows ALL the best places. |
| Gina: | I need a t-shirt that says that. |
| Jen: | And Liz, she's got a very GTD attitude about running... she does a half-hour run every day with surprising consistency, and she credits her sanity to that practice. Maybe we should hit up Mike and Erika to make that tee for us! We could form the Running-to-Eat triathlon team! |
| Gina: | We totally should. |
| Jen: | And then, we can all go for a run in Austin, in a few short months. |
| Gina: | I'm in. |
| Jen: | Oh speaking of Austin and running, totally tangential, but I am dying for these shoes. Alyssa was wearing them in Austin last year, evaluating them to write the very article that I just linked to! |
| Gina: | Those are fabulous. |
| Jen: | And I was like... hmm, maybe running IS for me. I actually think they're available in San Diego. They only have them in one store, in a few test markets. |
| Gina: | Ooh, I may have to hunt these down. SD is the triathlon capital of the world. |
| Jen: | If you read the article, you'll find them deeply appealing to the geek in you. |
| Jen: | We'll have to get Alyssa a t-shirt too. We're going to give Anil's annual SXSW kickball game a run for its money with our rad shoes and cool Running-to-Eat t-shirts. You can't buy them ANYWHERE in NYC. Pout. |
| Gina: | I'll have to bring you a pair. |
Globe by Rachel Hulin
| Jen: | Hehe. Now, we have to zoom out for an overview at the end! Which brings us to Ms. Hulin's wonderful globe photo, which I adore too. |
| Gina: | Oh, yes—this was also a mix of geeky nostalgia with a little aerial fetish thrown in. I felt like I was a kid again. |
| Jen: | Yeah, totally, and yet, it's a sophisticated photo. It's an interesting perspective on the mundane, which means that some people look at it and think, "Snapshot!" But now that you've honed your curatorial process, it's not lost on you, nosiree. |
| Gina: | It makes me feel like I'm nine years-old and about to go to bed, the door about to get pulled shut; a great moment, even though this was a shot from her adult-view of her room as a child. |
| Jen: | Heh, totally. She was in her childhood bedroom and took it from bed. I loved talking to her about it, it was another recent newsletter highlight for me. My job rocks. I can't help but brag about it. And speaking of which, I've monopolized a LOT of your time already. I'm guessing your job might need some attending to itself. |
| Gina: | It does, it must be so great interacting with the artists. Oh yeah, actually, I'm gonna grab some lunch. Thank you SO much for asking me to do this. It was so fun and educational. |
| Jen: | This was AWESOME, really super fun. I'm also excited to hear that I'll have opportunities to see you in the coming months! |
| Gina: | Yes! Let's keep in touch and be sure to catch up. |
| Jen: | So talk/see you soon and have a great lunch. Thanks again. |
| Gina: | Thanks Jen, talk soon. |
| Jen: | Byeee. |
Jen + Gina Talk Shop Part One
Posted in: interview On: August 28, 2009 By:sara
And now, I'll let the brilliant ladies speak for themselves.
| Jen: | Aloha! How are you? |
| Gina: | Doing well, thank you! And you? |
| Jen: | Really good. I had dinner with the president of your fan club last night. |
| Gina: | Oh really? Who is that? |
| Jen: | Anil. |
| Gina: | Oh cool! I *love* that guy! |
| Jen: | He is pretty rad, I do agree. Alaina and Anil are new friends, it's kind of awesome. I have a major friend crush. |
| Gina: | Oh, that's so cool y'all are hanging out. |
| Jen: | How's your summer going? |
| Gina: | Really well, been enjoying it, not traveling, doing the "staycation" thing here in San Diego. The weather's been outrageous, been doing a lot of body-boarding and lounging around outside and at the beach. |
Brooklyn Morning (17"x22") by Youngna Park | Globe (8"x10") by Rachel Hulin | Apple 1 (16"x20") by Mark Richards | Howon (11"x14") by Hosang Park | Houndstooth Pattern in Parking Lot, at Disney World, FL (16"x20") by Alex MacLean | Untitled (Bondi Baths, Sydney, Australia) (20"x24") by Carlo Van de Roer | iSketch104 (14"x11") by Jorge Colombo | The Office (17"x22") by Rebecca Loyche
| Jen: | OMG, love your selections! |
| Gina: | Oh, thanks! I had so much fun doing this. Normally, I'm looking at (often, pretty bland-looking) software, so this was really fun. |
| Jen: | Well, as I've said to the other curators, it's REALLY fun for me to see the selections that our guest curators make. And I was keen to have you do it because, as you're well aware, I DO consider you a curator! I was day-dreaming about our dinner before the Curating the Crowd-Sourced World panel just yesterday. How much fun was that? |
| Gina: | OMG, SO fun. I still think about that dinner too! |
| Jen: | Yeah, actually one thing that Nion said (I'm almost sure it was Nion) which I found deeply flattering, is that I had done a great job of curating people for the panel. |
| Gina: | Yes, you did. |
| Jen: | And, I do enjoy an opportunity to get together a diverse group of super-smarties who might never cross paths otherwise. In many ways, the preparation for the panel was the reward. Plus, [we ate] DONUTS. And oysters! |
| Gina: | Yum. Next March, in Austin, I'm taking YOU out for dinner. Or maybe in NYC sometime! |
| Jen: | Aren't you due for a trip here? Let's shoot for both and I'll pick up the check at one or the other. I was just polishing up the description of the talk I pitched for SXSW 2010! |
| Gina: | I pitched a panel myself for SXSW; we must vote for each other's panels. |
| Jen: |
Yes, we will vote. Mine's called Inbox Hero and it's about how newsletters are awesome:
Want to forge real connections in this era of always-on social media? Send email. Yes, email! A well-crafted, thoughtful newsletter campaign can boost sales, generate buzz, expand your market and drive traffic. 20x200's newsletters—essential to engaging its devoted, passionate audience—are key to the site's success. |
| Gina: | Love it! GREAT title. That's fantastic. |
| Jen: | I am fond. I pitched it as a solo talk which is a little nerve-rattling. What's your panel? |
| Gina: |
