Noche 2015 Artist Interview: Heather Smith-Gearns

Heather Smith-Gearns is a fantastic painter and sketch artist working in abstract, minimalistic, and expressionistic tones. Her imagination blooms like an orange blossom and it is always a delight to see her and her paintings at any event. Do you have a poetry reading at a coffee shop happening? She's perfect for it. Are you opening a high end art gallery in New York? She's perfect for it. Are you having a Kurt Vonnegut themed party at an anarchist library? She's perfect for it. Is your daughter's sweet sixteen birthday happening at a laser tag place? That's pushing it, but she is perfect for it. Also, she is perfect for Noche. Check out her responses to the 5 questions.

Q: What kind of art do you plan on bringing to this year's Noche event?

                

A: I'm planning on bringing Paintings. Acrylic on Canvas. I've been working more and more in abstract expressionism (bordering on color field), and am pretty excited to share some of the new work. I'm not sure yet how many, but I'm sure enough to place in a  somewhat visually pleasing manner. (This may or may not be successful, as art is subjective, especially mine) I'm also working on  some small personal altars, and had planned on making some paper flowers.

Q: If you were to pick a person or two or three to memorialize this year for the Day of the Dead, who would it be?

               

A: I think I would pick: 1. my Dad,  2. my Grandmothers - both sides(who I never met) 

Q: What do you try to accomplish with your art?

                 

A: What I try to accomplish with my art is survival. Plain and simple. 

Q: Where else and when can we see more of your art?

                    

A: You can see my art in December of this year at Improv Mania in Chandler, AZ. I am very excited about this, and have been working diligently to have a cohesive show ready for your viewing pleasure.

Q: When you die, what do you hope people put on your Dia de los Meurtos altar?

                 

A: Tom Ka Kai (Thai chicken/coconut soup) AND Baskin Robbins- Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream. Don't judge me. 

That was the exact perfect answer, you are amazing.... oh wait, you told me not to judge you. I take it back.

Anyhoo, come see Heather and her sensational work at Noche!

This year's Noche event is happening on Friday, October 16 7-9pm at The Old Adobe Mission. That's at 3821 N. Brown St. in Old Town Scottsdale.

There will also be carved pumpkin art by my maniac brother Brian, outdoor projections will be provided by Pat Klein. Adam & Edel will also be there to provide the live music. Don't miss this amazing night of the arts.

Noche 2015 Artist Interview: Neil Gearns

Neil Gearns is a mad man and should not be allowed to mingle with humans. However, he is inspired so, we are unleashing him for the 2015 Noche Art Event this year. Neil is a poet, a painter, an occasional performer, and mixed media artist. He is super creative, and I personally just love to hear his laugh. If Noche had Neil and nothing else it would still be amazing. I sent him the five 2015 artist questions for Noche and here he is Mr. Neil Gearns in his own words...

Q: What kinds of art do you plan on bringing to this year's Noche event?

A:  Why are you attempting to limit my creativity with questions that contain concepts like, bring and art, you know I'm much too imaginative to be limited by dogmatic propaganda such as this.   ;)    (Joke)

On a serious note, I'll probably bring some free form sculpture, a little jewelry and I'm working on a chap book of poetry about day of the dead.

Q: If you were to pick a person or two or three to memorialize this year for Day of the Dead, who would it be?

A: My parents and father in law.  My parents encouraged me to have a balanced life, to make time for family, work, self and art.  My father in law and I became friends over the years, he loved to go out sell his art and be exposed to the strange and unusual side of life.

Q: What do you try to accomplish with your art?

A: I want people to see my art and feel something. I saw the Grand Canyon a few years ago and thought, that is one big beautiful hole in the ground.  Man if one looks at something like that and is not moved, well, I guess there are many ways to be dead or alive.  My wife Heather talks about this concept deeply, it really inspires me.  Heather taught me, good art gives you something, a feeling of wonder, joy or even disgust / anger.  That's what I want to accomplish with art, look at it and get something, something that was not put there by society or your parents, feel something that is you.

Q: Where else and when can we see more of your art in the future? 

A: Lately I've been showing at the Firehouse or look me up on the book of the face.  

Q: When you die, what do you hope people put on your Dia de los Muertos altar?

A: I have this delusion that I try to live a life of self exploration and improvement.  To constantly live and learn.  For all of my attempts at growth the basic truth is, I'm mostly motivated by food and sex.  So I guess on my alter it would be chocolate cake.  Chocolate cake is the metaphorical sex of the food world.  So Yea chocolate cake.

