keep art alive: vanilla swingers

the ten questions project: vanilla swingers

*1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

Miles - I'd say this album is informed by a mix of 80s pop (Pet Shop Boys, Talk Talk, The Smiths) and a few key records that make some kind of grand artistic or political statement, like Infected by The The or Don't Stand Me Down by Dexys. Plus there are some unusual song structures and time signatures, like you might find in the music of Blonde Redhead or Radiohead (1997 onwards). Another important influence was the English philosopher, John Gray, whose books I find simultaneously terrifying and empowering.

Anne - Brian Eno, The Fall, David Lynch, JMW Turner, Werner Herzog, Pina Bausch, Bill Viola, Robert Wilson, Seamus Heaney, Robert Wyatt

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

Miles - Hope Sandoval, Mama Cass Elliott and my friend Dan, who's a lot of fun and I don't see enough of.

Anne - Brian Eno, Stephen Fry, David Lynch

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

Miles - Kellogg's Start, the athlete's choice (i.e. loaded with glucose)

Anne - Don’t eat cereal but like fruit and nuts with natural yogurt

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

Miles - a small mirror with a silhouette of a bird on it

Anne - a cobweb

* 5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

Miles - Sure Pink, a type of deodorant. And tarmac, but best not at the same time.

Anne - Freshly cut grass, reminds me of summer coming, looking out the window in Our Lady’s Grammar School at 14, longing for freedom.

* 6. coffee or tea?

Miles - tea with soya milk

Anne - Depends on my mood, I like a nice coffee at my local Portuguese café but my Mum does the best cup of tea in the world.

* 7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

Miles - Any supportive heartfelt comment from someone I don't know.

Anne - In a dance performance once I had a review that said I was 'sturdy', mmmm, went on a crash diet after that!

* 8. three words that describe you?

Miles - considerate, perfectionistic, blessed

Anne - warm, indecisive, capable

* 9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Miles - The comics I read as a kid were all about war - not much love interest there.

Anne - Superman

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Miles - A song by Anne's old band, Florida, called Everything Will Be OK

Anne - It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Van Morrison version

***

vanilla swingers can be seen and heard at the following locations: myspace and vanilla swingers ~ time travel, communication, entertainment

i would like to thank vanilla swingers for re-awakening my vision of an alternate reality/time travel story i've been working on - but had been stuck in writer's block over. thank you for the inspiration, and for such lush and gorgeous music.

and, thank you for participating in keep art alive; the ten questions project

go now go and check out more of their music, catch them live if you can, recommend them to a friend, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.

keep art alive: joshua petker

keep art alive; art by joshua petker

the ten questions project: joshua petker

*1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

Most often I just listen to my ipod on shuffle. I like lots of different artists and somehow listening to them all at once is my most honest mood. Sometimes I even paint in silence.

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

Hmmm...there are a lot of people both historical and fictional that I'd like to spend some time with but road trips are much more intensive than a quick dinner date. Willie Nelson, Marcel Proust, and Jackson Pollack. That would be a random group but Willie would smoke us out and sing road songs, Proust would go on and on and on telling intricate stories for days, and Pollack would be my art companion and ready to throw beers in our bellies and rocks at cars once the day was over and the bar doors opened.

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

I hate milk so I never eat cereal. Sorry. =(

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

A picture of my oldest cat who sleeps in the very same room!

*5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

Clove cigarettes remind me of sneaking into Gothic dance clubs in SF when I was 14-15. They smelled so fancy and exclusive to me back then. Now, they remind me of when I was a dumb goth kid doing drugs at 14. Not a fan anymore.

*6. coffee or tea?

tea

*7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

Because I try to be sensitive in my work I am most appreciative when females tell me I captured the inner feelings of a woman. I'm not sure my paintings can speak for every woman but I find that to be the most rewarding compliment.

*8. three words that describe you?

chaotic, sensitive, gemini

*9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Sleeping Beauty? But, to say i had a crush would be a big stretch...

*10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Sing Me To Sleep, by the Smiths

***

find out more about joshua at his website: joshua petker

and at his myspace

i would like to thank joshua for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my writing.

go now go and check out more of her work, visit a gallery showing, and buy something if you can.
keep art alive and show your support.

keep art alive: tiffanie debartolo

the ten questions project: tiffanie debartolo

*1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

Music. Music. Music. Nothing stirs my insides and makes me feel alive like a good song, and I feel creative when I feel alive.

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictionalor non-fictional, dead or alive)?

I love road trips. I’m going to rent a van so that I can bring more than three people. My caravan would include Bono, Joe Strummer, Martin Luther King, Howard Roark, Jeff Buckley, and Seymour Glass.

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

Frosted Flakes.

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

A Matthew Heller painting.