Mine's called How'd They DO That? Secrets of Web Superstars: Everyone starts out on the internet as a douche-bag. Then you do something that moves you above or below that line. - Ben Huh, SXSW 2009. How did the people you idolize online become internet rockstars? Hear a few of your favorite web content creators and tool developers discuss how they got started, lessons they learned along the way, and how to stay sane, inspired, and awesome when you work on the web. |
| Jen: | Yay! That is really great. Love the quote too, parfait. Who's on it? |
| Gina: | Well, I haven't gotten definite yeses from everyone yet, but hoping for... [Ed. Note: It’s a secret!] It's my excuse to interview my idols, should be fun! |
| Jen: | Nice. Well, it's sure to be the mutual admiration society. So, I remember when I met you at Foo last summer—OK, actually, when I was fan girl and introduced myself to you—I was SO excited that you knew 20x200. |
| Gina: | I do remember that, it was so cool to meet you in person: one of my favorite Foo connections ever. |
| Jen: | [blushing!] Aww, seriously? That is rad. I don't remember the conversation exactly, but there was something specific you said about art on 20x200 that made me feel like, OH MY GOD it's WORKING. I think maybe you said you hadn't gotten any prints but enjoyed looking and figuring out what you did and didn't like. (Tell me if I am imagining things entirely.) |
| Gina: | Yes, that's absolutely true. I love how it makes art accessible, easy to browse, affordable, less of a snob thing and more of a regular people thing. |
| Jen: | One of the other things we discussed is that I really believe the process of looking is what helps someone refine his/her taste. I was super excited that someone like you felt comfortable looking/browsing 20x200. Figuring out how to engage people, how to get them to really look, is something that I think about a lot. Because once they've made an authentic connection with an image, I feel like it makes them more interested in art overall. |
| Gina: | YES. That's why I really liked choosing my pieces today, I dove even deeper into thinking about why I liked certain pieces and what the patterns were overall. |
| Jen: | It's like a Rorschach to see what people choose. |
| Gina: | It is! It's so revealing about you as a person. I feel kind-of naked, actually. |
| Jen: | Well, you look good naked if one is to judge you solely on your selections. You chose a lot of photographs—BUT only a couple of them are actually figurative, a lot are abstractions. |
| Gina: | Haha, thanks. It hadn't even occurred to me that I went heavy on photographs, but that makes sense. I worked with photojournalists for a few years on a web site I helped produce. I think I developed a taste for photography then, though I don't work there anymore. |
| Jen: | Ahah! Yeah, that'd do it. I also think that almost any citizen of the modern world feels that they have a certain fluency with photographic images. When did you work there? |
| Gina: | Hmmm, must've been from 2003 'till 2006 or so, I was the "webmaster" and helped lay out the galleries, format article HTML, basic stuff. |
The Office by Rebecca Loyche
| Jen: | WEBMASTER—old skool. I think it's hilarious that Rebecca Loyche's photo is your favorite, by the way. |
| Gina: | I love that photo. It made me laugh out loud. That is totally me, on many days of the week. |
| Jen: | It's a really great photo and it gets better and better as you dig into the details. |
| Gina: | It's true, all the gadgets and computers everywhere, her outfit, the shoes. |
| Jen: | I'm actually particularly fond of the newsletter I wrote for that one. |
| Gina: | Love the wicked witch death hint. Hahaha, your newsletter is great; I love that it was about an irrational fear of fiscal management for you. |
| Jen: | I honed in on the accounting software myself since that kind of operational/administrative thing is my entrepreneurial nemesis. I have gotten MUCH better, for the record. It remains true that I am good at other things. I also like the photo's discordant color palette. |
| Gina: | The pink windowsill outlines are so great! |
Apple 1 by Mark Richards
| Jen: | So, are you trying to start a nerd war by choosing Woz's Mac instead of the IBM mainframe? |
| Gina: | Yes! Macs are prettier! This proves it! |
| Jen: | LOL. |
| Gina: | Can I just tell you how much I love computer innards? I built my first computer from parts late last year. The first time I held a naked CPU in my hand, well, it was kind-of a religious moment. |
| Jen: | Whoa. That is some serious geek cred. Does it, um, actually work and stuff? |
| Gina: | I'm typing on it right now! It’s actually much easier to do than it sounds. Modern stuff is all clean and perfect. |
| Jen: | Wow! |
| Gina: | That's why I love old computer parts, we get to see the evolution. |
| Jen: | Mark Richards has an entire BOOK of photos of computer innards. I think you'd enjoy it. |
| Gina: | Oh yeah, I think I saw prints from it at the Computer History Museum. I was mesmerized. |
| Jen: | Yeah, he recently got a commission to document their entire collection, I do believe. I love the project! I released his editions when I was in SF for the Web 2.0 conference there. I did so on purpose because I wanted to have something to appeal to all the webby folks I'd be interacting with—based on my "if I can just get people to CONNECT" hunch. And hot damn, it worked! At least a few people had this experience of, "Wow, I didn't know that something interesting/important/beloved to me could be considered arty. Maybe there's some other art here I'd be into, too." |
| Gina: | That's fantastic. You have so much good stuff for geeks. I love it. |
| Jen: | Well, I am pretty geeky as art dealers go, perhaps among the geekiest. But also, I am very intent on engaging that audience with the artz. |
| Gina: | This is why we pretty much became friends instantly. |
| Jen: | One of the things that made me crazy during my time in Silicon Valley was that it was all PowerPoint and mountain bikes. |
| Gina: | Ah, yes. |
| Jen: | And what I like about 20x200 is that there are prints that are affordable enough for folks to tack up in their cubes to enrich their day-to-day life. But also, they are the real thing, so they can frame them up and put them in a place of pride in their homes. It's totally up to them. I'm really interested in enabling the experience... |
I think we all agree, Jen is the best kind of enabler out there, right?
