57 Even volume 1, 2005, #002

he's hypocritical and self depreciating - inspired and dedicated, lazy and pretentious. he's an artist because it's what is inside of him. he is fond of sushi and really enjoys low budget foreign films. he absolutely despises when men wear open toed shoes. he can't stand bad table manners.

1. how would you explain 'art' - in 19 words or less? the way an artist eats, sleeps, is thought of, etc. nothing that can be bought/sold after they're gone.

2. what is the first work of art you ever loved? a student's drawing of a gun that i saw hanging in the school hallway when i was in first grade. because it was drawn so well, made me feel horrible, and showed me that i wasn't the best drawer in school - motivating me to become better.

3. how important is theory to your art? theory is important to my art because it's important to me. i am actually more concerned with how the general public receives my work, and what the average person will get out of it. as a graphic designer and a printmaker, my work is inherently based in communication and imagery - so even though theory is very important to me as an artist, and it governs my work - i make work that can be interpreted and function on a variety of levels and appeal to a number of different cultures.

4. describe your ideal art workspace. my ideal workspace is a studio/lab setting filled with inspired minds working beside me, people i can draw energy and ideas from, joke with, and ultimately help me grow socially and artistically. this may be why i am going to pursue my mfa - i am not ready to spend so much time alone with my mind.

5. describe your current art workspace. currently, i work with a wonderful group of people, at my design studio, which come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. as for printmaking; i am still using the university's facilities, though i graduated a couple of months ago, and i dread having to clear all of supplies out - it has grown to be a very daunting task.

6.if you could be placed in suspended animation and safely reanimated at some time in the future with the sole purpose being to see how history treated you / your art, would you do it? no. i am not really concerned with the past or the future, on a daily basis, because it takes so much away from now. i prefer to live each and every moment, and i believe that by doing this i am being true to myself.

7. who are some of your favourite artists (contemporary or canonical)? shepard fairy, matthew barney, barry mcgee, banksy, flying fortress, neckface, ths, chuck anderson, and neuarmy.

8. tell us about a gallery (online or physical space) that you think rocks, and why you think it rocks. deviant art rocks. it is the modern day incarnation to a number of online 'skining' and art sites, that rocked, from back in the day that i embraced and really inspired me to create digital art, show it to my peers for feedback, and interact with other international artists. i feel that even though it has grown into a widely marketable and enormous entity that it is still giving a huge amount of young impressionable artists access to an international art community, and inspiring them to push their own boundaries and try to show off. a number of spaces i'd like to feature my work online include the royal magazine, tank theory, black market gallery, beautiful decay, metro park, design is kinky, and an endless list of zines.

9. would you choose the baked bean jaffle or the caramelised pumpkin and red onion tart with crispy radicchio and hazelnut salad with apple vinaigrette? i can't stand onions, or radicchio - but i love vinaigrettes and salad - so i would choose the caramelized pumpkin and red onion tart with crispy radicchio and hazelnut salad with apple vinaigrette and pick off the things my mouth didn't find pleasing.

10. finish this sentence: "the work of art can / cannot be considered separately to the artist because ________." the work of art can be considered separately to the artist because it is a different chemical entity, and you don't have to sign your work, or be standing next to it while it's displayed.

check out more of 57 Even's work at: www.57even.com