Why are you an artist?
I have many diverse interests. Art is the only occupation that I have found which allows me to explore these diverse interests in a creative way. As an artist I can wake up every morning feeling free to respond to the world through the exploration of any idea that interests me at that moment. Ultimately, I seek to understand myself and the world around me through art.
Tell us about your vermin.me project.
Vermin.me involves the installation of small (4” tall) ceramic figures, called vermin, in public places throughout the world. Using Internet tools to facilitate and document the project I hope to spread the vermin across the globe. From when the project started January 20, 2010 to September 23, 2010 I have produced over 2,000 vermin. There have been more 350 installations made by over 50 people including 600+ vermin at locations all over the world. Vermin have spread to 20 US states, 10 countries and 4 continents in 10 months. I have also been doing larger vermin installations in galleries, art centers and schools including the upcoming 10-10-10 Conference at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Now that we have developed the ability to make, ship and document the vermin we are starting to actively promote the project and recruit as many people as possible to help install the vermin. We need your help. If you are interested in participating in the vermin.me project through installing a vermin in an interesting location and photographing it please fill out the contact form found on the vermin.me website. We would also like to hear from people that have found vermin. We will send the vermin to you free of charge as long as we have funding to continue the project. Vermin.me is supported by grants from UNO Cultural Enrichment Fund and the Nebraska Arts Council.
What are your goals with this project?
1. The first goal was to get back to making objects with my hands. Over the last few years I have been primarily working on large gallery, museum and public art projects that required administrative and computer work. My eyes and hands felt out of shape. Each vermin is modeled by hand in clay which make me feel like an artist again.
2. Second is to explore the possibilities of the Internet relating to sculpture. Are there things possible today with our technology that was not possible in the recent past?
3. The third goal that has developed is to spread the vermin all over the globe.
4. The fourth goal is to meet interesting people though the Internet that are interested in helping out with vermin.me.
Vermin.me has an interactive and participatory edge to it; what is added to the art when others are involved in the process?
When I visit art venues such as galleries and museums I find myself more interested in viewing the people than the art. This interest has lead to most of my art being interactive in some way. The viewer becomes a part of the piece. When others are involved in the process, projects like vermin.me can take unexpected directions. People have installed the vermin in places and ways that reflect their way of looking at the world.
Social Question: Check out the link below...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mat-gleason/ten-most-overrated-los-an_b_679441.html
Any thoughts about this article?
If a writer is going to say specific artists are overrated I expect him to support his opinion. I think Mat Gleason did support his opinion fairly well in this article. I do not necessarily agree with this opinion. One example is John Baldessari. This summer I checked out the “John Baldessari: Pure Beauty” exhibition at LACMA. I loved seeing his progression as an artist. Seeing Baldessari’s ideas develop through his work was fascinating. For me his strategy made for interesting art over a long career and the possibility for it to continue to develop. I rate John Baldessari high.
Are some artists overrated? Are some underrated?
Rating art is much like rating food. No two people will have the same experience of a meal or a piece of art. The bottom line is that each individual viewer has the power when viewing art. Each individual is unique with specific experiences, tastes, interests etc. that affect how that person reacts to the work. How we react to specific art changes over time as we change. Artists can be overrated or underrated depending upon who you ask.
What is the role of the artist in our society?
Artists reflect the society they inhabit. Our present society is dealing with technologies that have changed our experience faster than any other time in human history. I believe that today’s varied and quickly developing art world reflects this.
Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
I hope to be further along on my artistic journey with each piece of art leading to the next.
What are your ultimate goals as an artist?
My ultimate goal as an artist is to live a creative life up to and through my final breath. I hope to keep my art moving forward my whole life.
What does art mean to you?
To me art is broad, including many disciplines and approaches. I like the Websters Dictionary definition “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also :works so produced” Art has the intention of expressing something to the viewer.
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