Lazaro Gomez – a Cuban American digital artist created the OLA21
poster at left below.
AWAKENING/art
& culture is pleased to present OLA 21 (Orlando Local Agenda 21).
This event is our answer to the call from the 1992 Earth Summit in
Rio to form Local Agendas to further the cause of sustainability of
our planet.
Part celebration and part education, OLA 21 is AWAKENING/ art &
culture’s contribution to developing a sustainable community in
Greater Orlando. Brought to you by eminent scholars, academics,
artists, environmental leaders and films; it is the expression of
qualities, relationships and conditions for a different future. We
have a number of great films, which will be shown at Premiere Cinemas
14 Orlando Fashion Square and the Bush Theatre at Rollins College, as
well as other local community venues. We will have meet the filmmaker
events with John De Graff and Jamie Moffet.
We will also have a great panel discussion on sustainability issues
with Cynthia Barnett, Leslie Dean Price, Nikos Salingaros, and Jaime
Correa, as we attempt to answer R. Buckminister Fuller’s challenge:
“We are called to be architects of the future, not its
victims…[Our challenge is to] make the world work for 100% of
humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous
cooperation and without ecological damage or the disadvantage of
anyone.”
Article
Interview with Kristen Thomas ( finding out if mental illness/drug use/ or childhood/adolescent trauma plays a part in art. )
Artist Questionnaire
** Please note that the following questions are all your option to answer to the extent that you might feel most comfortable.
Q. When did you start creating art, what age?
A. I began creating artwork when my parents got me a plastic model kit paint set without the model kit. So I used the paint to create artwork on paper. At the age of five.
Q.When did you realize that you had a real talent for art?
A. When I won my first art prize, I was seven. 1982
Q.What kinds of mediums do you use to create?
A. What ever is around and what ever fits the subject I am trying to create, as of late it is a Computer, Photoshop, and a Wacom Tablet Graphire 3.
Q.How do you feel when you are creating art?
A. Depends on the subject, but for the most part I focus on my style and technique so there is no time for feeling. Although I do listen to music but that just fits the mood of the day. Not that by me creating artwork I feel happy or sad.
Q.How do you feel, in a stressful situation, if you cannot create?
A. Just like writers it is frustrating especially if the artwork is for a client, as a general rule I walk away from the piece at hand until I feel it is time to go back to it.
Q.If you are in a bad mood do you feel that the art you have created is better/worse?
A. If I am in a bad mood, I don't create artwork.
Q.If you are in a good mood do you feel that the art you have created is better/worse?
A. Neither, again for me I create emotion through my style and technique in other words my artwork is emotional, not me. So it is hard for me to say if its better or worse.
Q.Were you abused as a child/adolescent?
A. No
Q.If so would you feel up to describing the type of abuse?
A. If I was abused, yes I would discuss it.
Q.Can you give me a few insights about how your childhood/adolescence affected your art?
A. I guess being exposed to Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror at a young age has given me the opportunity to explore and appreciate things for what they are. Entertainment is what it is, but the ability to create entertainment is what I like to explore. I am more effect my that as a person rather than my art.
Q.Do you wonder how you would feel if art was not an outlet for you?
A. I never viewed art or artwork as an outlet or escape its just something I do.
Q.Do you feel that creating art is a form of therapy for you?
A. No
Q.Is creating art calming for you or do you feel something else?
A. I can't ever remember creating artwork while I was mad or upset. So I am always calm when I create artwork.
Q.Are you happy with the art that you create?
A. Yes, and the impact that others feel when they view it.
Q.If the art that you create is considered “disturbing” are you comfortable showing others?
A. Yes artwork has no censorship except for ourselves. Most of life events are disturbing and beautiful at the same time. " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ".
Q.How do you, as the artist, handle someone who might find your art disturbing?
A. Thank them politely for viewing my work, and move on.
Q.Does the art that you create, and the effect that it has on others, seem to make what you went through better?