*5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

Suffice it to say that when I close my eyes and concentrate on people I have loved, I can smell them as if they are standing in front of me.

*6. coffee or tea?

I heart coffee.

*7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

Tim O’Brien once told me that I was a great writer, and it changed the course of my life.

*8. three words that describe you?

Complicated. Vulnerable. Sparkly.

*9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Batman. I like the idea that a hero can be a man with nothing but extraordinary will, conviction, and ingenuity on his side, as opposed to someone born with super powers. And, all the black clothes were sexy.

*10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

It kind of depends on why the world is ending, but if I’m about to die, I’m definitely going to need U2 to escort me out of this world. To me, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is a song about looking for faith in the face of despair, so that would probably be apposite.

***

a friend of mine once loaned me a book that i would later credit for being pages that saved my life, and that made me feel less alone in this world. there is not a single person who knows me who does not know what her books mean to me, or how i recommend them incessantly. tiffanie's books are the perfect blend of music and humanity; it is as if music was walking down the street and ran smack into the most beautifully flawed person, and the two of them laughed together at being so clumsy, and ducked into the nearest coffee shop, already holding hands because it already made sense that they were together. perhaps that makes sense to you, or maybe it is just my skewed perception of the world. all i know is i get her books deep inside of me, and it feels like they get me right back.

beyond being an amazing author, tiffanie also penned and directed the keen film dream for an insomniac. if you have not seen it before, i suggest you put it on your queue, or pick up a copy. you can watch it after you finish her two books (and hopefully three soon). tiffanie is also kind and down to earth, and incredibly genuine; and, she has amazing taste in music.

find out more about tiffanie at her website: tiffaniedebartolo.com

and at her myspace

and do not miss taking a listen to one of her favorite bands: ours

i would like to thank tiffanie for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my life, and my writing.

go now go and check out more her books, her film, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.

keep art alive: johnette napolitano

the ten questions project: johnette napolitano

* 1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

-WHATEVER IS COMING THROUGH MY HEAD AT THE TIME. WORKING WITH MY HANDS FREES UP MY MIND, I START TO HEAR THINGS. I GENERALLY LISTEN TO TALK RADIO WHEN I'M WORKING.

* 2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

-OH I IMAGINE HUNTER S.THOMPSON, DOROTHY PARKER AND NIKOLA TESLA.

* 3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

-OATMEAL

* 4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

-MY GRANDMOTHER'S RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CROSS. SHE'S BURIED WITH ONE.

* 5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

-COFFEE AND CINNAMON. THERE WAS A PERIOD WHEN I WAS SO BROKE I HAD NO PHONE, I COULD AFFORD 50 CENTS A DAY FOR A PHONE CALL AND A PAPER, I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB. ALL I COULD AFFORD WAS COFFEE AND CINNAMON STICKS, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I LIVED ON BACK THEN AND TO THIS DAY I CAN'T SMELL COFFEE AND CINNAMON WITHOUT SQUIRMING.

* 6. coffee or tea?

HA..MOSTLY HERB TEA NOWADAYS, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE COFFEE BUT I DO.

* 7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

-I WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE THE PERSON CREDIT, BUT LET'S JUST SAY I'M THE TYPE THAT IS MOTIVATED BY PEOPLE WHO TELL ME I CAN'TDO SOMETHING. MY DRUMMER GABRIEL RAMIREZ AND I CALL IT THE 'F*** YOU' FACTOR.

* 8. three words that describe you?

LOYAL. MANIC. HONEST.

* 9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

-I WAS JUST TALKING TO JIM MANKEY ABOUT THAT LITTLE HEN IN THE FOGHORN LEGHORN CARTOONS WITH THE GLASSES THAT SWOONED EVERY TIMETHE ROOSTER CAME AROUND. SHE WOULD BAKE HIM PIES AND STUFF. 'OOOOOOOOH..A MAN!' SHE KILLS ME. I LOVE A LOT OF THE ADULT SWIM CARTOONS.

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

- WELL IN TEN MINUTES I COULD FIT IN A COUPLE SONGS, I THINK. ONE IS A ROBBIE ROBERTSON NATIVE AMERICAN TRACK, CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME..THE OTHER IS AN INSTRUMENTAL I WROTE FOR JUAN QUEZADA, THE POTTER IN MATA ORTIZ. PROBABLY 'THE SCIENTIST' FROM THE 'SCARRED' ALBUM.LOUIS ARMSTRONG 'IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD'. SO MANY GREAT SONGS. OH! 'THE HIGHWAYMAN' BY THE HIGHWAYMEN, WILLIE AND WAYLON, JOHNNYAND KRIS. I WANT TO COVER THAT SONG. MAY START THAT TODAY.