Till next week!
Jen + Rachel talk shop
Posted in: interview On: July 29, 2009 By:sara
Today's 20x200 edition-maker, Rachel Hulin and her beloved globe
Jen: Hello my dear! How are you?
Rachel: Hallo! Oh, very excited! Today is the day, you know.
Jen: Seriously, how exciting is this? First off: old skool HHS! I was walking home thinking about the '05 stuff that you showed and how it reminds me of Andrew Wyeth...
Rachel: Yes, Mom as Matador! That was back when I was working at ICP and Ben Donaldson, who was faculty there, was a judge.
Jen: And about Andrew Hetherington and what an awesome blogger you are... Then how you went on to some fancy photo editor jobs. The view from here presents a very glamorous Ms. Hulin!
Rachel: O man, is this all true?!
Jen: And actually, fancy aside, I really love how you've got every angle of photography covered. Taking them first and foremost, but writing about them and editing them too. There aren't a lot of people who can do all those things well. Yes, all true.
Rachel: I don't feel all that glamorous!
Jen: And what's nice about it is that what drives you is genuine enthusiasm and interest. So I'm either embarrassing you right now or you're like "Yea, she's right! I AM all that."
I actually hope it's a combination of the two.
Rachel: Well, it's true I just adore photography. And most photographers are kind-hearted folks who just love what they do. I'm pleased to make my own work, but writing about other work is so satisfying and informs the stuff I make. And yeah, I am blushing.
Jen: Right, well the other thing that you do well is take a broad view of things. There can be a pretty wide chasm between fine art and editorial work.
Rachel: I feel lucky to have an obsession with photography. It's just awesome. Not to say if I were obsessed with like, dirt bikes, that it wouldn't be as fun.
Jen: But I think that regardless of what category a photographer places themselves in, they're doing themselves a disservice if they don't look at the other.
Rachel: Yeah—it takes all kinds. I like to look at stuff in every sector. I can stay on Ads of the World all day and only look at commercial stuff. It's all visual; it's all reflective of modern culture.
Jen: How does all the looking and writing and thinking you do impact the work you make? Related: how on earth do you find the time to do it?!
Dustin Hostetler Interview on Vimeo
Posted in: interview On: January 12, 2009 By:kara
Dustin Hostetler from John Maeda on Vimeo.
20x200 artist Dustin Hostetler is a busy man. He is a designer, curator and publisher. Who doesn't love an multi-talented artist? Not us at 20x200! Dustin was recently interviewed by fellow designer John Maeda.
Enjoy.
Dustin's 20x200 edition print:
Color Study #4
Dustin's website
20x200 Artist Interview: Don Hamerman
Posted in: interview On: January 9, 2009 By:kara
Mossball
by Don Hamerman
Buy one now
Hello beloved collectors. This fine Friday I bring you an interview with denizen photographer Don Hamerman.
Has participating in 20x200 helped your art career?
Where do I start?!
My association with 20x200 has helped me put my work in front of countless collectors and those who keep an eye on the art world. I'm hoping to connect with more gallerists and collectors in the coming year.
Any good news for the new year?
In April, one of my baseball images will appear as the cover art for an autobiography by a former player and current broadcaster. What is especially gratifying about this, is that the book's designer is a 20x200 fan and collector who discovered my work through my first 20x200 edition last year. If it wasn't for my association with 20x200, he never would have known about me.
How did you become involved with 20x200?
I'd heard of Jen, and approached her last winter when a slideshow of my images appeared on the blog, Design Observer. Having my fingers tightly crossed must have worked because Jen responded, and before I knew it I'd sold out two small editions in one day. Amazing.
I feel so lucky, and thankful to Jen Bekman.
Stricken
by Don Hamerman
Buy one now
How important is it to you to keep art affordable?
Essential for me. It's nice knowing that through 20x200 my pieces have made it onto the walls of several hundred new collectors.
Do you collect art?
I'm not a collector, per se, but I do have a few prints by some legends: Harry Callahan, André Kertész and Berenice Abbott. All of them came into my hands through a weird combination of luck and the inexperience of some thrift store owners.
Any 20x200 favorites?
I have respect for anyone who pursues their vision with conviction and dedication.
20X200 Artist Interview: Luke Stephenson
Posted in: interview On: December 12, 2008 By:kara
Image from the series World Beard & Moustache Championships by Luke Stephenson
Good Friday morning to you, collectors! The time has come for me to bring you a little insight into the life of one of our esteemed (and clever) photographers, Luke Stephenson.
Favorite dish to cook:
A Curry
Pet peeve:
People filing there nails; the sound is awful
Aisle or window seat?
Window
Favorite TV show:
You've Been Framed! or Homes Under the Hammer
Image from the series Budgies by Luke Stephenson
Internet time per week:
Far too much
Homepage on your computer:
Just Google
How many people do you know who own an iPhone?
Not one
Best attribute around the house:
I am very good at adding to clutter
Image from the series Spectacle wearing folk
White or wheat bread?
White for a bacon sandwich otherwise wheat
Favorite place to travel?
Italy is very nice
Biggest fear:
Being trapped a long way underground in a little tunnel. That would be horrible.
Continue reading "20X200 Artist Interview: Luke Stephenson" »
20x200 Artist Interview: Joseph O. Holmes
Posted in: interview On: November 28, 2008 By:kara
november 27, 2008, columbus circle by Joe Holmes
Happy day after Thanksgiving to you, dear collectors! Today is a fine day to relax and learn more about photographer (and Esquivel fan) Joseph O. Holmes, don't you agree? Joseph has been part of the Jen Bekman family of artists since he was crowned a Hot Shot and Ne Plus Ultra in 2005.
Most recently Mr. Holmes had a second round of edition prints on 20x200, both of which are still available:
Left: amnh #10
Right: amnh #62
And now on to my trusty interview questions:
When did you decide to be an artist?
