I am an Artist: Greg Fuqua, Iowa

When I look at Greg's work I forget that it is a 2D image. It feels like it is spinning and dancing right in front of me. The work takes on a life of its own.

1. Why are you an artist?

I suppose I am an artist because I have practiced art making more than most and I have gotten very good at from an early age. Positive reinforcement, great teachers contributed to my sense of identity as being an artist. I am also someone who enjoys his time alone and pushing and teaching myself. Being an artist is largely figuring out who you are. My art making is connected to the fact that I was brought
up in an atheist household and I am someone with a great curiosity in science, religion, consciousness and nature- in big questions. My art work is an attempt to understand the origins and sources of my own
nature and creativity.

2. Talk about your work. What is your vision?

I have no vision I only have a process. My process is connected to first my body so it is large-scale. It is a response to the size of my energy body. Usually my work is around 6’ X 4’, and on paper. I try to get
out of my own way creatively; I want bigger, at-large forces (nature) to dictate my work’s direction. My work usually starts out as a dance, a release of gestural energy. Then it goes through various stages of obscurity/refinement, action/reaction, etc…

3. Why do you use the color palette you use? Your work has 3-D aspect to it-do you do sculpture as well?

I have shied away from color the more I have found my identity as an artist. For some reason I find (feel) color as extraneous, or as a contrivance. My work is primal and about a battle between energy and matter (form) as is the universe. I only need black and white, and I love charcoal it is so versatile, changeable,
and malleable. Often when I do work in color I feel distracted by it. Distracted from the things my work should be focused on- like more fundamental creative elements. I suppose color just doesn’t come natural to me. Science and physics often describe their work as the study of forces and patterns in space,
my work is very similar, space, volume, depth and concepts of inner/outer are integral to my interests. I have really enjoyed working in both clay and printmaking which both share my connection to a certain physicality and feel-based approach. Ceramic people generally love my work and I have often thought
that I may have been a potter in another life.


4. Give us a few contemporary artists whose work intrigues you (positively or negatively). Tell us why you
chose him/her.

Robert Irwin and James Turrell are two favorite artists that come to mind. Their work is about creating
perceptual experiences for the viewer, tapping into the magic of consciousness, nature and our connection to it. Also I am big fan of Eve Andre Laramee, who combines nature, culture, science and consciousness in ways that just blows me away.

5. Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?

I think the first great Mark Rothko painting I saw in real life; hit me like a freight train. I was hypnotized, I could have just gazed at it for perhaps hours, I felt I was staring into the very soul of an artist.

6. What is the art scene like in Iowa?

The art scene is very limited here in Iowa. There are very few places to show for the contemporary artist.

There is a much bigger scene for regionalism and craft-work. But there is some great artwork being made in Iowa just not enough outlets or support. The Des Moines Art Center is an incredible and important
resource for contemporary art in Iowa, a real jem. Also the ICON, or Iowa Contemporary Gallery is a fantastic place hidden in Fairfield, Iowa. I rarely show in Iowa and have found very sparse support here. On the flip side there is no better place to raise a family. Great education system, plenty of jobs, low crime
and very friendly people.

7. What is the role of the artist in our society?

I believe the role of the artist is to make us look back on the world, ourselves and our potentials(as
people) in a renewed and re-inspired way. Art makes us see what we have come to overlook. As Degas is quoted as saying, “ art isn’t about what you see, art is about what you make others see.”

8. Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

I know this answer will cause me to flunk most interviews, but I have no clue where I will be in 5 years. It’s been 10 years since I received my post-graduate degree in art and I have taught at six different colleges, lived in three different cities, been interviewed (for jobs) dozens of times, found a full gamut in
life from success to rejection, elation to depression. The art world is not for the unadaptable nor for the thin skinned. You have no choice but to believe in yourself and to persevere. In five years I see myself as continuing to find ways to get better as a person and as an artist.

9.What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

To be an inspiration and to be inspired/ and to connect to others. My dream is for my work to have actual application in the study of creativity and into the processes in nature/consciousness. Realistically though that is just a dream and I suppose it’s the dream of the pragmatic and practical side of me as an artist.

10. What does art mean to you?

That answer can specifically depends on the artist’s interests. But in general art shares what is magical in all of us as humans. It connects us to what’s important, what we value. It teaches us how to live with more connectedness to experience and to ourselves.

I am an Artist-Jill Dubbeldee Kuhn, Minnesota

Why are you an artist? 
When I am creating, discussing, teaching, observing, or just thinking about art  I am at a place of knowing, joy, and love for life.  It is so much of who I am that I can't think of it not being who I am or separate to who I am.  Jill Dubbeldee Kuhn=artist=alive.

What is the vision behind your work?
 I celebrate color and the wonder of discovery and curiousity and the what ifs.

What do you hope a viewer walks away with after sitting with your work?
I wish for my viewer to feel happiness and a fond excitement for the past or the future.

What is the role of beauty in your work?
Beauty is key.  I am sharing my view of beauty and whimsy with the viewer in an effort to connect and share humanly magical experiences.

Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?
Matisse's cut-outs that are of saturated color and simplicity as well as his paintings of interiors-- The Parrot and the Mermaid. Kandinsky's use of color and abstraction in his Improvision No. 31 Sea Battle piece is what I feel like inside.  Often my work connects with that same joyous use of color from both of these artists even though they are very different observers of life.

What is the art scene like in  Minnesota?
In Minnesota I think we're pretty hip.  There has been more of an awareness within our Central Minnesota area to connect fellow artists and provide more opportunities for exhibitions, community awareness, and support.  The Twin Cities has a very active cultural arts scene especially with the Walker Art Museum and Minneapolis Institiute of Art, the Weismann, the Guthrie as just a few of the major arenas.

