There isn’t much to do out here in the foothills, but there is a small group of people looking to change that. Last night those brave enough to expose themselves to new music, images and ideas headed to the Frog & Fiddle in downtown Sonora. The Frog & Fiddle has become the new hot spot for interesting night life in Tuolumne County. The outstanding art of Forest Stearns provided visual entertainment for the evenings festivities. I met Forest through the Returning Show last summer. He is a great guy, terrific artist and an eager contributor to the new arts culture of Tuolumne County. Soon enough I will have collaborations and interviews with Forest to post for now if you missed out on the fantastic Art Show last night here are some images:
Artist Survey #9: Corey West
Corey is a local artist who’s work has exploded in our county. She is a really hard worker, attending all of the festivals and craft fairs in the county. She also beautifully frames and mattes work. I go to her for all of my presentation needs. Even Jesus was prepared by her!
Name: Corey West
Location: Sonora, CA
Medium(s): mixed : watercolor, acrylic, ink, collage and found objects
What do you consider yourself (artist/designer/other)? well- good art has good design – so shouldn’t artists be designers as well?
Where can we see your work (place/publications/url)? Ventana Gallery (Sonora), San Francisco Design Center (Hinc Showroom) www.coreywest.artspan.com
When did you start gaining interest in artistic forms of expression? I don’t remember not having interest in artistic forms of expression.
Who/What inspired your interest? It has always been there, but my dad helped me grow my interest by encouraging it.
Where do you first remember being exposed to art? It has always been around me.
What is your day job? I work in my studio full time – painting and custom framing
Why do you create? That is hard to answer. Creating art is such a part of me… it is who I am. I can’t imagine not creating…
Is there any recurring theme in your work? Not necessarily.
What do you want from your work? I want my work to inspire me to keep learning and growing.
What do you want viewers to take from your work? There is a lot, but basically if I can make people smile, give them inspiration – I am happy. My work is happy – there is so much doom and gloom out there and if I can portray a happier life then I am doing my job.
How often do you work on personal projects? As much as possible.
How often do you work on commissions or commercial work? Often, but even the commercial work and commissions I have a way of turning them into personal projects (makes it much more fun to do).
Does your art support you financially? Pays the studio bills, but that is all for now.
Do you feel preoccupied with your art, do you think about it often during the day and night and do you anticipate your next session? If I am not in the studio painting I am thinking about what I am going to work on next.
What do you do in your spare time besides your art? I don’t have spare time. I take care of my baby and run a business where I do framing, painting, make purses from repurposed fabric, jewelry…so there is no free time.
Which musicians are you currently interested in? I listen to my baby’s musical toys more than anything so the only thing stuck in my brain is the abc’s!
Are there any events you are looking forward to attending? A friend of mine is working on opening a gallery in the Oakland area and showing my work…I am very excited about that.
How long do you generally take on a piece? It varies. Anywhere from a day to a week sometimes more.
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of your art? I have never been in a situation where it would be an issue.
Do you work on multiple projects at once? Yes.
Do you have trouble parting with your finished work? No. My work is very personal, but once it is done I move on. And besides, if I am ever going to make a living at this I have to be willing to part with it.
Artist Survey #6: Joey Fumar
Joey grew up in Sonora, CA just like me. We got to know each other in an advanced placement biology class we probably should not have been in. We were the only kids in our graduating class to attend Long Beach State, where we became good friends. I even lived at his grandma’s house down there for a summer. He now lives in Hawaii and will be moving to Australia shortly. His paintings marry the psychedelic surf scene of the 70s with traditional Japanese tattoo imagery. He is also dabbling in cinema, hopefully we will get a chance to see some films in the future.
(Beast from the East : Acrylic & Paint Pen)
(Wicked Warrior : Acrylic & Paint Pen)
(Better Together : Acrylic & Paint Pen)
Name: Joey Fumar
Location: Hawaii Kai, Oahu, Hawaii
Medium(s): Acrylic Paints, Paint Pens
What do you consider yourself (artist/designer/other)? Artist
Where can we see your work (place/publications/url)? I’m trying to get my work into a gallery to be publicly viewed but for now on Facebook and on Myspace.
When did you start gaining interest in artistic forms of expression? I really started painting when I moved to Hawaii. But I always loved to be creative and make art.
Who/What inspired your interest? Tattoo art primarily inspired my painting style. I study tons of Japanese tattoo books and that helps me be creative. The ocean and its creatures also inspire me. I have always liked to include waves in my paintings.