I always wanted to be an artist, as far back as I can remember. I went through serious periods of songwriting and performing and recording, graphic arts, and fiction and screenwriting, with varying amounts of success in each, before settling on photography.
Can you remember your first photograph?
Not at all, but I do remember my first cameras -- in high school I used my family's Miranda Sensorex SLR, and then as I headed off to college, I bought my own Yashica rangefinder.
Where is the best place to live and work?
I already live there: Brooklyn, New York! But maybe I could answer a different question: WHEN would I like to live? I've always thought it would be a thrill to live in the West Village in the 1950s, a time of incredible experimentation in theater, music, and art -- and what a great scene to photograph.
Image from Joe Holmes' workspace series
Your favorite painter?
I'm a sucker for Basquiat. Closer to home, I love the paintings of my friends Shawn Dulaney and Nuala Clarke.
Your favorite photographer?
The photos of Thomas Roma, a friend from my neighborhood, have been a tremendous inspiration. It took me a long time to understand and enjoy Lee Friedlander's work, it was something I had to work at, but all of a sudden one day it all fell into place. And, of course, Alec Soth.
Image from Joe Holmes' CBGB: Noiseless series
Your favorite musicians?
My son exposes me to his favorite bands and musicians, and I'm convinced that we're in a period of really wonderful, fresh new music. I really enjoy Battles, Marnie Stern, High Places, and Aa to name just a few. But if you ask me to pick one favorite musician, I'd have to say my son Julian, drummer for Fiasco. (Though if you'd asked me for a favorite songwriter, my daughter Sophia would be a contender.)
Authors?
Flannery O'Connor, followed by Don DeLillo, Martin Cruz Smith, Elmore Leonard.
Do you sense the above having any influences on your art making?
When I read or hear or see great art, I get filled up with an irresistible impulse to create. I used to read Don DeLillo, for example, and then immediately feel compelled to start writing, short stories pouring out of me. It was the same way with songwriting, and it's the same with photography: Alec Soth's Sleeping by the Mississippi powered me for days.
Ludlow Street by Joe Holmes
Do you have an art collection?
We have paintings and photos from friends on our walls, but I don't consider us art collectors in any way. The term "art collector" suggests to me certain investment motives. This is exactly the kind of attitude Jen Bekman is battling with projects like 20x200.
Any 20x200 favorites?
I really enjoy Jason Polan's delightful drawings; Eliot Shepard has the freshest eye I ever knew; I'm really envious of every photo I see by Brian Ulrich; and Bert Teunissen's mission is wonderful and his photos are gorgeous.
How important is it to you to keep art affordable?
On the one hand I want to share my prints as widely as possible. On the other hand, I like to earn something of a living taking pictures. Affordable art seems to be able to serve both purposes.
Second Avenue by Joe Holmes
What are you working on?
I've always got three or four projects in progress at the same time -- a mix of long-term series, new ideas I'm testing, and casual experiments. But I don't discuss them. I need to take an idea through a nonintellectual period of percolation and marination (to mix a metaphor) without outside evaluation.
Chibi by Joe Holmes available here!
If you didn't make photographs what would you make?
I sometimes miss writing short stories -- I found it extremely satisfying to work in a medium that let me control intertwining layers of meaning, bringing a reader slowly through a journey to an emotional payoff. Photography works in a much more immediate and less intellectual way, at least as I practice it, though it's rewarding in its own way.
Lastly, do you have any guilty pleasures?
Guilt plays no part in my pleasures, though I do have a hard time admitting to my friends how much I love tacky, overproduced 70s pop tunes like The Baby's "Isn't It Time" and Andy Pratt's "Avenging Annie."
Thanks, Joe!
Joseph's 20x200 edition prints:
Prospect Park
amnh#30
amnh#10
amnh#62
Joseph's gallery images on jenbekman.com
Joseph's site
Joseph's daily photos
20x200 Artist Interview: Beth Dow
Posted in: interview On: November 21, 2008 By:kara
Bonfire
Platinum Palladium
16x16" Image
Happy Friday! I am pleased to offer you this snappy little interview with photographer Beth Dow. Beth recently won a Grand Prize from Photography.Book.Now for her book In the Garden:
Ms. Dow's photography is truly outstanding. Her elegant images of the cultivated natural world, her devotion to a traditional photographic process, her ability to make work that feels contemporary, and her intelligent use of the book form to showcase that work is what ultimately separated her work from an impressive field.-Darius Himes
And now on to the questons!
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
While I try not to align pleasure with guilt, maybe: loud, fast, music that freaks out my kids (and husband). And singing! Especially while I cook.
When did you decide to be an artist?
I couldn’t have been older than four. I was obsessed with drawing and was always good at that.
Can you remember your first photograph?
My dad was a photographer and it was a part of my life so I don’t remember the first. When I was very young, I drew pictures on blank slides and ran them through a projector in the basement. Family lore says that some of those slides scandalized my grandmother, but that’s a story for another time.
Standards, Blenheim Palace
Platinum Palladium
18.5x16" Image
Where would you like to live?
I’d sometimes like to move back to London, and I (nearly always) like New York, too. My husband and I both need to have one foot in the city and one in the the country, and I’d hate to give up our weekend place in Wisconsin. Minneapolis works for now.
Your favorite painter?
For different reasons: Claude Lorrain, Pierre Bonnard, John Singer Sargent,
Your favorite photographer(s)?
Aleksandr Rodchenko, Josef Sudek, P. H. Emerson, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Lee Friedlander, Sally Mann, Berenice Abbott, Frank Gohlke, Pentti Sammallahti, John Davies
Girl and Boy
Sissinghurst, 2001
Your favorite musician?
My musical taste is famously broad, but Nick Cave came to mind.
Your favorite author?
As in music, my tastes are eclectic. I like the cinematic qualities of Graham Greene and Raymond Chandler. Mayhem and moral ambiguity.
How do the above influence your art (if at all)?