What is the role of the artist in our society? 
The artist's role is to make people think and view his or her surroundings in a different light--to make new associations with the everyday objects and ask questions about beauty and the emotional effects of visual vocabulary and vibration.

 Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

I will be an artist promoting the energy of creating and empowering ourselves through our art and connections with each other.  My wish is for my talents to be visible by expanding my teaching adventures and opportunities as well as seeing more of my work in galleries and funky gift shows with my art on merchandise that empowers and inspires others.   I believe my work has a healing element through its message and color usage.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?
To continue to make art and share that art with others.

What does art mean to you?
Art for me becomes a physical extension of the experinces I have in my heart from my past and for the future.  Art is pure joy.  I experience true peace and joy when I am creating in my studio.  I simply feel like the happiness in myself is coming though my art.  I do have days in which I struggle with seeing the good, but when I tap into being thankful and full of appreciation for my life I am able to focus and live a joyful life really most of the time. Art is who I am.  I am beauty.  I am life.  I am energy.  I am happy.  I am the confusion that makes way for the joy.

Hey there fellow art advocates, we need your help w/ a Labor of Love!

  We have vision and we need your help! It takes a village to raise a Dream!

Since January 2011,Lauren and I at Art is Moving have been working hard behind the scenes developing plans and making connections for our latest vision and dream to MAKE ART FREE for all.

Our goal is to make Take 5: Art Break Day 2011 a global holiday for a day honoring creativity within us all throughout the world. In 2011, we will begin in the SF Bay Area Communities of Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco, San Rafael, and Berkeley!

Take 5: Art Break Day 2011

This non-stop crazy and energized movement towards our big day in September has to keep going! We need your energy and crazy passion to help us reach our goals!

 We need volunteers!

We love volunteers! There are many different roles that you can fulfill, from marketing, to set up and clean up, to recruiting businesses for sponsorship and anything else you can think of that will help this project reach its highest potential.

Please check out our volunteer page (click HERE) on our website and email us with the role you would like to fill. 

Thank you a million times over for your love and support. 

If you are not able to volunteer, we would graciously accept a donation. Your tax-deductible donation provides crucial support.There is a donation button at the top, left hand side of this blog (do you see it?) or you may visit our website and donate there. http://www.artbreakday.com/

Do You feel that ART can Change the World?

Take 5:  ARTbreak Day 2011  
Call for ARTmentors

• Do you feel that ART can Change the World?

• Do you love to interface with the public? 

• Are you OK in a large crowd?

• Can you make a six month, part-time commitment from April 2011 to October 2011?

If you answered YES! to all these questions, you are invited to apply to be an ARTmentor for Take 5:  ARTbreak Day 2011. 

Visit www.artbreakday.com for more event details!

We are seeking 8 ARTmentors (Four teams of two) for the Bay Area communities of San Rafael, Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland.

The process is simple. 

Please fill out an application by clicking here and send it to us via email: artismoving[at!]gmail[dot!]com

We will be conducting interviews in April.

Thanks!  We look forward to meeting all of you! 
Creating art together transcends all boundaries.

 

MAKE ART FREE!

Support Our Newest Project - Take 5: Art Break Day!

"The time has come to give everyone in our community an opportunity to know and experience creativity as our most powerful human capacity." ~William Cleveland

Take 5: ARTbreak Day 2011

www.artbreakday.com

Visualize walking into the center of a city and seeing a group of random strangers sitting around a table chatting, laughing, sharing, and getting to know one another through the act of making art together.

On Take 5:  Art Break Day folks will literally be taking an art break; taking a breather from the ordinary course of their day to MAKE ART FOR FREE!

The first official Take 5: ARTbreak Day will be on September 2nd, 2011.  This community ARTreach event will take course during the work day, in the cities of San Francisco,  San Rafael, Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland.   In the “heart” of each city a canopy with the words “Take an Art Break” will house tables, filled to the brim with an array of art supplies!   Passersby will be greeted and invited to have a seat and to take an art break.

Over the next four months we need to raise $50,000.
 

That is $12,500 per month. 

and $417.00 per day.  

That is equal to 117 Venti lattes at Starbucks per day or one iPhone per day.

 

How can you Help? 

1. Donate, donate, donate Click HERE to donate now! Your tax-deductible donation provides crucial support for this projec. Every single donation no matter how small or large is indispensable and intrinsic in helping us create a successful Take Five: Take an ARTbreak Day!
2. Spread the Word! E-mail this post to your friends, post it on your Blog, on Facebook and Twitter. 
3. Help us find Sponsorship!  Email us if you know someone who might be interested in sponsoring Take 5:  Art Break Day. (our email:  artismoving[at!]gmail[dot!]com)
4. Become part of our ARTmentor Team.  We are looking for 8 ARTmentors to help us prior, during, and after the event with several different tasks.  Check out the website for more info.
5. Volunteer. We have over thirty volunteer positions available.
6. Have fun with us in September!   Put September 2, 2011 on your calendar NOW so you don't forget to come out and TAKE AN ART BREAK for free!

 We hope you will join us in making

Take 5: Art Break Day a stellar success!! 

I am an Artist: Thomas Agran, Iowa

Artist Thomas Agran moves through the realistic and abstract art genres with ease and grace.  I see something brand new each time I look at his aerial type painting of pastures.  The shapes form new figures every second and keep my eyes and mind engaged in the work.  Below is our interview with Thomas.  Enjoy!

