Interview with Turf One

q)Name?

a)Jean Labourdette and/or Turf One...

q)Location?

a)I was born and grew up in Paris, France. In 2001, I moved to Montreal, Canada where I have been based for the past 7 years.

q)Contact info.?

a) http://www.turfizm.com/

info@turfizm.com

q)How did you get started making art?

a)As far as I can remember I always drew and painted... In the late eighties I started doing graffiti which is what introduced me to the notion of having people seeing my work, which motivated me to constantly try to push further the quality of my work. When I was 18 I decided that I was done with school and I started to make a living using my skills doing illustrations, comics, animations, videos, paintings and so on...

q)How would you describe your art?

a)I wouldn't. I'm very bad at describing my work. I find words, categories and labels so limiting to describe any visual work... But if I didn't have a choice I'd say it's sort of like mystic taxidermy.

q)Where do you get the inspiration for your art?

a)My ideas really come from my unconscious... I always carry a small sketchbook in my pocket and whenever I have an image or a "vision" that comes to my mind, I sketch it in to capture it...I never try to find an idea on purpose sitting in my studio in front of a blank canvas...For me, inspiration comes when it wants to, not when I try to force it...

q)What other artists inspire you?

a)Amongst others : The Flemish Primitives, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Bosch, Otto Dix, Maurizio Cattelan, some old school tattoo artists, carnival sideshow banner painters...

q)Where can someone purchase your works?

a)Galerie d'art Yves Laroche (Montreal), Fuse gallery (N.Y.), Thinkspace (L.A.) and http://www.turfizm.com/

q)What is your main medium of choice?

a)Mostly acrylics, wood and found objects...

q)What are you working on now?

a)I am working on new paintings for some upcoming shows, a few commissioned pieces and also developing a TV show...

q)What advice could you give to someone who wants tobe an artist?

a)To be consistent, perseverant and to make sure they choose that path for the right reasons... You have to create art because it's a personal need, regardless of the money factor.... Then only can you start thinking about selling it...But making money shouldn't be the reason why you start making art in the first place or else all you'll be making is shit....

q) What are you doing when you are not creating art?

a)Hanging out with my wife Lela and our dog Kali, hiking and occasionally getting silly and drunk with the boys... I work 90% of the time.

q) What does music, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Music fuels my energy. I can't paint without music...

q) What does art, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Creating art (or whatever you want to call it) is the center of my life. I truly need to create to be alive.

q)Are there some web sites that You would like to recomend?Artists, art communities, xxx,...!?

a)My two picks of the day are http://www.tin-tin-tattoos.com/ and http://www.doubletrouble-films.com/...

''DIaBEtic DEW555''

...Hello GUys...bad&sweet&good&black&white&yellow&grey...!!!
...I've published my first 3 interviews on my new art blog...
''DIaBEtic DEW555''
http://diabeticdew555.blogspot.com

....GO NOW TO READ ALL!!!!
Ciao=hola=hello&see you there.....
Claudio Parentela

Interview with Kelly D Williams

q) Name?

a)Kelly D Williams

q) Location?

a)United States

q) Contact info?

a)I hardly ever answer my telephone, but sometimes I check my electronic mail. You can e-mail me via my website, www.KellyDWilliams.com or www.ArtWontSaveYou.com.

q) How did you get started making art?

a)I think I've been drawing since I was very little. While sitting in Church, I would always ask my mom for a paper & pen, and just sit there and draw weird things.

q) How would you describe your art?

a)I'm not sure – maybe you could describe it better than me. Expressions and doctrines that I layer geometrically, and I like to draw my faces.

q) Where do you get the inspiration for your art?

a)From seclusion. The less I mind the art scene, the more I seem to paint. My inspiration comes from ideas I have floating around in my noggin.

q) What other artists inspire you?

a)I've always admired Mark Gonzales and Ed Templeton as artists. Because of my initial exposure to them through skateboarding, they were the ones that inspired me to make art into a career.

q) Where can someone purchase your works?

a)At the Kreativ Network Gallery Store – www.kreativnetwork.com or from any shows I exhibit in, or direct from my collection, too.

q) What is your main medium of choice?

a)I really like to paint on wood. I usually use acrylic paint, maybe come aerosol, and ink.

q) What are you working on now?

a)Right now I am working on a painting for a group exhibit in Los Angeles, a bunch of art/design for Analog Clothing, 2K by Gingham, and Foundation Skateboards, and just starting on a huge painting. My biggest one ever.

q) What advice could you give to someone who wants to be an artist?

a)If you really want to be an artist, be real. Don't do the thing where you commercialize your temporary infatuation with art. Paint what you want to paint. Stay off of drugs and don't become an alcoholic- but treat yourself to lots of desserts. Read a lot from the best books, offer help to people, and try to drink lots of water. That is the advice I would give; drink lots of water.

q) What are you doing when you are not creating art?

a)My wife and I have a new baby girl, Daphne. I like to be with her – other than that, I skateboard as much as I can, and am busy with music. Always listening to music.

q) What does music, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Music is my drug, pretty much. I'm a geeky record collector. My goal is to have more music than anyone in the entire universe, but I have a long way to go. There is a lot of talk right now about the future of the music business, such as the mp3 versus the compact disc, issues with downloading trends, etc. I don't think that the word "business" should even be associated with music – look at the Radiohead album. Even 3 months after it was basically given away to the world for free download, it went on to sell (at top dollar) over 122,000 copies of the CD by the end of the first week that it was on shelves! People who love music will still buy records. Only having a folder of invisible digital files on your computer is like getting fed meals intravenously. If it became accepted to eat invisible food – that trend wouldn't last long. People want to own it. They want to unwrap it, have it, and eat it, and listen to it. Forget the major labels, independent record labels are still occasionally putting out some great music. And there are decades of music from the past to explore.