I hadn’t thought about that before, but there is, perhaps, a similar kind of noir aesthetic, tempered by dark humor.
The Stable Pond
Powis Castle, 2004
Do you collect art?
Of course! Mostly photographs, but also paintings and prints.
Any favorite fellow 20x200 artists?
Keith Taylor (because I married him)
How important is it to you to keep art affordable?
“Affordable” is a relative concept for someone who works in platinum! We all need to recognize images that have meaning for us. Some of those pieces will stay with us throughout our lives, and others pass through as our needs change. While I’m a firm believer in the connoisseurship of photographs as artifacts, I also acknowledge the power of images as ideas. It would be a sad world if all ideas were expensive.
What are you working on?
A project about fake ruins that I’m super excited about, and two collaborations
If you didn't make photographs what would you make?
Excuses.
Witty and talented. Who could ask for more?
Beth is represented by Jen Bekman Gallery.
Images from her last solo show, Fieldwork, can be seen here.
Beth's 20x200 edition prints:
Bags
Clearing, Wakehurst Place
Beth's website
Beth's book, In the Garden
20x200 Artist Interview: Mickey Smith
Posted in: interview On: October 10, 2008 By:kara
Left: Artist Mickey Smith
Right: DETAIL, 2007 from the Volume series
Hello lovely collectors! I have good news for you! 20x200 photographer Mickey Smith found some time (I have no idea how) to answer some questions for us. Mickey is in 2 shows as I type this, and will be in 4 more before the year is through! Wowee zowee is all I can say.
Of course, I'm sure you didn't miss Mickey's Special Edition from yesterday: MORE BOOKS!
It's clear from your participation in 20x200 that you're interested in making art available in affordable ways--what is your philosophy on this?
Somewhere between philosophy and reality we have to make a living. Felix Gonzalez Torres was a master of accessible art. It was free. It still is! Go to MOMA, Walker Art Center, Chelsea – pick up your free art. Not from the gift shop. Take it right out of the exhibition. Love it, hate it, throw darts at it, wrap a present with a cloud, eat it – the work lives on far beyond his brief but brilliant career. The work is available for everyone, and at the same time made a living by selling the work through galleries to collectors and museums. His work is a great inspiration on multiple levels.
How has participating in 20x200 helped your art career?
All the clichés about the Internet apply. The exposure is astounding. I work in solitude, so it is an unprecedented opportunity for interaction with curators, writers, librarians, artists, and the list goes on... I was at a dinner following Photo LA last year and was introduced to another artist whose work I admire. We met and she exclaimed, “I own one of your pieces!” It was WORD STUDY. As a community, we’re typically a decade (or more) behind common business practice and technology. People like Jen Bekman are needed to help expand the reach of the art world.
Who are your favorite artists?
Martin Parr, Ed Ruscha, and On Kawara.
How do the above influence/inspire your art (if at all)?
Their work is beautiful, conceptual, funny, and genuine.
THE LEISURE HOUR, 2007 from the Volume series
What do you draw most of your inspiration from?
Childhood and politics. Since moving to New York, I gather up a great deal of creative inspiration from a weekly ritual I call Art with André. Friend and filmmaker André Robert Lee and I head out to look at art on Thursdays. I could go into detail about how this has quickly become an invaluable, long awaited practice, but you should really just try it with one of your favorite people.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the process of printing new work for my first solo show, You People, opening with Invisible-Exports in the Lower East Side in November. In addition to new Collocations, there will be an audio component to the exhibition. We’re also working on a show for SCOPE Miami. I’m so excited I can barely sleep. These shows have been brewing for years.
For early 2009, I can’t wait to dig deeper into a few new projects – Believe You Me and Forever Govern Ignorance. They feel urgent. My subjects are disappearing.
Which 20x200 artists do you most enjoy, and why?
I was crushed to miss the Starn Twins edition. As an art student living in Fargo, I remember idolizing the Starn Twins and Duane Michaels, fascinated by their work as artists that use photography as a means, not an end.
UNTITLED 3, 2004 from the Volume series
Do you collect art?
Yes, primarily through trade and auction. I have two sizeable Urban Beasts and a few of Robert Marbury’s prints. An enormous Ghost Walrus presides over our living room. The passion for his work likely stems from a treasured stuffed animal collection my dad threw out when I was ten. They’re coming back – with a vengeance.
My passion is for collecting is for contemporary jewelry by living artists. The most fashionable people I know who wear junk - when small sculptural, original wonders are available - consistently astound me. In the past, I have invited jewelers like Karen Gilbert and Heinz Brummel to show in my studio.
If I were to walk into your art studio right this minute, what would be the first thing I'd notice?
The bed. My husband and I moved from Minneapolis to New York six months ago. At the moment the bedroom doubles as studio for both of us. When people come by, the living room becomes a gallery for me, or a music studio for QuarterAcreLifestyle.
What would an ideal day for you look like?
I can’t answer that question, I’m a Gemini. The answer changes every few minutes. An ideal day would be filled with a little of comfort and slew of surprises. One of my favorite things about being back in New York is the walk home – I truly love the walk home – and so the day would end.
If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Hell no. I would hire a full time assistant, an in house printer, find a studio in New York like the one I had in Minneapolis and start producing the large-scale installation work I dream about. If I can keep making art and travel often enough, I don’t need to retire. Have you seen Eartha Kitt lately? The Louise Bourgeois exhibit? These women are great inspirations. In the Guggenheim show, one of the Bourgeois prints stopped André and I in our tracks. She writes, “It is not so much where my motivation comes from, but rather how it manages to survive.”