1. Why are you an artist?

I have always loved drawing, putting what I see to paper or canvas or whatever. I've realized more and more though, that I really just love making things. Whether it's with paint or charcoal, a stone wall or a stack of logs, a great meal or a little wooden box, I like to use my hands and have something to show for it. It's immediate.



2. Can you talk about your work? What is your vision?

The most recent body of work that I have been plugging away on is based off my interest in agriculture. Without delving too deep here, I have a longstanding interest in agriculture and farming both hands on and politically. I have a hard time reaching a coming to terms between my aesthetic attraction to industrial farming and my intellectual frustrations with it. I've been trying to use my work as a tool to explore that relationship, and hopefully provide viewers a new lens with which to observe the land around them.

3. Which is your favorite medium and why?

I do a lot of painting, but I love a stick of charcoal and an eraser. It's a medium that I have worked with for a long time now, and one where I feel like I have the most fluency.


4. What does the figure mean to you?

Figure sessions have been a part of my practice since I started. A friend and I enrolled in live model classes when we were in 8th grade. At times the figure has played a more prominent role in my more finished work, but it has always been in the wings. Like a musician practicing scales, I think of it as an exercise that keeps me visually acute. I think we will always be fascinated with the figure as a subject, and I think artists will always use it as a tool, even if it isn't what drives them conceptually.




5. Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?

I love John Singer Sargent's Gassed. It's housed in the Imperial War Museum in London and so you see the painting after first wandering through all of its horrific and depressing context. It's very moving. I'm not sure if emotional is the right word, but I am always drawn to the work of Lucian Freud, Antonio Lopez Garcia, and Alex Kanevsky. I recently saw an exhibition of Alan Feltus and Lani Irwin's paintings that I just loved.

6. What is the art scene like in Iowa?

Small. But that implies a bad thing, and I'm not sure it's necessarily the case. I haven't been here that long, but already know or know of a lot of the central players in the art community. I think, in all kinds of ways, there's an advantage to living somewhere with a lower cost of living. It permits a freedom that you wouldn't get if you were living in a more happening (read: expensive) place. While there are some nice galleries here, I would say that Iowa is missing a gallery scene that challenges the viewer, rather than caters to. Yes, there are a lot of barn paintings. There's a gallery cum figure drawing group called Manifest in Cincinnati, Ohio, which I wish had a second location in Iowa City. They put on a lot of great little shows.


7. What is the role of the artist in our society?

A lot of my friends say similar things, but our society is in an information overload. I think artists, and particularly those working observationally, are in a good position to teach people how to look at their world in a slower way -- a way a lot of people have forgotten or never learned. I'm not as interested in artists that are looking just to shock or confuse.



8. Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

I'd love to be teaching but there's a lot of transition going on in art departments around the country, so I'm not exactly banking on it.



9.What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

Well... good question. I hope it remains enjoyable. I hope I stay productive. I hope it stays exciting. I hope I can share my work with a lot of people. Who knows? I have a hard time figuring out my goals for the day! When I'm not making, I'm not happy. It's good to stay happy. I hope I continue to have more ideas than I do the time to do them.

10. What does art mean to you?

I've tried to answer this question a few times now, but it keeps ending up vague ... art for me is about making, about seeing, about slowing down, time for myself, sharing with others, using my hands, using my eyes ... it's a tool like any other to help record, react, and learn more about the world around us. Nah ... nope, still vague.

I am an Artist: Garrison Beau Scott

1. Why are you an artist?

After high school, I really had no options. I didn't even bother taking the SAT, or any other entrance exams. I was killing time at a junior college when I re-discovered our family's photo archive. When I was young, my father was a stringer for Associated Press, and so we had an amazing collection of images depicting our lives. It was this body of work that prompted me to enroll in a basic photography course. I was hooked immediately and soon, it was all I wanted to do. I was then accepted into Brooks Institute of Photography where my goals switched from just learning how to use a manual camera, to how I'd be able to use one to make a living. Faced with all manner of potential professional paths, I chose the one that appealed to me the most. Art. At the very root is the desire to find something that, prior to pointing a camera at it, had never existed.

I'm not a religious person, but there are definitive moments where I'm standing in front of a scene, and I know I've been led there for a reason. I've likened my pictures to prayers. They're my "amens!" to the beauty of this world, and to the thrill/joy/opportunity/responsibility to capture it.

In a way, I'm an artist because I have to be.

2. What is the vision behind your work?

When I go out taking pictures I make a decision, do I go right, or do I go left? As I've said, I feel I'm led to a lot of my images. I guess the "vision" is seeing something I feel is interesting and then wondering if I can provide a visible proof as to why I feel that way.

3. How do you decide when to create a black and white photograph vs. a color
photograph?

I still use film. And for what I want to do, b/w is the perfect medium. Color is fun, and I still shoot a lot of it, mostly digital, the rare roll of color film every now and then, but those are all exceptions to the rule. There's something about the process, the grain, the essence of black and white. It strips away so much of what I feel is unnecessary, leaving us with light, line, shape, and composition. Rainbows are nice and all, but I'd rather see the grit of the gutter or the black hole of a shadow swallowing up the sidewalk.



4. Vantage point or perspective seems important in your work. Can you speak
to that?

Life is perspective, all of it. And vantage point is wanting the best seat in the house. Front row center, right? Photography gives the viewer an opportunity to stand in that spot, forever, and see what I saw. Perspective is why the photojournalism greats, were/are great. It's Nick Ut putting the viewer on that road in Vietnam, or Alfred Eisenstaedt in Times Square on VJ Day. And to the same degree, being able to share these things I see is a joy. I also feel it's what separates the good, the great, the amazing, from Aunt Minnie's snapshots of the Grand Canyon.