A. Interesting question, every artist goes through some difficult part in a painting but the effect of other people don't play a part in that. It is only a personal satisfaction that you got over an artistic hurdle.
Q.Do you think that the art that you create could have been created had you grown up under different circumstances?
A. I think so, the only difference for me at least is that I would not have the time to let my imagination grow. As a child I spent most of my time alone as I do now. So I would allow things to flourish. I wasn't a basket case who lived in a dark closet or anything like that. I had my sisters with me they just knew not to interrupt me when I was creating. Everyone had their little thing to do. For my oldest sister it was guitar lessons and music. Then my other sister was about dolls and tea parties. And for me it was TV, Video Games, Movies, Music, Books, Technology, and Art.
Q. Have you ever had a drug problem?
A. No
Q. Are you using any type of narcotic at this time?
A. No, People tend to connect drugs with Art and Music. To be that's BS, people get high as a choice, even if they are Doctors, or Artist.
Q. If so do you feel that the art that you create is better or worse because of the drug?
A. N/A
Q. Have you ever been diagnosed with any sort of mental illness? If so would you be willing to discuss?
A. No I have never been diagnosed with any sort of mental illness.
Q. If you have been diagnosed were you prescribed any sort of drug to treat?
A. N/A
Q. If so did the medication affect the outcome of any art that you created?
A. N/A
Lazaro - Well that is the thing, it has become very popular for people in general to believe that artist are disturbed or abnormal in someway. Truth is that mentally unstable people exist in all walks of life. And it is poetic and romantic to think that an artist is twisted in order to create strange pieces of art. What I have gathered from Art History is that these people were in fact dealing with some kind of issue and being an artist was, well for a lack of a better term or word ( A JOB ).
Q. You stated that there is no emotion behind your artwork when working with a client; is the same true when you are creating something for yourself?
A. I guess the best way to say it is, ( The Artist ) doesn't feel anything. At least for me I don't. I may have a splitting headache and feel sick but there is no extra ordinary feeling. No magic, no sparks of light. I am worried about Layer Opacity, Color Balance, Anatomy, composition etc.
Now with the artwork or piece its different. If some one says hey Lazaro, we want you to create a piece that portrays death, or something evil. Then I look for images that are disturbing or cause fear in order to send that message through the artwork. A lot of the time if I create something that is dark or creepy people that don't now me say " MAN THAT DUDE IS NUTS! " but that is because they can't distinguish the difference between the art and the artist. For instance Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Lady Gaga. these are normal people that play on something that may make people uncomfortable. Most of the time it can be an issue that they don't like. so they take a stab at it. Marilyn Manson with Religion. They are doing it to create a buzz and to sell Albums.
I feel that artist do the same thing, they are driven by expression. The worse thing for an artist is to not be understood. And so people must understand that just because I take pictures of dead pigs, doesn't mean I like to kill kids and eat brains. lol
the artist = No emotion ( The Vessel or Instrument )
the art = (Emotion or Message and or Both )
Q. If not then can you describe the process? For example is it merely a thought that is in your head that you let out?
A. As an artist we are in tune with everything and every one, so ideas, images, thoughts, words, poems, songs, are a constant hurricane in an artist mind. Creativity can come from everywhere and anywhere all at once. So there is no real way to pin point the process. I have found myself in a bar with friends and someone is talking about something and I see it in my head and sketch it out on a napkin with the servers pen. Or I am at home working on a painting and it turns out to be something else out of just experimenting.
Some artist are ritualistic, they have a certain thing they have to do to get to their mojo or sweet spot, with me it is never turned off. I can wake up in the middle of the night and create something that I don't want to forget. So its hard to say and I hope this makes sense.
Now I can say that I am a perfectionist I go over things over and over again. If there was ever in the art field a person like Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails then I would be that.
Q. Was there any of your artwork that you can remember that someone else found disturbing? If so can I see it and can you tell me if they explained why they thought it was either too dark or disturbing?
