Nine Brushstrokes - Artist Interview on Plaztik Mag's Blog

One day, back in the dead of winter, Plaztik Mag and I bumped into one another at a busy and well-attended Chelsea art opening for musician, activist, photographer, artist, and Mapplethorpe bff, Patti Smith. She is probably best known for the popular song, Because the Night; I wanted to tell her that my favorites happen to be E-bow the Letter (with R.E.M.) and Dancing Barefoot. Patti's artwork, although broad in style and scope, was impressive and professionally-executed.

In attendance was a tightly-pulled Calvin Klein, upcoming reality star, Kelly Cutrone, and musician, Michael Stipe - creative royalty were certainly out and representing that night! As Patti busily weaved in and out of various rooms of the gallery to personally show off her work to various pals, Plaztik and I discussed the idea of shooting their next project in my art studio. It would consist of an artist girl "type" and they needed an art space to photograph the model in situ.

In my studio, February 2010. Photo by Jmzs Smith for PlaztikMag.

About a week later, Plaztik paid a visit to my studio where they would be scouting for their next fashion shoot which would entail different types of New York Girls - and the idea for their "Downtown Girl" project was born. While having a look around, these multi-taskers also photographed me and my space for an artist interview. You can read more about me, my art and process, and my opinion about cats, tombstones, and other crazy things here.

Speaking of those ubiquitous downtown girls, I took a long walk around my neighborhood yesterday-
guess who I bumped into?

A Walk Around the Neighborhood - Greenpoint/Williamsburg

I love to go on long, exploratory walks on weekends always making sure that I remember to bring my camera. The weather was perfect on Sunday, and the air was fragrant with spring. I decided that I would enjoy it as long as my allergies can hold out!

(Top photo: Marilyn by Head Hoods)

I live in a predominantly Polish neighborhood, and many of my neighbors still have a direct connection to Poland.  Lots of them have expressed a response to yesterday's tragedy, loss of leadership, and tragic anniversary in Katyn by putting out a flag with a black ribbon attached.

Amidst all of the urban decay, there are spots where Mother Nature reveals

herself to us city dwellers every now and then.

 

Going Back In Time

How long have you been doing what you do now? Are you an artist, like me?

For the past month or so, I've been preparing for a series of artist interviews that will be posted here in the coming weeks. For each artist, I have crafted a specific and custom set of questions that will pertain to each one. But there is one question that will be the same for every artist featured: When did you know that you wanted to be an artist? For me, the answer is very simple. I've always known.

This photo is from around 1978 (captured by dad for "posterity"). I was painting some dough cookies that I made with my mom for our Christmas tree. But my desires to be an artist and memories of being creative come way before this. For as long as I can remember, I would occupy the bulk of my time at my small craft table in my room. I would spend hours emulating cards and decorations by making my own holiday decorations from construction paper and pipe cleaners for our front door. In our house, the fridge wasn't the center for display, it was our front door and bay window; the perfect gallery for the world to see. My parents nurtured my creative tendencies by enrolling me in Saturday Art School at a (still-functioning) art school in Phildelphia called Fleisher's. I still love the smell of paint combined with mineral spirits from those days. A couple of years later, when I actually sold a watercolor and drawing of the circus at a childrens' art gallery (also in Philadelphia) for Ten Dollars, there was no going back!

I just never wanted to do anything else. In New York City, this is a hard lifestyle to pull off, but the quest endlessly continues....

Easter Egg Art - Pysanky

As you can probably see by my surname, I come from Eastern European roots. In my particular case, those genes run fairly deep on both sides. One side of my family is Polish, and the other is Russian (with a smattering of Irish thrown in for good measure). In our family, there are many traditions and foods that overlap especially when it comes to the holidays. One of these is the decorating of Easter eggs in a folk art manner with a permanent dye and wax-resistant method called psyanky. Natural dyes for solid-colored eggs can be made from beets or onion skins.

This process, steeped in tradition, is very labor-intensive and involves many steps but the result is immensely colorful and rewarding. You have to think backwards starting with the lightest color first (typically the natural color of the eggshell or yellow), and work methodically to the darkest. It’s a ritualistic and meditative artform; meant to be carried out slowly during the entire period of Lent. A few years ago, I taught myself the process, and have been able to whip out several of them in one sitting right before we leave for Easter services.

A large basket holding several different styles and designs of psyanky.

(Photographed in Bucharest, Romania 2007)

My mother's collection consists of eggs that range in size from a robin's egg that I found once as a young girl to enormous ostrich eggs. Every year, her aunt used to decorate eggs professionally using this method. We would all look forward to visiting her and getting to choose one out of her latest creations. Discerning artists will search for eggs without many flaws, typically preferring slightly larger and thicker duck eggs for their smooth surface. I typically just work with regular chicken eggs from the grocery store. Serious egg artists also tell a story with each of their designs. Each color and design holds specific symbolism. The color red symbolizes blood, wheat symbolizes new life, and simple geometric forms that once represented fire, air, and water in more pagan times, now represents the Trinity. Many of the pre-Christian secular symbols have now made a transition in meaning. Back in the "old country", there are even regional styles that can be differentiated from one another through the use of color, symbols, and overall design. They can appear tribal or even Native American in style. At the end of the process, we fill large baskets with the finished eggs and "ethnic" foods like kielbasa.

Part of our tradition also involves saying what is known as a Paschal Greeting to our friends in as many languages as are represented in the room. Over the years, we have become somewhat "fluent" in Greek, Russian, Arabic, and Romanian.

Χριστός Ανέστη!    -     Христос Воскресе!     -     !المسيح قام! حقا قام    -    Hristos a înviat!

A sampling of my own designs over the years. Happy Easter, everyone!