We as a picture taking society are so programmed to see something, know it's extraordinary, and then be content with raising the viewfinder to our eye, snapping a picture and then moving on, trusting [falsely] that the camera will do all the work in conveying the beauty that we saw. Yes, the Grand Canyon is spectacular, but without a little perspective, it's just a really big hole in the ground.

One of the greatest photographic artists was Ansel Adams. He didn't just go tripping through Yosemite taking snapshots with his point and shoot. There's a lot more to it of course, some of it very technical and involving special gear, but one of the things about his process that strikes me as so cool was that he'd find a scene, want to take a picture of it, but decide it wasn't quite right yet. So he'd set up camp and wait. Sometimes as long as six days.

Sitting in one spot, looking at a mountain range for six days would more than likely provide him with a pretty good amount of perspective. And it's why today we still celebrate his images.



5. Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one
and why?

My first real emotional experiences with art came from looking at record covers growing up. Some might argue the legitimacy of record cover art as high art, but to me, I can trace my love of art back to those early covers. The second real milestone for me emotionally came when I discovered Michael Kenna's photography. And then Sally Mann, Ruth Bernhard, Joel-Peter Witkin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Yousuf Karsh, Alfred Stieglitz and Bresson.

Each of these photographers presents a unique emotional challenge, effecting me in totally different ways. But the photographer whose work has effected me the most was my father.



6. What is the art scene like in Iowa?

Not being from Des Moines, I didn't know what to expect when I moved here 1 1/2 years ago. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised. It’s awesome to see how hard the artists in this community work to get their art out there and seen. There are some very talented people here, and any fears I might have had about moving to Iowa and being placed into an artistic black-hole were gone with in the first few weeks.

It doesn't hurt to have such a well respected institution such as the Des Moines Art Center here, either.


7. What is the role of the artist in our society?

A bigger one than he/she gets credit for. Take away every piece of art, take away every bit of color and form, and thought that art provides and what are we left with? What fills that void? I'm not suggesting that we as artists are given a higher place in the system of society, or are to be lauded as anything other than a fellow human being trying to make a difference, but it would be nice to do away with the whole starving artist conceit.



8. Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

Still hammering away at the thing that drives me. I'll never stop taking pictures, I'll never stop "seeing." I could go blind, and I'd still need to "feel" what world I live in. I'd like to see my work in a few more galleries, my photographs on a few more walls, but as long as I've continued to take the pictures that I want to take, I'll have taken care of what I can control, and the rest is up to someone else.


9.What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

To create a body of work that endures.

10. What does art mean to you?

Life. Love. Effort. Desire. I think everything else can fit somehow into one of those four words.

Experiment in Creativity #12 -Your Inner Dwarf

Edvard Munch "The Scream"

"Too many people are living in a prison that they have themselves manufactured." 

Dr. Michael Beckwith

Today, I woke up with an old friend. My inner dwarf's (my inner critic) voice was blaring like an old transistor radio in my brain. Although my Ocean Meditation has quelled it down, he is still sitting in the background and unless I give him some attention, I feel he is going to make a scene. OK, I do need to give him some credit, he did inspire this post.

Experiments in Creativity #12 -Found Object Inner Dwarf Doll

 

For me, this creative experiment is good to revisit ever so often.  It is a way of honoring your inner dwarf, as well as transforming it.

"We all have it. It's that little critical voice in your head that just won't be quiet. The inner voice questions and nit-picks, gives unfavorable commentary and has the ability to make you feel about the size of a pea." This is quote taken from a good article  from Psychology Today Addressing Your Inner Critic, that is if you need some proof or an affirmation. There is a zillion articles out there on the subject.

Origins

 Lauren and I first came up with this experiment in our Workshop series called the " Art Stimulus," to soothe the negative judgement that sometimes surfaces when you create. It can be an artists worst enemy. I was delighted when one of our students, Elisa wrote me yesterday and asked if she could use it. She is starting an eating issues group for her schizophrenic/schizoaffective female clients. I think it is effective art ritual for all.

Steps

1. Find some objects to  make your Inner Dwarf doll out of. Some ideas are twigs and yarn. Anything will work as long as you can construct a doll like image our of it. 
2. Piece of Paper and something to write with
3. Begin the process just through your own stream of consciousness. Write every negative thought down that is going through you head. 
4. Next, on the reverse side of your paper, write and transform your negative thoughts into a positive ones.  
5. Then start making your inner dwarf doll and embed your thoughts into the figure. 
6. Lastly, reflect on this little art guy you created. And then you can do anything you want with your inner dwarf doll. I have had people burn them, place them on their alter.. just see what feels right for you.

Alright, I look forward to seeing what your little critter looks like this time. As always have fun with it!!!! -lisa

quintessential quotes-Philippe Benichou

"I aim at creating my art in the context of a universal idea of freedom. 

I am unquestionably against all physical and ideological manifestations of tyranny,

oppression and imprisonment. I can't imagine a better time to realign our hearts

 and spirits around a liberating idea of art as a contextual idea for unequivocal liberty."

Philippe Benichou

I am an Artist: Cheryl Love, Iowa

I love that Cheryl Love takes items we use on a daily basis and turns them into a work of art!

1. Why are you an artist?

I have been a “visual” person for as long as I can remember. I don’t feel I chose to be an artist, but rather art chose me. I am an artist because it allows me to create and express myself in a totally unique way. I can incorporate feelings and emotions with colors and textures on a media that can ultimately last forever.



2. What is the vision behind your work?

My vision is to create a functional piece of artwork that is useful, beautiful and affordable. It is my belief that everyone should be able to afford this type of unique artwork.


3. Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Natural surroundings and animals always inspire my creative side. For my custom work, I feel I often connect with my clients on an almost intuitive level to determine the design and colors that they desire. It is very rewarding to create functional artwork that has been envisioned by my client.

4.  What is the art scene like in Iowa?

Iowa has a wonderful and growing culture for the art scene. One of our largest attractions is the Des Moines Art Festival each summer in downtown Des Moines as well as “the Other Art Show” that runs at the same time. The festival is said to feature the best visual artists in the country. We have the Pappa John Sculpture park, The Des Moines Art Center, The Iowa State Fair, and so many other opportunities and events around the state.

5. What is the role of the artist in our society?

I believe the role of an artist is to contribute beauty and expression through a visual form for others to experience in a positive way. For example, artwork that has come from the 9/11 tragedy is emotional, impressive and I feel is a tribute in a very healing way.


6. Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

In 5 years I see myself traveling around the United States giving painting seminars and classes on the lost art of China Painting. It is my mission to present and teach this art form to children who have never experience this form of art. Our art form is slowing dying. I also see myself being published in various magazines and featured in home design shows and programs.

7. What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

My goal as a Porcelain Artist is to spend the rest of my life enjoying this wonderful art and to teach and share it with others. I will continue my studies under master artists to improve and grow my painting ability.


8. What does art mean to you?

To me, art is an extension of you shared with another person.

You can see more of Cheryl's work at:  http://www.customarttile.com/

Feeling Blue: Answers to Experiments in Creativity # 11

"With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft:"

Marc Chagall

Here are my answers and my experience for Experiments in Creativity #11

I wore blue, I listened to the Blues, I noticed the ocean is blue and so is the sky, I ate blueberries, I drank from a blue glass, I have blue eyes, and

I painted Blue

I love the color blue and it never makes me "feel blue" as in sad. But I became curious to check out the orgins of this expression.  Here is one: It sources from old Navy Terminology "If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band painted along her entire hull when returning to home port." 

Here is another: In the English language, blue may refer to the feeling of sadness. "He was feeling blue". This is because blue was related to rain, or storms, and in Greek mythology, the god Zeus would make rain when he was sad (crying), and a storm when he was angry. Kyanos was a name used in Ancient Greek to refer to dark blue tile (in English it means blue-green or cyan).^[ Wikipedia

Having always been a fan of mythology,I think I like the Greek version best. Great creative experiment.Lauren, It made me peel the layers of the color Blue, revealing to me a further understanding of the archetypal nature of color. And how it effects our state of being.
Gosh, now I have to check out what the origins of the Blues are as in music.Why the reference to the color Blue?

"ART Local" Artist Stephen Hues, LA

Here is an interview with LA's own Artist and Performer, Stephen Hues. I met Stephen at an amazing Free Art Advocacy workshop hosted by Arts for LA.Most of the workshop was based on brainstorming around a vision and a campaign on what would an Artcentric LA look like and how could we manifest it. For me it was really inspiring to be with a group folks, who loved Art and who knew of its intrinsic positive Power within our society and within every individual. I hope all of our visions will manifest! "ART Local" is one of them.

What is the "ART Local" movement?

It is an emerging "ART" Movement in Los Angeles and San Francisco, that supports the ARTs to be a local force of civic pride,culture, and economic growth.For well over a decade there has been a" buy local" food movement. Now it is time to support, advocate, and cultivate local Arts and Artists in your own communities ~ Lisa

Here are Stephen's insights! He was one of the dynamic voices at the workshop.

 

Why are you an artist?

I am an artist because I love seeing the world in my own way, enjoy the discovery process and problem solving. 

Why do you think Art and Artists are important in our Local communities?

I can't image a world without my imagination. I believe Art and Artist help us relate to each other and discover new ways of seeing things in the world and alter perceptions from the norm. Art helps break down the separations in our culture. 

What does art mean to you? 

Art is healing. Art is an expression of life, freedom, a reason to be. It inspires me to see and explore everything in a unique way.

Cheers!

 Stephen

www.stephenhuesdance.com

I am an Artist::Jeng, Minnesota

"Well here are my answers as cheesy at they may be :)" ... Jeng

Why are you an artist?

Art is something I've been doing since as far as I can remember and I can't imaging it not being a part of my life. Obviously art is a way to express oneself but for me it's more of a release...to let go, to just be.

Talk about your work. What is your vision?

It's not so much my vision as it is mother earth's, I believe she is the creativity behind my work.  I am just completely grateful that I am one of those she chose to express herself through.  My work is very organic in nature but at the same time structured which I guess that is a reflection of myself to a certain extent.

What do you hope a viewer walks away with after sitting with your work?

It's not what I hope they walk away with, I just hope they walk away with something.  If my work can somehow strike a cord with someone then that's wonderful.  Whenever I look at someone’s work I never try
to figure out what they are trying to convey.  I get my own meaning from their pieces and I would hope that each person that sits with one of my pieces will walk away with something different.  Sometimes that
may end up being nothing but that's alright, I don't get something from every piece I see either.

Would you consider your work a type of Mandala?

Mandalas, fractals & Celtic art are a few of the different ways people have described my work and yes, I think there is a bit of all of them in my pieces.  But to be honest, I didn't set out trying to mimic any of these different styles.  I've actually had to look up the meaning of some the words people used to describe my work because I was unfamiliar with what they were talking about..

Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?

No, I can't say that has ever happened.  The pieces I enjoy the mostare the ones that I just can't take my eyes off for whatever reason which tends to be more of the abstract pieces but not always.  Some pieces will trigger a past memory that can be emotional but it's more of a nostalgic feeling than anything.