     

I knew I had lightning in a bottle when I roped Neil into this! Awesome! You're a crazy mad scientist of art and I love you!

This year's Noche is Friday, October 16 7-9pm at The Old Adobe Mission. That's at 3821 N. Brown St. in Old Town Scottsdale.

There will also be carved pumpkin art by my brother Brian, outdoor projections by the ultimate stand up dude Pat Klein, and live music by Adam & Edel. Be there.... living or dead... all are welcome.... for real.

Noche 2015 Artist Interview: Andrew "The Slow Poisoner" Goldfarb

Andrew Goldfarb is a contributing artist to this year's Noche event at the Old Adobe Mission in Old Town Scottsdale. Andrew is a twisted comic artist, a swamp rock-a-billy one-man-band, and a truly bizarre author. His one-man-band project is entitled "The Slow Poisoner". Andrew's music and live performance is seriously the best thing happening in any kind of music anywhere on the globe. His book and comics are a delight to read, as long as you have a strong stomach for the strange and absurd. Also, his paintings are captivating.

Mr. Goldfarb will not be able to attend the event in person, because he lives in an untamed wilderness known as San Francisco. However, I sent him the five 2015 Noche artist questions. Here are his responses:

Q: What kinds of art do you plan on bringing to this year's Noche event?

 

A: I've contributed a black velvet painting of Santa Muerte, the patron saint of mariachi musicians, bicycle messengers and taxi drivers. She is also known as the Lady of the Seven Powers, Skinny Lady, and Our Lady of the Holy Death.

 

Q: If you were to pick a person or two or three to memorialize this year for Day of the Dead, who would it be?

 

A: Actress Catherine Coulson, best known as the Log Lady from Twin Peaks, who just passed.

 

Q: What do you try to accomplish with your art?

 

A: I aim to convey an atmosphere of mystery. I find that the medium of painting on black velvet is effective in this regard.

 

Q: Where else and when can we see more of your art in the future?

 

A: I post my paintings and comics online at www.OgnerStump.com

 

Q: When you die, what do you hope people put on your Dia de los Muertos altar?

 

A: Cupcakes!

Thank you, Slow Poisoner! I look forward to unveiling your haunting painting onto the people of Scottsdale soon.

This year's Noche is Friday, October 16 7-9pm at The Old Adobe Mission. That's at 3821 N. Brown St. in Old Town Scottsdale. My borther, Brian will be showing off his pumpkin carvings, Pat Klein will be doing some projection work and Adam & Edel will be providing the music. There's something for everyone, so stop on by and give us some bear hugs, you crazy cats!

Noche 2015 Artist Interview: Michelle Edwards

Michelle Edwards is an artist, graphic designer, musician, and improv performer working in Phoenix. She is one half of the amazing musical improv troupe Dangerville and one fifth of the equally amazing theatrical improv troupe Mail Order Bride. If you see a notification of either of those projects performing at The Torch Theatre or elsewhere, buy your ticket immediately.

Michelle is participating for the second time this year in Noche, and I sent her the five 2015 Noche artist questions. Here's her response:

Q: What kinds of art do you plan on bringing to this year's Noche event?  

A: I had found these pieces of wood in an alley. I thought the shape they were cut into was really interesting and that they deserved to be painted on. 

Q: If you were to pick a person or two or three to memorialize this year for Day of the Dead, who would it be?  

A: My four paintings are members of the 27 club, musicians who happen to die at the age of 27. I am particularly fond of Amy Winehouse.

Q: What do you try to accomplish with your art?

A: Honestly, I just like to create. I have little time to create things just for myself these days. I like to create things that could be hung in a home and add to the decor. It doesn't have to have some underlying statement for me, I just want it to be pleasing to the eye,

 

Q: Where else and when can we see more of your art in the future?

A: I only show art when friends ask me to be a part of something. I hope it happens more often.

 

Q: When you die what do you hope people put on your Dia de los Muertos altar?

A: I would hope to see many fancy cheeses, ginger beer, kittens, and several miniature musical instruments.

Thank you, Michelle!

This year's Noche is Friday, October 16 7-9pm at The Old Adobe Mission. That's at 3821 N. Brown St. in Old Town Scottsdale.

There will also be carved pumpkin art by my brother Brian, outdoor projections by the ultimate stand up dude Pat Klein, and live music by Adam & Edel. I hope to see you all there!

Tommy Cannon Studios- Logo!