See Mickey in one of these shows she is currently in:
Collocations
The Center for Photography at Woodstock
Woodstock, NY
August 30 - October 26, 2008
Volume
Contemporary Art in Traditional Museums Festival
Pushkin Dom
PRO ARTE Institute
St. Petersburg, Russia
September 27 - October 19, 2008
Or catch her in one of these 4 upcoming shows:
Pharmakon Library
Created + Curated by Christina McPhee
New York Art Book Fair
New York, NY
October 24 - 26, 2008
Volume
Alvar Alto Library
Vyborg, Russia
October 23 - November 11, 2008
YOU PEOPLE
Invisible-Exports
New York, NY
November 14 - December 21, 2008
Reception: Friday, November 14
SCOPE Miami
Invisible-Exports
Miami, FL
Decemeber 3 - 7, 2008
Mickey's 20x200 edition prints:
WORD STUDY
MORE BOOKS
A Little Interview with a Big Collector
Posted in: interview On: October 8, 2008 By:kara
Art collector Franco Wright surrounded by some of his recent acquisitions
Hello dear collectors! Today I bring you another interview with one of our beloved collectors, Franco Wright.
How did you hear about 20x200?
I discovered 20x200 by reading about it on a blog.
What attracted you to us?
I think the pricing vs edition configuration is genius; it is easy to understand and allows one to build a collection on every budget level.
How did you begin your art collection?
I first started started collecting art in my early twenties. I was really drawn to works on paper, mostly from abstract expressionist artists. My first big purchase was a screenprint by Sam Francis, which I had to go in on halves with my Dad.
Did you grow up with art? Is your background in the arts?
Yes, my father would force me to go to museums as a kid, and I hated it. He was funny...he would sneak in his camera and snap off photos of installations at LACMA. I remember he shot the Warhol Brillo boxes and later made a 16x20 print of it. I was probably around 10.
It wasn't until college that the Arts really hit me; I ended up graduating with two majors: business and painting/fine art. So I guess those trips to the museum really had an effect on me. After graduation, I morphed from a painter to a graphic designer.
How has your taste in art evolved?
Yes! Now I'm completely obsessed with photography. A few years ago, I sold my litho prints (Warhol, Bacon, Hockney...) all except for my Sam Francis, and now mostly collect photography. I needed to make room, and at the time, my studio was 400 sq ft.
Can you think of your first "art memory"? (For me I think it has to be looking at a reproduction of a Picasso in my Mom's bedroom.)
Yes, but I can't remember the artist... large poster prints of villages in Greece... they were hugely popular in the early 80s. My mom had a whole room filled with them-- I think we owned every one. One day I'll see them again and the name will come to me!
What 20x200 artists are you most interested in?
There are so many... I was a bit addicted at first (as you know!)...
Thanks, Franco! Keep the art collecting fires burning!
20x200 Artist Interview: Stephanie Cinelli
Posted in: interview On: August 26, 2008 By:kara
Stephanie Cinelli next to an image from her Temporary Spaces series
Buongiorno collectors! I have been feeling a little guilty about Friday's interview outsourcing, so I am bringing you a bonus interview today with photographer Stephanie Cinelli. Like most of our artists, I think Stephanie is a sweetie, and I feel like I'd have a nice time going for a coffee with her*.
Inspired by the Summer Olympics, I've asked Stephanie to answer the same Quick Hits questions that appear with the athelete's biographies on NBC's Olympics website.
Here you go:
Favorite dish to cook: Chicken cutlets
Pet peeve: Slow walkers
Aisle or window seat? Aisle
If you weren't doing art, what would you be doing? Meteorology
Favorite reality TV show: Scare Tactics
Favorite TV show: 30 Rock
Favorite TV show as a kid: Full House
Number of text messages sent per week: 100
Internet time per week: I’m scared to estimate
Homepage on your computer: nytimes.com
How many people do you know who own an iPhone? 9
Best attribute around the house: My view of the Statue of Liberty from the living room
Jimmies or sprinkles? Sprinkles
East or West coast? East
Favorite place to travel outside the U.S? Mexico
Favorite place to travel in the U.S? Clearwater, Florida
Biggest fear: Shark attacks (thanks, Shark Week!)
Continue reading "20x200 Artist Interview: Stephanie Cinelli" »
20x200 Artist Interview: Carrie Marill
Posted in: interview On: August 14, 2008 By:kara
Artist Carrie Marill alongside a detail of Violet Green Swallow 2007, gouache on paper with collage, 5" X 7"
Friday is here again, and so that must mean another glimpse into the life of a 20x200 artist. Today we will get to know Carrie Marill a little bit better. Carrie will be having a solo show at Jen Bekman Gallery in September, so now you'll have no problem striking up a conversation with her at her opening.
Enjoy!
It's clear from you participation in 20x200 that you're interested in making art available in affordable ways--what is your philosophy on this?
Obtaining and living with art shouldn't be a privilege.
How has participating in 20x200 helped your art career?
A lot of interest has come from the site and steered people to my website which has been sweet! Wish I had an assistant to respond to all the emails.
Do you collect art?
Yes! I love my Leigh Merrill photographs, Jeremy Bridell ceramics, Collin Chillag paintings and Melinda Bergman painting and sculptures.
Belted Kingfisher 2007, gouache on paper with collage, 5" X 7"
Interview With A Young Art Collector
Posted in: interview On: August 12, 2008 By:kara
Laia Garcia poses in front of her burgeoning 20x200 art collection.
I believe she is holding a hammer to show her distaste for unapproachably priced art.
Laia Garcia is a young New Yorker with a passion for art. As you can see from the photo above, she is filling up her wall with 20x200 art. I recently cornered her and asked her to say a few words about her love of affordable art:
So, I hear you've got a little 20x200 collection brewing, eh?
Yes! I am so psyched about it! All I had on my walls before were band posters... but everyone said how "young" and "dorm" it was, so I figured I needed to trade up.
As soon as Jen told me about the project I was so excited about it and I knew that I found a way to cover my walls!
Who have you collected so far?
My first one was Amy Ross' Manshroom, then I bought one of Luke Strosnider's chairs
from his Every Chair At the Visual Studies Workship series. (I love my crazy office chair hanging on my wall.)
For a while it was just the office chair next to Manshroom, and it looked really nuts. Then I got the second Kent Rogowski print, Untitled #5 because when the first one came out I was totally broke (which is why I dont have any of the Jennifer Sanchez prints).