q) What does art, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Art is about expression. It's a way to communicate either an idea or a sentiment. It should have no rules or regulations, and it will never end. Art is endless. So even when the vogue changes to something else, true creators will still want to create. That sounds dumb, but you know what I am trying to say.

q) Are there some web sites that you would like to recommend? Artists, art communities?

a)The Distrikt Collective is always something to follow, so check out www.distriktcollective.com and I occasionally write for a site called http://art.seshn.com and you seem to have some really good sites with alot of content. I kind of hate computers, so i dont know many others. Oh, and the Mannerist Zine site is www.the-mannerist.org.

Interview with Alicia J.Rose

q)Name?

a)Alicia J. Rose

q)Location?

a)Portland, Oregon, USA

q)Contact info.?

a) www.missmurgatroid.com
www.flickr.com/photos/aliciajrose/collections
rubyconq@aol.com

q)How did you get started making art?

a)I started playing music and making photographs around the time I was 19…at first both were hobbies…but my music developed a life of its own after I started playing the accordion – and I became known as Miss Murgatroid. I have made 5 albums, including an upcoming collaboration with violinist Petra Haden that is due out in the Spring called “Hearts & Daggers”. Photography has always been a parallel passion for me. My father gave me my first Olympus OM-10 when I went to college. I dabbled a bunch, until I took a photojournalism class and learned how to use the darkroom – and the camera. I took to it very naturally. I became a “professional”- so to speak, in the last few years, after I took a sabbatical from being a touring musician and developed a healthy fascination with medium format photography. The Decemberists as well as a few other musician pals knew that I loved photography, and asked me to help them out with band photos…the rest is history..so to speak.

q)How would you describe your art?

a)Emotionally choreographed provocative in-camera images Rich, saturated, colourful, imaginative, fancy photographs that are made the old fashioned way – using actual film and beautiful optics and the science of light. I like to think that my best morsels are the shots that are so vivid I want to jump right into them.

q)Where do you get the inspiration for you’re art?

a)From the people around me, the ideas in my head, daydreams, memories, life experience and everything about Portland, OR. Especially the mossy trees and the often spooky and dramatic weather. Oh, and my handsome cat Charlie Rose.

q)What other artists inspire you?

a)On the photography side of the fence: Loretta Lux, Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, Nan Goldin, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton…
I am friends with many artists that have blown my mind and encouraged me to become an artist, like: Bwana Spoons, Craig Thompson, Christine Shields, Christiane Cegavske, Holcombe Waller, Jason Mecier, Margaret Keane, Jaina Davis, Mark Ryden, Edward Gorey, and Petra Haden (of course – she is my favorite musical collaborator), and many more.

q)Where can someone purchase your works?

a)Through the end of January – my Fairytales show is on display – including limited edition framed/unframed prints that are available for sale via www.grasshutcorp.com. Or they can email me directly – rubyconq@aol.com - to purchase work, or to inquire about commissions.

q)What is your main medium/s of choice?

a)1929 Dallape Anderson System Accordion
Hasselblad 503 CW

q)What are you working on now?

a)I just finished printing, curating, framing and hanging my Fairytales show – that is on display at Grass Hut Gallery in Portland, OR through January 28…but I am constantly making portraits for remarkable bands and compelling humans, I have shoots coming up with at least 4 Portland combos, including Talkdemonic, Loch Lomond, The Prids and Sutro. I’m almost finished with my 3rd season of portraits for Oregon Ballet Theatre’s – www.obt.org Who’s Your Dancer campaign. I’m getting into more crossover commercial projects and continuing work on my Fairytales series…which I hope someday to expand and turn into a beautiful book. Know any good publishers?

q)What advice could you give to someone who wants to be an artist?’

a)All it takes to make art is to have an idea and act upon it. Make something first, ask questions later. Multitasking helps. Collaboration rules. Momentum rocks. Inspiration is essential.

q) What are you doing when you are not creating art?

a)My day job is as talent buyer/booker/promoter at Doug Fir Lounge – a wonderful live music venue in Portland, OR. I am also guest curator/interviewer for a radio show called Live Wire – here in Portland – www.livewireradio.org. Otherwise, I am out and about a lot in Portland. The food, music, art and film scenes are tremendous.

q) What does music, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Everything. Besides being a working musician and 20 year veteran of the music biz, I am a totally obsessive, rabid music fan. I think having such a passionate relationship with music has helped me become a better photographer. I try to capture the essence of a bands music when I take their photograph. I want the bands I work with to have strong visual imagery to compliment their music and help them make more fans along the way

q) What does art, in its entirety, mean to you?

a)Life. Everything I do I try to do in an artful way. But art has helped expand my consciousness and enabled me to see the world in so many wonderful ways. Thank god for the imagination of artists.

q) Are there some web sites that You would like to recomend? Artists, art communities, xxx,...!?

www.grasshutcorp.com
www.dootdootgarden.com
www.dougfirlounge.com
www.itsnicethat.com
www.ultrapdx.com
www.livewireradio.org
www.obt.org