Where do you first remember being exposed to art? Probably kindergarten or first grade…I remember I didn’t like being told what to draw or paint.
What is your day job? Waiter at Kona Brewing Company…Hooray Beer!
Why do you create? To release emotion whether it be anger, sadness or happiness. Most of the time it’s anger and sadness though. I find it hard to paint when I am feeling good about things.
Is there any recurring theme in your work? Bright colors and tattoo styling.
What do you want from your work? I want people to look at my work and feel emotion (hopefully rage) or be inspired to get it tattooed on their body. I don’t want to be an artist who creates boring shit like stuff you see in hotel lobbies or restaurants. I want my art to stand out and brighten up a room.
What do you want viewers to take from your work? I want the colors and images I use to make them feel the art rather than just have them view the art.
How often do you work on personal projects? Every 2-3 months I’d say…whenever I feel like I need to paint.
How often do you work on commissions or commercial work? Never yet but I would love to.
Does your art support you financially? No
Do you feel preoccupied with your art, do you think about it often during the day and night and do you anticipate your next session? When I have started a painting yes…I think about it all day and its weird I get really pissed off when I am in the middle of a painting because I get so frustrated trying to come up with color schemes and the layout and flow of the painting…I am not a nice person to be around when I’m in the middle of a project.
What do you do in your spare time besides your art? Surf and videography…some photography
Which musicians are you currently interested in? Nowadays…The Faint, The Black Angels, Marylin Manson, Groundation, Damian Marley, The Roots, Lil’ Wayne, Static X, Slayer, MGMT, Prodigy, Gorillaz
Are there any events you are looking forward to attending? None I can think of…Oahu has a really good art scene in downtown Honolulu there is a lot of young up and comers making really cool and funky shit.
How long do you generally take on a piece? 2 to 3 weeks
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of your art? No I haven’t put myself out on the line yet to push my art. I often think about trying it though but it doesn’t pay my bills.
Do you work on multiple projects at once? Nope one at a time
Do you have trouble parting with your finished work? Yeah when selling paintings it hurts a bit but I am glad knowing someone is enjoying my art. But there are some paintings that would hurt more than others to let go of.
Artist Survey #2: Megan Tucker
I have known Megan Tucker since we were very young. Living in the same small town we went to the same elementary school and knew a lot of the same people. She recently became active in our local art scene and is someone I can always count on to help further our local underground arts movement.
(Down to the Roots)
(O! Brother)
Name: Tucker
Location: Sonora,CA
Medium(s): anything and everything-mixed media
What do you consider yourself (artist/designer/other)? Painter
Where can we see your work (place/publications/url)? A couple on MySpace www.myspace.com/piratescavengers
When did you start gaining interest in artistic forms of expression? Straight from the womb
Who/What inspired your interest? The eternal void
Where do you first remember being exposed to art? Being taken to museums in the city when I was really young by my mother
What is your day job? I work at The Country Store in Sonora- it’s a local health food store
Why do you create? The only constant we have in our lives is change, we need to be ever-changing, evolving. If I’m not creating, I am stagnant and feel lost.
Is there any recurring theme in your work? Nature is always a part of my pieces. Feathers, crows, mountains… Essentially the result of being born in Sonora.
What do you want from your work? No essential expectations, roll with the punches…
What do you want viewers to take from your work? Just a glimpse into my head I guess- it’s a visualization of how I was feeling at a certain point in my life…
How often do you work on personal projects? Not often enough…
How often do you work on commissions or commercial work? I’m just starting to design tattoos for people- thats on more of a trade system.
Does your art support you financially? Its hit or miss, most of the time I want things other than money.
Do you feel preoccupied with your art, do you think about it often during the day and night and do you anticipate your next session? I am my art
What do you do in your spare time besides your art? I’m trying to study to be an herbalist…
Which musicians are you currently interested in? The list is never-ending….the fleet foxes, devendra banhart, led zeppelin, the beatles, the avett brothers…
Are there any events you are looking forward to attending? November 8th A craft bazaar of sorts in Oakdale, I think I will be at a booth…
How long do you generally take on a piece? I will dwell on a piece for months sometimes and sometimes get one done in 10 minutes, theres no telling.
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of your art? I don’t think i have…. this is an intense question Zac…
Do you work on multiple projects at once? Yes, I have at least 5 half-assed projects going right now.
Do you have trouble parting with your finished work? its mostly my mother who wants to keep everything I do.