I love them so much and they always come out when I am poor, and sell out in a second, so sometimes I miss out.
Any other 20x200ers who you'd love to have, but missed the boat on?
Jennifer Sanchez is my number one regret by far, and also Eric Graham's Unleaded, Unleaded, Premium Unleaded...but that was my fault for waiting too long.
Who will be the next addition to your collection?
I am now anxiously awaiting Jacob Magraw's AA, 2007 which was shipped last week! I like his wife's work too (Rachell Sumpter).
Had you collected any art before 20x200?
No, I never collected art before.
Is your background in art?
I have a degree in graphic design, but I'm a design/art junkie. My mom is really into art so she passed it on to me. We always had tons of fashion magazines and architecture magazines lying around the house...and my dad is an artist. I guess I was doomed from the beginning!
If your collecting budget were bottomless, who would you have hanging above your bed?
Ooh...Well, I've always loved Frida Kahlo since I was little, so god knows if I could have her Self-Portrait With Monkeys I would be all up on that.
Do you think collecting art is something you'll continue with? I suspect 20x200 is responsible for hooking you!
Oh definitely! I mean, I have a wall on my house that is the official 20x200 wall, and I hope that someday I'll make enough money to buy bigger edition prints.
And my advice for young collectors is: buy awesome stuff! You can always eat Chef Boyardee for a little while!
There is nothing better than looking at awesome stuff that inspires you every day.
How's that for enthusiasm?!
Love it.
Want more Laia? Check out her super chic blog:
Geometric Sleep
20x200 Artist Interview: Jennifer Sánchez
Posted in: interview On: July 18, 2008 By:kara
Jennifer Sánchez'sny.08.#7, 2008
Mixed mediums on canvas
30" x 40" x 1 1/2"
Ciao amici! For this week's artist interview I bring you some insight into 20x200 shining star Jennifer Sánchez.
It's clear from you participation in 20x200 that you're interested in making art available in affordable ways--what is your philosophy on this?
I just want anyone to be able to have some art; art isn't just for the elite/rich or something to be housed in a museum. The affordable prints are a gateway to even more art experiences.
The price of one print that you get to keep forever, equals admission for just one day to the MoMA, and I think that's ridiculous. There are a lot of barriers that established venues for art have built that intimidate the average joe. Jen's site makes it easy, friendly and fun.
How has participating in 20x200 helped your art career?
I've gotten a lot more traffic to my site! A Lot of people have signed on to join my email list and some have bought paintings.
What do you draw most of your inspiration from?
I like the idea of capturing movement, and awkward spaces that come from that motion.
My paintings tend to end up looking happy and optimistic; that's not necessarily my intent, but is what inevitably happens because I am attracted to bright, fluorescent and discordant color combinations.
I find interesting colors everywhere; on a t-shirt, plant or delivery truck. I bring those colors in to a painting and see what happens.
Continue reading "20x200 Artist Interview: Jennifer Sánchez" »
Jen Bekman Walks You Through Ornithology
Posted in: interview On: July 9, 2008 By:kara
Jen Bekman Gallery Presents: Ornithology from Derrick Tan on Vimeo.
Hello! Today I'm happy to share a special little video with you. It is a guided tour of Ornithology, the show that is hanging now in the gallery, by Jen Bekman herself!
Hopefully it will inspire you to come out and take a closer look. But, if you cannot make it to New York, this is surely a good alternative.
The show is on view through August 2nd.
Jen Bekman Gallery
6 Spring St
(between Elizabeth + Bowery)
Gallery Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday | Noon – 6pm
20x200 Artist Interview: Tommy Perman
Posted in: interview On: July 4, 2008 By:kara
Left: Artist Tommy Perman
Right: Traffic Mirror, Eindhoven Screenprint on paper, 2006
Hello! Today, many of us will be celebrating our independence from Britain, and I though it fitting to feature an artist from the UK, Tommy Perman, just to show that we've no hard feelings remaining. In fact, I am quite sure our founding fathers would be pleased with my decision to celebrate Tommy, as he is a man of many talents. While it's true that Tommy Perman did not discover electricity, he is indeed worthy of a seat at Ben Franklin's table of industrious young men. Not content to wear just one hat, Perman designs, writes and plays music, DJ's, makes art, shows his work and collaborates frequently with others.
Which came first for you--art or music?
Art came first – I was drawing from a very early age. My parent's still have drawings on the walls of their house from when I was three.
Music followed on soon after though. I come from a musical family. My dad plays bass in a blues band and my mum is a percussionist. My folks were always playing a diverse selection of music in the house when I was growing up. Mum used to review records for the Oxford Mail in the 60's and she still has some great vinyl from then. She almost interviewed Jimi Hendrix but passed it on to a friend because she was too nervous.
How does your music influence/inform your art and vice versa?
Since my early teens I've been interested in the boundaries between art and music. For me the two activities are inseparable. I am fascinated with the areas where disciplines cross over into each other and a lot of my work concerns this. With my band / arts collective, FOUND, we have done many projects that involve sound and visual art in equal parts.
Last year FOUND were commissioned to produce a piece of music to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Rather than just composing a song for them, we decided we wanted to build an interactive audio installation. What we came up with was a piece called Etiquette . It was an interactive table that allowed the user to move small boxes around and create their own interpretation of music we had composed. The best way to get explain it is to watch this video.
In 2006 I undertook an artist's residency in Eindhoven, Holland with my friend and collaborator Roel Knappstein. We spent two months examining the connections between the making of visual art and music through a project called Synchronicity. We share a keen interest for all forms of music and were particularly interested in the structures of contemporary music. We began by taking visual 'samples' – extracting small objects or areas of photographs that interested us. We gathered a large set of these samples and then 'composed' pictures with them.