What is the art scene like in Minnesota?

Having moved here about 5 years ago from a community where the art scene was pretty much nonexistent, I would have been happy with any art scene at all but the talent in Minneapolis in unbelievable.  Everytime I go to a show I'm blown away by what I see and I'm grateful  to be a part of it.

What is the role of the artist in our society?

To get people to exercise the right side of their brains as much as the left.  Most public schools are set up to exercise the left side of our children's brains a vast majority of the time.  The left side deals facts, numbers and analytical thinking where as the right side is creative, it sees the big picture, deals with spatial relationships, & understands how things function...it's where the artist resides in all of us.  You need a good balance between the two and artists and their works help to balance the scales.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

Personally, to be doing exactly what I am doing now which is creating but professionally, I see myself as a nationally known artist.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

The ultimate goal for me is to inspire others to find the artist in themselves.  Some artists may say to sell x amount of pieces or have x amount of money in sales or to be famous which is fine but I believe the ultimate goal for every human being is to help each other.

What does art mean to you?

For me personally it means presence.  To be utterly and completely in the present moment, where I am unaware of all space and time.  It's a very powerful feeling and art has always been one of the purest ways
that I can reach that.

Thanks much
-j

www.jengart.com
www.facebook.com/jengart
www.etsy.com/shop/jengart

I am an Artist: Steve Baier, Iowa

1. Why are you an artist?
Some people kind of know they're going to be artists from an early age. With me, it wasn't so clear; I have always had a lot of interests and didn't decide to pursue art until I was a senior in high school and even then it was graphic design. It took some experiences to figure out that working in traditional media -actually painting- was what I really wanted to do. I've worked in web design, photo finishing, airbrush t-shirts and also as a caricaturist for 9 years - but painting is definitely the best.

2. What is the vision behind your work?
It's about fantasy to some degree, but mostly it's about fun and enjoying life. You'll notice I don't paint anything violent or degrading, and I present my models in a sort of superhuman way. They've often told me that the way I present them is uplifting, reaffirming - and that's what I strive for. I see people as beautiful, and that's how I paint them.

With my side line of floral art, it's really just about exploring the beauty in nature. Plus big pretty flowers make people happy!

3. Your work seems to concentrate on the female form, why?
Early in my career when I was doing a lot of general airbrush work, I found I would get bored with certain subjects. I've never really liked painting men, and I'm not real comfortable painting children. Early on, I would paint a lot of classic starlets and I always enjoyed that - I've just always found women to be far more interesting subjects than men and looking around the art world, I'd say I'm far from alone.


4.Does the history of Pin Up ART influence your style and work?
Definitely! I'm influenced at least in some small way by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Olivia, Jennifer Janesko, and others. I've always loved the style of pin-up where the girls are presented in a sort of extrahuman way, just off reality. She's obviously more modern, but Jennifer is easily my single biggest influence. She's a friend now too, and an in-person view of her work and a conversation energizes me and gets me in the mood to create like nothing else.

5. Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?

No, not really - but it's not due to indifference. I just have a rather even personality in general and don't get too high or too low very often. I'll be more fascinated than emotional when it comes to art I like.

6. What is the art scene like in Iowa?
Well, there's certainly no lack of talent here. There's a lot of creative people in Iowa, and I don't know that any one particular medium or discipline is dominant. I think there's a good environment here for an artist to be him- or herself and do his or her own thing. One of the most encouraging things I'm seeing is an increase in small exhibitions at various places around Des Moines. Usually they have a central theme, and they're always free and open to the public.

7. What is the role of the artist in our society?
Life would be rather dull without artists! And it's not only about having paintings or sculptures in your home or business. Think about it: everything you have that features a logo, pattern, or any other imagery had to be thought up and designed by some sort of artist. So I guess the answer is, we're the people who give life in a developed society its splash of color.

8. Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
I see myself continuing to refine my style and continuing to turn out work which I am proud of. I also see myself building my national brand and exploring new avenues of putting my work out into the world. I hope to have a dedicated following for both the pin-ups and the flowers.

9.What are your ultimate goals as an artist?
Ultimately, I want to make a comfortable living through my art. And just as important, I want to do so by staying true to myself and being who I am. I hope my clients, fans and collectors will always hire me or buy from me based on the merits of my work, and I also hope they will know me as warm, honest, and dependable.

10. What does art mean to you?
It's my livelyhood. I've found through experience that art is more a lifestyle than a job, and I embrace that. I could just as easily be managing a restaurant, grinding lenses, or running a photo lab for a living, but this is definitely better.

See More of Steve's Work:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Baier-Pin-Up-Art/110907397820

Website:  http://www.scbartworks.com/

I am Artist: Mystic Flows (Michael Sciortino) Minnesota 2011

ART= HARD WORK and PROCESS with VISION. Enjoy Michael's interview.

Michael Sciortino 

OPTIMYSTIC - ORIGINAL PAINTINGS 

Why are you an artist? 

I like to spend my time creating things. I love to express stories and snapshots of life and culture and experience through different mediums. There are more mediums than perhaps ever before due to the way our technological tools can transform and manipulate physical mediums and i'm seeing new ways of combing them all the time now.

What is the vision behind your work?

The human condition is a strong theme in my work. A blend of Ancient and Modern Philosophies.Psychology. I have worked often with very little or no planning at the start of a piece of work and also with everything pre-planned. I like to let the piece work itself out through me generally though; formats can be useful but what i do is i get in the zone and meditate through my works.

What is the role of performance in your work? 