A. I have never had anyone tell me my work is disturbing so I don't have pieces that I can show you. Do you find my work disturbing? I have had a lot of ( strange, unique, cool, WOW, awesome, etc. ) But I can say that my work is somehow translating what people want to feel about themselves. So they see it wonderful, beautiful, or interesting. I like complex things so I create complex things puzzles and such.
Lazaro you are exactly right when you say that it is romantic to think that the artist is wounded and disturbed and his art is a representation of that. I am definitely guilty of that romantic notion.
This all started when I looked into Norman Rockwell's life. I have never related to his artwork at all. All of that loving apple pie stuff just never fit for me. I never related to it. So I began to wonder about him. As it turns out according to his therapist his artwork was the work of "what he wished his life was like." So all of those paintings of small town Americana was a fantasy for him.
That is where it started. I wondered if there were more artists out there who were using their life's issues and creating art from that. But you are right- there are wounded people in every walk of life. Just as Picasso was a schizophrenic there are also accountants who become schizophrenic. Tim Burton is bipolar but there are attorney's that are bipolar. So I may find that there are just as many "sane" artists as there are artists who have an issue.
You asked if I thought that your art was disturbing- no. The first print that I saw of yours was Santa Claus and I loved it. Not because it reminded me of all of those great childhood memories but because there was something in his eyes that looked like what he is in my mind- an old man who wanders through your house alone while you sleep. That is what I see. Ask 4 other people and they may all see 4 different things in that same print.
You also mentioned Trent Reznor and I will admit to being very limited in what I know about him but I will admit to thinking that he is a little disturbed. The lyrics and images appear to be those of a man who is dealing with some issues. But at the same time I would not have said that about Stephen King- a person I am familiar with. That man has some twisted stories that create disturbing imagery in the mind of the person reading his work. But I would have said that his work was the beauty of a vivid imagination and the ability to find a way to bring that imagination to life.
So what is the difference in the two men? Why are my opinions of these two men completely different. Truth be told Trent may be as sane as any other man while King is completely off his rocker. What is the difference? Well just like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" sanity is in the eye of the observer. Both are all about perception.
It was great talking to you Lazaro. It is always great to think you know how you feel about something but after talking to someone you allow yourself to think about things in a different way.
BUT if you do decide to start doing something twisted after taking pictures of dead pigs please feel free to write and let me in on the thought process! ;)
Kristen, great point about Trent Reznor and Stephen King. It all boils down to perception. although there maybe truth in an artist being disturbed but, I find that a lot of the time artist just project an idea to get people to think about things in another way. So we shall find out if I am in fact crazy once my new series comes out!
lol I don't see myself photographing piggies anytime soon, but if I do you'll be the first to know! :) It was my pleasure in helping you with your project. Lazaro
Thanks again- Kristen
** Please note that the following questions are all your option to answer to the extent that you might feel most comfortable.
Q. When did you start creating art, what age?
A. I began creating artwork when my parents got me a plastic model kit paint set without the model kit. So I used the paint to create artwork on paper. At the age of five.
Q.When did you realize that you had a real talent for art?
A. When I won my first art prize, I was seven. 1982
Q.What kinds of mediums do you use to create?
A. What ever is around and what ever fits the subject I am trying to create, as of late it is a Computer, Photoshop, and a Wacom Tablet Graphire 3.
Q.How do you feel when you are creating art?
A. Depends on the subject, but for the most part I focus on my style and technique so there is no time for feeling. Although I do listen to music but that just fits the mood of the day. Not that by me creating artwork I feel happy or sad.
Q.How do you feel, in a stressful situation, if you cannot create?
A. Just like writers it is frustrating especially if the artwork is for a client, as a general rule I walk away from the piece at hand until I feel it is time to go back to it.
Q.If you are in a bad mood do you feel that the art you have created is better/worse?
A. If I am in a bad mood, I don't create artwork.
Q.If you are in a good mood do you feel that the art you have created is better/worse?
A. Neither, again for me I create emotion through my style and technique in other words my artwork is emotional, not me. So it is hard for me to say if its better or worse.