I made a logo for myself! Wooooooo! I call my mascot the C-Monster. My focus for my "studios" will be illustration, animation, comics, logo design, and mascot creation. Of course the flavor of my work is in the realm of comedy, absurdism, and fun while being innovative at the same time. If you want me to draw something for you or make you a little movie we can discuss business through my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tommy.cannon.140 or my twitter profile https://twitter.com/tommycannon.

Aloesaurus > Allosaurus

Top 7 Reasons to Start Wearing Purple

Top 7 Reasons to Start Wearing Purple

Gogol Bordello advises us, almost commands us, to start wearing purple. Their music is weird and disturbing, which is perfect. Also, they are geniuses, because yes, we should all start wearing purple. Here are the top seven reasons why:

1.       It is the color of royalty. Back in the medieval ages those who wore purple were those who were rich and/ or powerful. The natural materials that were used to create purple pigments, dyes, inks, and paints were hard to come by. Because, purple was worn only by the select and highly esteemed few in those dark, dark times the art of the era used the color to symbolize greatness. Bishops, Popes, Saints, and Messiahs were depicted in purple to show that they were extra spiffy. But, in this day and age, all kinds of purple stuff is widely available at your local Big-Box-O-Rama! So, go ahead and get yourself some purple, fuzzy slippers. Take advantage of it in honor of your ancestors who couldn’t afford it and show the world how extra spiffy you are!

2.       Purple is the color worn by the famed ninja turtle Donatello. He is considered to be the smart one. He invents stuff and builds robots. You should show your respect by wearing his color.

3.       Chameleons cannot, I repeat, they canNOT… turn purple. They can blend in with almost anything in the jungle and change their color in remarkable, jaw-dropping ways. However, if you were wearing a purple shirt and a chameleon was resting on your shoulder, it would have to fake it with warm brown or something. So, out of sympathy to our friends in the animal kingdom, we should proudly wear purple and say, “Don’t worry, bro. I’ve got this one.”

4.       This reason seems to be close to me because I am currently a resident of Phoenix. It was the color of the Diamondbacks uniforms when they won the World Series! I know, it was a long time ago, but I still think it’s a big deal. Phoenix is not a great sports town, yet currently we have a team in each major professional sport. Yes, I agree, for the most part, our teams are not consistently strong. However, each team while they’ve been here in the Valley of the Sun have given us exciting moments. A few years back, the Coyotes went deep in the playoffs. One time the Cardinals were in the Super Bowl, they even had the lead at one point. The dream team Suns played against the dream team Bulls in an exciting round of the finals during the early nineties. Yet, none of those teams could take the top prize. It was 2001, and the Diamondbacks were the only major, professional team of Phoenix to take it all. It was amazing. The team wears red now, dammit. It’s so uncreative. They look like half of the league now. In baseball you can’t tell Phoenix from St. Louis, Boston, Anaheim, Cincinnati, Washington, etc. They were the only purple team. They won in purple. If they brought the purple back, they’d still be the only purple team. Support the real Diamondbacks and put on some purple.

5.       It’s patriotic. Mix the colors of the US Flag together. You get light purple.

6.       The greatest villains in comic books made good use of the color purple. Deep down, we all know that a great villain makes for a great superhero story. And, if you are going to create a villain for a comic book then the design needs to be spectacular. If the character is going to be used and loved for decades to come, the character needs to be iconic. Marvel and DC have both put purple and great iconic villains together for years to great success. Just look at certain versions of Lex Luthor, Green Goblin, Magneto, The Riddler, Galactus, oh yeah, and the one called The Joker. Be iconic. Stand out. Be loved throughout the ages and slap on some purple!

7.       Next to Black, Orange, and Green, I believe purple is becoming the fourth official color of Halloween. Rightfully so, I might add. It can be presented as dark, even as a light. It goes well with the other secondary colors in the mix of oranges and greens. All of the pop up Halloween stores know it too. They all carry purple lights and a lot of the packaging for these stores features a good amount of purple. A good, deep purple makes for a good quick way to show the night sky right after the sun sets beneath the horizon. That make purple and Halloween a perfect match. And, we all know that Halloween is the best holiday. The best. That’s not even a subjective opinion. It’s an objective truth. Halloween is the best. So, celebrate the best of the best and rock that purple!

So, there you have it. Those are the seven best reasons to get more purple in your wardrobe. Now pardon me, I have to go and make some illustrations. I have too much red paint separate from my blue paint. I’ll go and get that taken care of. Good bye and good night, my violet villains!