There are different layers of performance, while painting for example, performance is everything. The painting itself depends on my performance and especially with continued performance over time. Each brush stroke leaves an impression that lasts. At a show it's different. The paintings are done and now the performance becomes presentation,mingling, spreading the works message and sales really..

When i paint live at shows doing body painting part of the performance is interacting with everyone : the patrons,performers and photographers, making sure all the timing is right while talking with the models and still focusing to painting. Live shows are a lot of fun when it's a fun crowd!

When I'm in my studio creating music performances I program out my percussion kits into different breaks and fill in the rest of the instrumentation by playing notes on my keyboards. I also play guitar and will plug in and add those sounds into the mix as well.. As a "do it myself artist" or "one man band" there are many different layers to the performance aspect and different roles that i step up and play at different times. 

There is studio recording and then re performing live at venues. There's producing songs WITH other people and producing songs FOR other people. Either way it goes I love to create in the studio, working with music and rhymes. on the spot,here and now. many times as i'm still creating my instrumental track i will have my chorus and story vibe also coming along. This was especially true on my first album OPTI-MYSTIC. Opti-Mystic was my first full length album and contribution to the world of "do it yourself musicans" all over the internet and ipods. On this coming album MESSENGER BIRDS most of the instrumental tracks were fully recorded before i started recording vocals. This is, i think, because i've stepped up my production game quite a little bit since OPTI-MYSTIC, which was mostly multi drum based and lyrical. I've learned a lot more about what i'm doing in the studio and really just a lot more about how to put together music and how to play music. There is a lot of live playing that goes into my production. All the riffs and melodies, drums placements, bass lines and symphonies were thought up and played live and by hand.

 Honestly, there is a general formula but most songs will take a bit of their own way somewhere in their creation..   

Who/what influences your artwork?

Growing up in the 90's i heard most everything everyone else did in america and all of it has had an influence on me. Some of my personal influences, as far as artists that made me want to do my own things include : saul williams, fugges,lauryn hill, nas, puff daddy, mase, coolio, dre, snoop - all that plus Incubus, deftones, tool, whitey ford, tom waits,tom petty,pink floyd, zz top, jack johnson, iron and wine, jason maraz, aesop rock, atmosphere, eyedea, el-p, qwel, cage, slum village, the roots. I love to just listen to instrumentals mostly though, jazz and blues, blue grass, reaggae and dub..Producers i enjoy include ant, blockhead, 9th wonder, alchemist, a new local favorite ; sol play productions, anything that i like, too many to name really, i lean more towards down tempo music though...

Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why?

you know, there is a track on my upcoming album, Messenger Birds called Leaf Zen. It's a song about relationships, both with ourselves and with others and how they change over time and inter-relate to each other. This song has emotional backing to it's message from my perspective but what was amazing to me and awesome was this.... 

I played Leaf Zen for a friend and she was loving it, the general vibe of it and then half way through the song it must have clicked because she is like, "im so sorry" and then she is in tears! 

It happened to be a time for her where the message in this song was so strongly on point for her that she broke down and had like an emotional release for a few minutes.. We talked for a while and got to know each other better. It was surprising and amazing and beautiful.

What is the art scene like in Minnesota?

The art scene in Minnesota is... really is one of a kind. Minneapolis is a pretty diverse city and there are many natives but also many people from all over the world. Most of the art that i have been a part of show and venue wise takes place in minneapolis. But every year St. Paul hosts a huge art event called the st. paul art crawl. It's a huge collective of different studio loft art buildings full of artists scattered about the city. During the 3 day weekend, which is held twice a year, all of the participating studios open up and let the people in. 

I have done the art crawl four times, selling paintings, prints, music and candles. It was hard work and a good time, also way too much art to see it all in just 3 days! There is TONS of local talent in the Twin Cities! 

We have our own style here in minneapolis / saint paul ... come out and stay here for a while and you'll soak it up. sometimes thats the best way to get the feel. We have very different and distinct seasons and so the scene changes and has it's peaks, maybe more so than in other climates. What time of year you come will definitely effect what your stay here is like.

What is the role of the artist in our society? 

I personally have always seen art as a way to create magic, to create more than i am. of coarse you need your medium. But more broadly art IS a medium where we can place our spiritual or non physical experiences, ideas, promotions and visions. Where we can take it out of ourselves, reflect on it  and create a platform for others to take it in. They in turn output something new and thats part of it to. It's Alchemy on one level and on another it's entertainment, aside from what the artist gets from creating their work, it's really worth only what people get out of it when they experience it after the fact.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

I see myself being well supported by my hard works up until that point and beyond. Loving friends, adventure, progression.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

Love to collaborate and spread a modern human message, a message of harder truth but also optimism and transformation, of the human condition and the journey and being here together.

What does art mean to you?

fun fun fun. Art to me, right now means this next cd that i am releasing entitled MESSENGER BIRDS. It is a cross between melodic rock and hip hop. I brought in 8 collaborative artists on this cd. I have a beautiful back up vocalist singing on 5 of the tracks, a blues guitarist Troi Atkinson singing on one entitled, "Still We" . A collaborative track with friend and ST.CLOUD local Chase Binnie entitled, "Far Above" on which he sings and plays guitar. 

Another of the tracks is a collaboration with a poet i met while he was in the Twin Cities from seattle who creates by the name of DFIND. That song is entitled, "Willow Tree".  A Guitarist Chris Moody helped me up with keys and guitar on another track entitled " Walking By". There are 21 tracks on this upcoming album MESSENGER BIRDS, which i have been working on as a collection for the past 9 months. Stay tuned for more info and keep in touch via you tube or my website : www.mysticflows.com

The beauty is in the hard work and in the process and that is what art means to me really. It's HARD WORK and PROCESS with VISION.