Q.Were you abused as a child/adolescent?
A. No
Q.If so would you feel up to describing the type of abuse?
A. If I was abused, yes I would discuss it.
Q.Can you give me a few insights about how your childhood/adolescence affected your art?
A. I guess being exposed to Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror at a young age has given me the opportunity to explore and appreciate things for what they are. Entertainment is what it is, but the ability to create entertainment is what I like to explore. I am more effect my that as a person rather than my art.
Q.Do you wonder how you would feel if art was not an outlet for you?
A. I never viewed art or artwork as an outlet or escape its just something I do.
Q.Do you feel that creating art is a form of therapy for you?
A. No
Q.Is creating art calming for you or do you feel something else?
A. I can't ever remember creating artwork while I was mad or upset. So I am always calm when I create artwork.
Q.Are you happy with the art that you create?
A. Yes, and the impact that others feel when they view it.
Q.If the art that you create is considered “disturbing” are you comfortable showing others?
A. Yes artwork has no censorship except for ourselves. Most of life events are disturbing and beautiful at the same time. " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ".
Q.How do you, as the artist, handle someone who might find your art disturbing?
A. Thank them politely for viewing my work, and move on.
Q.Does the art that you create, and the effect that it has on others, seem to make what you went through better?
A. Interesting question, every artist goes through some difficult part in a painting but the effect of other people don't play a part in that. It is only a personal satisfaction that you got over an artistic hurdle.
Q.Do you think that the art that you create could have been created had you grown up under different circumstances?
A. I think so, the only difference for me at least is that I would not have the time to let my imagination grow. As a child I spent most of my time alone as I do now. So I would allow things to flourish. I wasn't a basket case who lived in a dark closet or anything like that. I had my sisters with me they just knew not to interrupt me when I was creating. Everyone had their little thing to do. For my oldest sister it was guitar lessons and music. Then my other sister was about dolls and tea parties. And for me it was TV, Video Games, Movies, Music, Books, Technology, and Art.
Q. Have you ever had a drug problem?
A. No
Q. Are you using any type of narcotic at this time?
A. No, People tend to connect drugs with Art and Music. To be that's BS, people get high as a choice, even if they are Doctors, or Artist.
Q. If so do you feel that the art that you create is better or worse because of the drug?
A. N/A
Q. Have you ever been diagnosed with any sort of mental illness? If so would you be willing to discuss?
A. No I have never been diagnosed with any sort of mental illness.
Q. If you have been diagnosed were you prescribed any sort of drug to treat?
A. N/A
Q. If so did the medication affect the outcome of any art that you created?
A. N/A
Lazaro - Well that is the thing, it has become very popular for people in general to believe that artist are disturbed or abnormal in someway. Truth is that mentally unstable people exist in all walks of life. And it is poetic and romantic to think that an artist is twisted in order to create strange pieces of art. What I have gathered from Art History is that these people were in fact dealing with some kind of issue and being an artist was, well for a lack of a better term or word ( A JOB ).
Q. You stated that there is no emotion behind your artwork when working with a client; is the same true when you are creating something for yourself?
A. I guess the best way to say it is, ( The Artist ) doesn't feel anything. At least for me I don't. I may have a splitting headache and feel sick but there is no extra ordinary feeling. No magic, no sparks of light. I am worried about Layer Opacity, Color Balance, Anatomy, composition etc.
Now with the artwork or piece its different. If some one says hey Lazaro, we want you to create a piece that portrays death, or something evil. Then I look for images that are disturbing or cause fear in order to send that message through the artwork. A lot of the time if I create something that is dark or creepy people that don't now me say " MAN THAT DUDE IS NUTS! " but that is because they can't distinguish the difference between the art and the artist. For instance Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Lady Gaga. these are normal people that play on something that may make people uncomfortable. Most of the time it can be an issue that they don't like. so they take a stab at it. Marilyn Manson with Religion. They are doing it to create a buzz and to sell Albums.
