Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

I make art in various mediums; I have a loose and unpredictable practice in which projects or pieces often start with a found object. I studied printmaking in undergrad at Cal State Long Beach, but also took a few classes in sculpture and fiber. For the past three years I’ve taught printmaking to developmentally disabled adults at a non-profit in LA. Working with those folks has helped my own practice immensely along with my patience. A lot of the work they make is better than most of the art being shown right now.
I enjoy being outdoors. I spent a lot of time traveling and camping in Baja with my family growing up; fishing, surfing, diving, and exploring. I grew up in San Diego and have called Los Angeles home for the last 7 years. I ride BMX bicycles.

Do you have any opinions on the amount of work being produced by artists in this current climate? How do you deal with this yourself?

No, I try to keep my head down other than looking at the art my friends are making. The more I think about what other people are doing or making affects me negatively and clouds my vision.

What is one of the bigger challenges you and/or other artists are struggling with these days and how do you see it developing?

Finding fulfilling work that pays a livable wage, maybe artists leave the coastal cities and move to more affordable places. I don’t know, everyone is struggling, it’s not just artists

You use a lot of materials around you, noting that you go on walks to find things on the street. Can you talk more about this process?

I walk to clear my head. I recently had my ACL replaced and before then I could count on a bike ride to provide some exercise and a pattern interrupt. Sometimes I’ll bring along an empty tote bag before a walk, other times I’m filling my pockets.

Is there any source material you find extremely relevant to your practice right now?

Billboard tarps.

Do you think of your work as sculpture or is there another language you feel is more appropriate?

Yes, but I make a fair amount of works on paper—I like ‘process oriented’ —projects bleeding into one another, one body of work informing the next. A good example of this is anytime I make a zine or book I save the misprints and trimmed edges to use as raw material for paper pulp.

How do you think your work might operate outside of an American context?

I think a lot of the imagery in my work is ubiquitous with how globalized consumer markets are, there’s also trash everyone thanks to the habits of consumption the United States blessed the globe with. Besides some specific American signifiers, I think my work would operate no differently outside of America.

Do you have a set of rules or limitations when working?

“Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time. They’re different processes” – Sister Corita Kent
We had the Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules in the print studio at Cal State Long Beach. I enjoy revisiting those now and again when I’m stuck or struggling. No limitations, I try to use anything and everything.

Do elements of your practice ever strike you as very personal?

There are personal beliefs and recalled memories cleverly hidden in most of the work I create.

Can you speak on your experience operating within Los Angeles?

There’s a lot of noise, it’s a great place to find the materials I like to work with. I like how much is always happening. Living in LA has provided me with so many opportunities as an artist and introduced me to some great artists I now call friends.

Do you think your setting influences whatever you’re currently making?

Yes, while an artist in residence at Proyecto Ace in Buenos Aires I found myself pulling a lot of images and materials from walks around the city.

\What was the last show you saw that stuck out to you?

Peter Sutherland ‘Cloud Painting’ @ Dries van Noten
Jay Payton ‘A Gentle Kiss to the Anterior Fontanelle’ @ Sea View also was incredible

Do you think collaboration is important and/or inherent to being an artist?

I think it is important, but not inherent to being an artist. I enjoy collaboration if it’s with the right person. Working with Andy Little on our recent two person show, Drinking from the Same Well With Different Cups was a great experience. We both wanted to murder each other by the end.

What’s your favorite piece of trash?

My favorite found object is a small Virgen de Guadalupe pendant I found in the middle of a crosswalk

What is something that you’ve always wanted to do and are working towards achieving?

Quit my day job.

Can you tell us a memory of someone interacting with your work that frequently crosses your mind?

Recently at an opening at Sala de Espera in Tijuana a friend was talking with someone about a piece of mine in the show—a broken found boogie board I screen printed an iconic image of Lindsey Lohan posing with a surfboard wearing a bikini and an ankle monitor. The friend was explaining my San Diego origins and expressed how much of a San Diego piece it was. The person replied, “its actually more LA than San Diego… it would sell for more money in LA too.”

 

Interview conducted and edited by Liam Owings