I'm extremely interested in the idea of remixing and do a lot of audio remixes for other bands but I've also tried to cross these ideas over into my visual artwork. Possibly the best example of this is a two panel painting called Town & Country: 
The second panel is a remix of the first; it is constructed using all the same constituent parts but composed in a different order.
Another of my passions is record sleeve art, as it brings together my three main interests: art, design and music.
It's clear from your participation in 20x200 and in your music endeavors that you're interested in making art available in affordable ways--what is your philosophy on this?
My involvement in both the art and music worlds has developed a dislike for exclusivity. In Scotland a great deal of the art community is very much like a private members club who seem to enjoy alienating people through their use of impenetrable jargon. I have no interest in alienating people and I create work in order to reach as wide an audience as possible – but I still wish to create work that is multi-layered, thought provoking and experimental. I believe that it is possible to produce accessible art without comprising it's integrity. Part of this ideology includes realistic pricing – obviously I want to earn a fair amount for my efforts but I also want my work to reach people. Multiples are a great way of achieving this and that's why I'm a fan of making my art available as prints, on tees and record sleeves.
However as I'm an artist I'm also slightly contrary! I like to make multiples in limited editions – I think it's a really nice feeling to know that you are one of only a small group of people who owns a copy of a particular piece of art.
20x200 Artist Interview: Giovanni Garcia-Fenech
Posted in: interview On: June 26, 2008 By:kara
Yellow on White, 2007
Acrylic on canvas
A warm hello, lovely collectors! Today I am offering you another cheery interview with one of our artists, Giovanni Garcia-Fenech. By now, you might be realizing that my interviews are modified Proust questionnaires, but I really cannot top this format for getting a conversation going.
To begin, an easy question: what makes you happy?
Making my wife laugh. Not that it's particularly difficult to do.
How did you come to live in New York?
I was born and raised in Mexico, moved to Texas when I was twelve and spent six months in London before moving to New York to go to graduate school. I always had the feeling that if things didn't work out I had the option to pack up and go somewhere else, but as soon as I moved to Brooklyn (14 years ago) I realized I had finally reached the end of the road.
What is your idea of an ideal day?
It might not be the most exciting day to describe, but I am happiest when I'm working on something in my studio while Sabine is next door working on her book or writing one of her articles. I know that we'll both be tired around five o'clock and start trying to figure out what we'll do for dinner. She'll usually do the cooking while I might help with less challenging stuff like chopping vegetables or running out to buy some wine. And when we're in the kitchen our cat and our rabbit will start hanging out with us hoping to get fed. I can't imagine things getting much better than that.
Continue reading "20x200 Artist Interview: Giovanni Garcia-Fenech" »
20x200 Artist Interview: Fernanda Cohen
Posted in: interview On: June 18, 2008 By:kara
Fernanda Cohen is a busy bee to say the least! I am pleased she made time stop long enough to answer some questions for us, and to share some of her recently completed illustrations. After reading her answers you may just feel a strong desire to find out where she lives and take her out for tea. I know I do.
First, an easy question--what is one of your guilty pleasures?
Reading gossip magazines while I'm in line at the supermarket.
Where in this world would you most like to live?
June-August in Buenos Aires, the rest in New York.
Where is your favorite place in New York? in Buenos Aires?
Grand Central Station, Recoleta.
How do the contrasts of New York and Buenos Aires affect your work?
I think if anything the similarities between the two merge in my work, such as the constant chaos.
Having a Ball, 2008
Do you find your work changes contingent on your location?
Not so much the location as the different experiences I go through while I travel.
Describe a perfect day.
Sunny but breezy. Breakfast with my husband, treadmill and Seinfeld for
an hour, 2 ad deadlines, tea-tea-tea, going to a good opening at a
gallery, dinner out and a Mojito.
Your favorite artist? photographer? author?
Saul Steinberg, Jacques Henri Lartigue, and Isabel Allende
What is your favorite Beatles song?
All You Need Is Love
War of Words on Love, 2008
Has music inspired your work?
Only when I allow it.
Which 20x200 artists do you enjoy most?
Rachell Sumpter and Jennifer Sánchez. I love and admire the way Jennifer plays with abstract shapes and colors. I like and identify with the magic in Rachell’s images.
[UPDATE I asked Jennifer Sánchez and Rachell Sumpter to respond to Fernanda's love of their work. Here's what they have to say:
Jennifer I really like Fernanda's work. I like the the silliness and freeness of her figures and subject matter; her lines are really beautiful and I love how she injects her illustrations with such playful colors.
Rachell Magic is everything. I like the energy in her lines and strong use of color.
Seems like these three ladies should all go for tea, n'est ce pas?]
What have you been working on lately?
I'm working on a new personal series about dogs and their owners. I'm also producing my line of kitchenware "Queen Renée" in the States through Pop Cling. I just finished illustrating an ad campaign through DDB. I illustrate a monthly column for the San Francisco-based magazine 7x7.
Any near future aspirations?
I'd like to write and draw an animated movie within the next 5 years.
War of Words on Customer Service, 2008
Smitten? I'll bet.
Fernanda's 20x200 edition: Hot Dog and I
Fernanda's website
PS
Fun fact-Fernanda likes this song from Flight of the Conchords.
PPS
If you just can't get enough, here is another interview with Fernanda that just appeared on Sprayblog.
Murketing's Q+A
Posted in: press On: June 12, 2007 By:alice
Rob Walker [who writes the New York Times Magazine column Consumed] posts a Q+A between him and JB on his blog Murketing.
Jen Bekman 20X200: The Q&A
"Q: I noticed in the comments to your announcement somebody said something like, “This is great, an alternative to Target/Ikea blahness. Is this project a more exclusive alternative to mass-ness, or a more inclusive alternative to the rarefied high art world?A: It’s both really, which is why it’s so exciting to me. It’s radically different than typical artworld fare because the work is so inexpensive and the editions are big by normal standards, but how can an edition of 200 of anything be mass market? 20×200 is bigger in scale than most fine art editions, but I’m not selling posters at the Met."
Continue reading the interview here.