***

johnette napolitano, of concrete blonde fame, and who has worked with various artists and recorded albums with other bands/band incarnations, is one of my all-time favorite musicians. her songs have become part of my inner soundtrack, and have acted as muse to many pieces of writing i've done. little conversations was the first concrete blonde song i ever heard, and i remember listening to it, rewinding it, and listening to it again and again while i drove up the 101 freeway; my tape deck blaring, as i sang along. pretty and twisted, a side project johnette recorded with wall of voodoo's marc mooreland, is one of my favorites; i have had to buy multiple copies of the cd after letting any people "borrow" it, and never seeing it again (the true sign that something is keen, in my opinion). johnette is an artist who constantly reinvents herself via her songwriting, painting, flamenco dancing, political activities, soundtrack scores, and various collaborations. i look foreward to her next endeavors, and know that i will be playing her songs (and telling others to listen) for years and years to come.

find out more about johnette at her website: johnette napolitano.com

and at her myspace

i would like to thank johnette for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my writing.

go now go and check out more of her work, listen to an album, check for shows, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.

keep art alive: erik abel

keep art alive; art by erik abel

the ten questions project: erik abel

*1. what music 1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?inspires you when you create your art?

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Latin Jazz. Also been into Ruben Gonzales and an excellent ESL Album.

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

1) George W. Bush, so I could give him a noogy the whole way there. 2) Bob Ross, so he could paint some happy little clouds along the way. 3)And, I’ll go with Rachael Ray, so we can all stuff our faces until we pop.

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

I’m a Honey Nuts Cheerios kinda guy. OH’s are really unbelievable and better tasting than Cheerios but they tear the crap out of your mouth.

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

There is a picture I painted for my girlfriend when her goldfish Nigiri died. It’s Nigiri in a smoking jacket, smoking a pipe, blowing rings with a tumbler of whisky in one fin. He’s in a big chair in front of a fireplace with a gaudy hand painted frame around the whole thing. You can see it at the bottom of my blog in the “Scoop” section down at the end. May he R.I.P.

*5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

The salty ocean air.

*6. coffee or tea?

Love’em both. Got into Yerba Mate in the French press for a while there but have been loving the coffee a little more during the wet, cold Portland Winter.

*7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

I can’t think of one that stands out. Maybe it’s when Nathan Cartwright, of the Hive Gallery, invited me to be in my first group show in LA. It kicked my butt into gear and opened my eyes to my possibilities.

*8. three words that describe you?

On. A. Mission.

*9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Smurfette. Something about her being the only female Smurf, and wondering if she has sex with all of the Smurfs, or just one of them, or does she even have sex at all? Do Smurfs even have genitals? Maybe they lay eggs?

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Who can answer this? I might have to go out listening to Johnny Cash... maybe “Man in Black”

***

erik would like to tell you about his website: erik abel and his blog; he has the following upcoming shows that you should check out if you can:

february '08: seattle, wa: group show at blvd. gallery

june '08: washington d.c.: solo show at art whino
june '08: san francisco, ca: solo show at 1998

i would like to thank erik for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my writing.

go now go and check out more of his work, visit a gallery showing, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.

keep art alive: kelly haigh

keep art alive; art by kelly haigh

the ten questions project: kelly haigh

*1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

kh: Anything by Neko Case, Carolyn Mark, Freakwater, or Bob Dylan. (Gene Watson, the Louvin Brothers....) Any really old country duet songs, or gospel. (I love the Louvin Brothers, their 'Satan is Real' kicks my backside every time I hear it.)

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

kh: My 'Terry-dactyl' was kind enough to give up his seat to Bob Dylan, so, the other two passengers would have to be Jack the Ripper, and Ray Caesar... (with his wife's kind permission.)

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

kh: Fruit Loops... without question... but if you're all out, I'd take hot oatmeal with lots of milk and brown sugar.

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

A mounted fox head from 1875.

* 5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

Lilacs... and the smell of musty antique books. I love that smell the most.

* 6. coffee or tea?

Diet Pepsi, please.

* 7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

Ray Caesar told me to never stop painting or making music... For some reason, his kind words of encouragement have meant the world to me, and his art inspires me beyond words.

* 8. three words that describe you?

Can't .... Find ..... Any...

* 9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Bambi.

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Hold On, Hold On, by Neko Case. (Although, I MIGHT cry that I didn't choose Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues by Bob Dylan.)

***

kelly would like to tell you about her website: kelly haigh; her upcoming show in march at thinkspace gallery; that she has work in the upcoming book big eyed art, transformed and resurrected by blonde blythe, which should be out in april, by merrell publishing; and another space where you can find a different interview with her: glubdub.com.

i would like to thank kelly for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my writing.

go now go and check out more of her work, visit a gallery showing, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.