![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
« Brooklyn Bridge Waterfall | Main | Spraygraphic’s Pic(k) of the Day: Lap of Luxury »
Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Jamie Burmeister
By Spraygraphic | June 27, 2008
Spraygraphic Interview with Jamie Burmeister
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
JB: I am an artist interested in consciousness. I like apples.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
JB: I currently live and work in Omaha, Nebraska. Much of my work is installation so I do affair amount of work on the site of whatever project I am working on.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
JB: I consider myself a sculptor. I work with whatever media supports my ideas including, video, computers, programming, electronics, mechanics, found objects, metals, bicycles, interactivity, wood, plastics, clay, animation, photography, drawing, painting, performance …
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
JB: I play with different materials and methods. Through this play I develop ideas that relate to mundane things from my daily life. I am very introspective.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
JB: I have many projects going at the same time. When I have a problem with one idea I just move to one of the others. Solutions usually come with time. I also participate in meditative activities that help clear my mind of unwanted garbage.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
JB: I am currently finding most of my inspiration from critiquing my conscious experience of the world. Today I made a small piece about fishing. I was engaged with the tension and excitement that catching a fish with a fishing rod has.
SG: Can you tell us a little about your installation, Deconstruction? How many pieces were involved? How long did it take to put together?
JB: Deconstruction is an interactive sound installation in the State of the Art exhibition at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art located in Omaha, Nebraska. When viewers engage the chairs the sound objects play rhythms manipulated by the viewers. There are 4 interactive chairs with various sensors that allow the viewers to manipulate the sound produced by the sculpture. Deconstruction has 32 sound elements including bottles, pots, pans, lids, jars, can, and spoons. Each of these sound elements produces a unique sound and or pitch. When a viewer interacts with the chairs a computer makes music on the sound elements that reacts to the viewer interaction. I am interested in the viewer becoming the viewed. The interaction becomes a performance for others to watch.
SG: In what ways has your undergrad in Exercise Science and Masters in Health Education informed your artwork?
JB: My interest in consciousness and meditative activities was what drew me to Exercise Science and Health Education. I enjoy the fact that as an artist I can move freely between different interests including health and exercise.
SG: You have used a bicycle(s) in some of your installations? How did that come about? Have you experimented with alternative devices?
JB: I love riding bikes. I always have. It seems natural for me to use them in my work. I do use many other common objects like furniture, dishes, trash, silverware… I like the fact that the objects we use can say things about us.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about your installation, Sun Tower.
JB: Sun Tower was part of Fontenelle Forest’s Elements : an environmental arts exhibit. Sun Tower is a site specific sculpture installation/performance that explores my relationship to energy, electricity, transportation and wilderness. My goal for the piece was to build a functional solar power system using only human and solar power. I built an electric bicycle that was charged with solar power. This bike was used to transport me and all materials for this piece form his studio in Gretna, Nebraska to Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. This was approximately 50 miles round trip. I made five trips to the forest on his bike to construct the piece. At the forest fallen trees and branches were used to build a tower that would bring the solar panels above the foliage and into the sun. A battery was connected to the solar panels. This battery provided electricity to a small hut found on the board walk. Inside the hut photo documentation of the process of building the piece was lit with the light powered by the solar system.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
JB: My work has been seen thorough out the United States from Los Angeles to Maryland. Many of my exhibitions have been in the Midwest at places like The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE, Des Moines Art Center , and the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery .
SG: Where will it be seen next?
JB: I currently have a piece in a kinetic art exhibition titled Re.Action at Annmarie Garden in Solomons, Marland. I am also working a on a large public art piece for the South Omaha Library . It should be done and installed in July, 2008.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
JB: My dream art assignment would be to construct a solar/ human powered vehicle then ride it around the world stopping along the way to make and exhibit art.
SG: What is your favorite color?
JB: I do not judge my colors.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
JB: I do not have one favorite artist. I have many. I really enjoy the work of Bruce Nauman , Tom Friedman and Tim Hawkinson . All of these artist seem to diverse methods and media to support their ideas.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
JB: I am reading “Success through Failure the paradox of design” by Henry Petroski . It is an interesting little book about the fact that most advances in design come out of failure. I have a new “Sculpture” Magazine that I have been looking through this week.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
JB: I have done many. One of my favorites is a life size welded sculpture I gave to my parents. Actually, I view all my present work as self-portrait.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
JB: I like to hang out outside.
SG: Any final words of advice?
JB: Follow your interests. They will show you the way.
Images: 1. Deconstruction Opening, 2. Musickel, 3. Star Bike, 4 & 5. Sun Tower, 6. PolyRhythm, 7. Tap
Topics: Art Installations, Artist Interviews, Sculpture Art |