I feel that artist do the same thing, they are driven by expression. The worse thing for an artist is to not be understood. And so people must understand that just because I take pictures of dead pigs, doesn't mean I like to kill kids and eat brains. lol
the artist = No emotion ( The Vessel or Instrument )
the art = (Emotion or Message and or Both )
Q. If not then can you describe the process? For example is it merely a thought that is in your head that you let out?
A. As an artist we are in tune with everything and every one, so ideas, images, thoughts, words, poems, songs, are a constant hurricane in an artist mind. Creativity can come from everywhere and anywhere all at once. So there is no real way to pin point the process. I have found myself in a bar with friends and someone is talking about something and I see it in my head and sketch it out on a napkin with the servers pen. Or I am at home working on a painting and it turns out to be something else out of just experimenting.
Some artist are ritualistic, they have a certain thing they have to do to get to their mojo or sweet spot, with me it is never turned off. I can wake up in the middle of the night and create something that I don't want to forget. So its hard to say and I hope this makes sense.
Now I can say that I am a perfectionist I go over things over and over again. If there was ever in the art field a person like Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails then I would be that.
Q. Was there any of your artwork that you can remember that someone else found disturbing? If so can I see it and can you tell me if they explained why they thought it was either too dark or disturbing?
A. I have never had anyone tell me my work is disturbing so I don't have pieces that I can show you. Do you find my work disturbing? I have had a lot of ( strange, unique, cool, WOW, awesome, etc. ) But I can say that my work is somehow translating what people want to feel about themselves. So they see it wonderful, beautiful, or interesting. I like complex things so I create complex things puzzles and such.
Lazaro you are exactly right when you say that it is romantic to think that the artist is wounded and disturbed and his art is a representation of that. I am definitely guilty of that romantic notion.
This all started when I looked into Norman Rockwell's life. I have never related to his artwork at all. All of that loving apple pie stuff just never fit for me. I never related to it. So I began to wonder about him. As it turns out according to his therapist his artwork was the work of "what he wished his life was like." So all of those paintings of small town Americana was a fantasy for him.
That is where it started. I wondered if there were more artists out there who were using their life's issues and creating art from that. But you are right- there are wounded people in every walk of life. Just as Picasso was a schizophrenic there are also accountants who become schizophrenic. Tim Burton is bipolar but there are attorney's that are bipolar. So I may find that there are just as many "sane" artists as there are artists who have an issue.
You asked if I thought that your art was disturbing- no. The first print that I saw of yours was Santa Claus and I loved it. Not because it reminded me of all of those great childhood memories but because there was something in his eyes that looked like what he is in my mind- an old man who wanders through your house alone while you sleep. That is what I see. Ask 4 other people and they may all see 4 different things in that same print.
You also mentioned Trent Reznor and I will admit to being very limited in what I know about him but I will admit to thinking that he is a little disturbed. The lyrics and images appear to be those of a man who is dealing with some issues. But at the same time I would not have said that about Stephen King- a person I am familiar with. That man has some twisted stories that create disturbing imagery in the mind of the person reading his work. But I would have said that his work was the beauty of a vivid imagination and the ability to find a way to bring that imagination to life.
So what is the difference in the two men? Why are my opinions of these two men completely different. Truth be told Trent may be as sane as any other man while King is completely off his rocker. What is the difference? Well just like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" sanity is in the eye of the observer. Both are all about perception.
It was great talking to you Lazaro. It is always great to think you know how you feel about something but after talking to someone you allow yourself to think about things in a different way.
BUT if you do decide to start doing something twisted after taking pictures of dead pigs please feel free to write and let me in on the thought process! ;)
Kristen, great point about Trent Reznor and Stephen King. It all boils down to perception. although there maybe truth in an artist being disturbed but, I find that a lot of the time artist just project an idea to get people to think about things in another way. So we shall find out if I am in fact crazy once my new series comes out!
lol I don't see myself photographing piggies anytime soon, but if I do you'll be the first to know! :) It was my pleasure in helping you with your project. Lazaro
Thanks again- Kristen
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