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Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Sean Kelley

By Spraygraphic | October 8, 2008

Spraygraphic Interview with Sean Kelley

SG: Please tell us about yourself?

SK: I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, a hard place to leave.. went college near Seattle, an easier place to leave when you get sick of the constant mist despite the radness of the Northwest. I did a lot of ceramic sculpture in those days then dove head first into graphic design for several years eventually ending up in the Bay Area where I apprenticed for a potter and paid my graphic design dues at a .com before moving to San Diego in 2006. I co-founded an artist collective called Sanctuary143 in 2007 with my wife Stacy and friend Jeff, curating shows around Southern California.

SG: Where do you currently live and work?

SK: Stacy and I live and work in San Diego, but the s143 is nomadic, so our shows may take us to the island of Yap or the fine city of Berlin sometime soon.

SG: What mediums do you work with?

SK: I work with mostly reclaimed materials, the world is my art supply store. Lately I’ve been using a lot of paper, security envelopes, wrappers from mcdonalds, and thrift store gems. I use aerosol a bit, along with conventional acrylics and some other top secret homemade pigments. I find a new source for materials almost every week it seems, from the scrap bins at home despot to the bolts laying in the dirt near the train station. Amazing stuff is everywhere if you open your eyes.

SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.

SK: I generally jot down a bunch of notes/sketches, do some research cuz i’m a big nerd, start thinking about materials and where I could source them without buying anything, and then force myself to experiment and fail. That’s the hardest part, but it always ends up taking me down a path that wasn’t expected, and that’s generally where something beautiful happens.

SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?

SK: I try to put together a list in my head of grunt work that I’ll have to do with some piece, so that if I get stuck on one thing I’ll have something to do with my hands while I work that shit out in my head. Another thing that helps is beer and music.

SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?

SK: I get a lot of inspiration from finding materials and experimenting with technique, but from a conceptual standpoint I’ve always done work that comments on sociopolitical stuff that I read or when Stacy or a friend drops some knowledge on my head. Right now I’m working on a response to the “Reinventing the Wheel” concept.. my take is on how industrialized food has guided American’s to Reinventing their SUVs into modern dining rooms. Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma had a big influence on me.

SG: Where has your work been seen?

SK: Sanctuary143 shows. DIY all the way.

SG: Where will it be seen next?

SK: Reinventing the Wheel: San Diego on 9/27 in Barrio Logan.. the fine people at Miriello Grafico are hosting us in their beautifully renovated warehouse in one of the oldest neighborhoods in SD, home to more murals than any borough of its size in the US. Pretty rad spot!

SG: What is your dream art assignment?

SK: I don’t really dream of having any art assignments. I guess I’m living the dream because I’m assigning stuff to myself. That’s the whole point for me, I suppose.. uncompromising creativity.

SG: What is your favorite color?

SK: Kelley Green. Yes, that’s with an “ey”.

SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?

SK: Well, of course I like ISO50, Banksy, TC Cannon (the kids need to know about that guy), Isamu Noguchi, Andy Goldsworthy, Otto Heino, Robert Arneson, Aidan Hughes, Jeff Faeth, Peter McBride, MC Escher and Marcel Duchamp… but my favorite artist is Stacy Kelley, because her work means more to me than anyone else on the planet besides Stacy of course.

SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?

SK: Finding Mañana by Mirta Ojito - this was recommended to me by Tocayo, who actually came across from Cuba to Florida on this exact boat when he was 3 years old! He’s in the upcoming s143 show too.

SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?

SK: Yeah in school, but it looks like Bob Dylan probably cuz I was listening to Blonde on Blonde at the time. It’s in my mom’s office of course.. poor mom.

SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?

SK: The Linkery in North Park… good veggie food and usually somethin nice on tap.

SG: Any final words of advice?

SK: Don’t eat at McDonald’s.

Images and Photo credits

1. & 2. & 3. Swing
Aaron Thompson
http://iheartas.com

4. sustainability foxtrot
Brian Deppe
http://briandeppe.com

5. localism waltz sustainability foxtrot
Brian Deppe
briandeppe.com/

6. convoy
Photo by artist - no need for credit

7. revolution on line a revolution
Photo by artist - no need for credit

8. sanctuary143-headquarters
Brian Deppe
briandeppe.com/

9. the-logan
Miriello Grafico
www.miriellografico.com/

 

Additional Links:
http://www.sanctuary143.com/the-collective/#sean
http://www.sanctuary143.com/2008/09/reinvent-pt-ii/

Topics: Art Collectives, Artist Interviews, California Art Scene, Sprayblog |

http://www.sprayblog.net/spraygraphic-interview-with-artist-sean-kelley/

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