I am an Artist::Dinah Langsjoen-Minnesota

Here is our interview with Dinah Langsjoen a 24 year old artist living in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  I feel her work is really psychedelic. The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή (psyche, "soul") and δηλοῦν (deloun, "to manifest"), translating to "soul-manifesting".Wikipedia What do you all think?

an artist, a muse, myself.

Why are you an artist?

When I was younger, which seems and odd thing to say for a 24 year old, I always said I was going to be an artist because I simply loved to create. It’s a beautiful and honest answer, but I’ve since realized that for me there is more to it. When I am lost sleeve deep in paint for hours upon hours of creating, I realize that I am an artist because of being able to escape into my own blissful world. Art becomes a practice on happiness and fulfillment, where I am in charge of each stroke and each held in breath to stabilize my hand. I am able to choose the level of focus that each painting deserves, and thus each painting gets to show me how much I’ve grown. I give to Art, but Art reciprocates kindly.

Why do you use the medium that you use?

I use both oil and acrylic paint for lack of better reason because it is traditional and allows for me to learn from other masters. I love the way my apartment has a lingering smell of oil and turpentine and how I’ve turned my toilet bowl into a brush cleaning basin. In all honesty, paint is my passion because of it’s convenience and yet very versatile properties. I get to control so much of my painting process by adding thinners, quick dry, pastes and glazes that I can’t figure out another medium that would encourage my creativity as well. There’s an odd sense of the power of me the artist working with the serendipity of a spontaneous abstract line. 

Can you talk about your work? What is your vision?

Recently I have started to discover my abilities through abstract. I remember a particular painting that was going to be for a friend of mine. She told me what colors she was interested in, but allowed no more input. I was so nervous about doing this, about not being able to satisfy what she was looking for, so I asked her about what was going on in her life. She gushed about a new man in her life and how happy he was making her. I channeled that energy and excitement into my painting and tried to think solely on her happiness and how thrilled she was about him. I sometimes feel like a sponge who soaks up the emotions of my patrons and then twists them out on canvas. It’s beautiful, really, to be able to be so conscientious of someone’s life and to produce something that rings so true to them. When I am creating for others, I lose myself by empathizing with my paints. I envision my paintings to be an embrace between me and my patron, a moment locked in color and swirl that sings to the both of us about being understood visually. These creations are my brains way of telling my hands that this is what it FEELS like to see an emotion, a story in oil or acrylic that captures those thoughts and feelings that can’t be expressed through words.

Has any great work of Art made you extremely emotional? If so which one and why? 

This question is a tricky one for me. To try to define one work as greater than another makes my mind spin. Art has the ability to be great simply because it was created as someone’s vision. Though perhaps not great to the minds of others, I have always been very respondent to artwork of my father. When I was nine months old, my father was killed in a car accident. That was that. From my six older siblings, I have received only hand-me-down memories about the man who should have been available to me in my youth. In addition to these, we have a few keepsakes of artwork that he created when he was studying art – just simple cross-hatching studies and self-portraits, but I’ve always admired them because they were his. His hands, so rough in his portrait, spent delicate care and effort with each stroke. If Dad could do it, surely I had some talent. I look at his art now and silently imagine that we will always bond over our art, that though I don’t remember him nor he hadn’t an inkling of what I would do with my life, we understand one another through creation.

What is the art scene like in Minnesota?

Minnesota has great funding for the arts and the appreciation for a great visit to the museum is found everywhere. I have only lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin, though, and don’t know how we compare to the more competitive art locations. As a younger artist, I have been influenced by how available art and art appreciation is here, whether it be from how many educational institutions scatter our state or by how thriving the metropolis Twin Cities are. Many of the museums here are free to the public or available at discounted rates to those interested. Coffee shops and small galleries host artists monthly and the range of creation is inspirational just on volume alone!

What is the role of the artist in our society? 

To feel visually. To touch an eye with emotion and to be able to share one vision with another. An artist should be able to be approached and not worry about what is thought of their work – if it is true for the artist, would it really matter that it isn’t loved by all? I want to put so much of me in each painting that I care less about what others think and more about how it makes me experience my unwritten and unknown emotions. An artist should inspire others to express their internal psyche through external mediums.

Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?

The five year plan as an artist is to keep on creating without becoming a machine. I am still learning what makes my hands overzealous and I am not trying to stunt that in anyway. I’d love to be able to have work in galleries or to be able to support myself fully on a little more than starving wages. If I continue on the route with the dedication that I have now and the desire I possess, I will be enjoying the art administration at my own gallery where I will give home to local artists and nourish the talents around me with support.

What are your ultimate goals as an artist?

To continue to be amazed at what I can do without training. I want to always lose myself in hours of the unknown creation only to take that last moment step-back-and-gasp reaction. Did I really create that? Is that what it looks like to feel what I feel? That’s my brain! It told my hands to do that and now it’s showing me how powerful and unique it is! I want my art to be a free and organic conversation that I am having with myself!

What does art mean to you?
Art means absolutely everything to me. I work a full-time job at an ad agency and do not get to spend the hours a day that I would wish to be spending on painting or drawing. I’ve noticed that every precious moment I can give to art makes me warm up and realign my body to the optimism I am capable of feeling when I create. Art is my therapy, my way of life. Not only does it become therapeutic for me, it also gives the ripple affect to the people who are influenced by it. When I create, I create Big! I Boom! I want it to be felt and admired and loved.

Here is Dinah's Website and a series of  Progression Videos of her work.