Welcome
to the first installment of the Artist
of the Month. The First Friday
of every month, we will profile an Alumni
in the midst of their careers. Some have stayed true to their majors at RISD, some are doing something
completely different. Some have a "job" while pursuing their
passions on the side, some are devoted parents or teachers helping others find
their own passions. We hope this serves as a snapshot in the lives of the
folks with whom we have a connection, but shows the different paths we have
taken since.
And
now, without further adieu, LA Alumni
Nicolas Shake
Q: What is your name, major and
year at RISD?
Q: What was your favorite class
or teacher at RISD?
A:
Lenny Long’s
Advanced Projects, he had an unwavering demand and sharp critiques.
Q: Who or what inspires your
work now?
A:
Who inspires me? There have been people in my life that have made me want
to strive for the best, and even people that I admire and want to
impress. It’s not a direct inspiration…more of a motivator. As
for the what? I look at a lot
of Dutch still-life painting and what was occurring in their society during the
time. I like the idea of still life being the lowest genre of painting at
the time. The theatrics and labor of the genera intrigues me. I
recently read a great article by TJ Clark on Jean-Francois
Millet. The
intimacy of the objects with which we surround ourselves has always intrigued
me as well. But
this is kind of a broad question and everyone expects it, I'm not sure what a
better answer to this is…
Q: Well, I guess what I really
want to know is, in your darkest hour, when you're full of the most self doubt
and struggling to continue, when everyone around you is a lawyer, a doctor or
an accountant with a 9 - 5 job, what keeps you striving to be an
"artist"?
A:
It's tough. For me, having others around me who are dealing with the same issue
or more experienced artists who have gone through this period in their careers
and have made it out alive, those people keep me going, or give me inspiration
to do so.
I've
been lucky to have a few great people in my life that believe in what I do. But
most of all, I've had to push forward. I'm a person who will get something
wrong two, three, four times but I learn from every experience and I enjoy that
process of failure and learn even more from that than any situation that came
much easier
"There have been a lot of
times that I've thought about throwing in the towel. But every time I think
that I also think what else would I do? Art has been a life long crush for me
and, like most crushes, there has been heartbreak and pure joy."
Q: So how would you describe
what it is you "do"?
A:
I would say I'm an artist, not a fine artist or a painter just plainly and
simply, an artist. The medium I choose to make my working should not hem me in to
some type of descriptor. I spend the majority of my time in my studio, but I
also teach at Chapman University. As for
a hobby…a friend of mine just got me into indoor rock climbing. I’ve only
been a few times but I love it.
Q: And what are you currently
working on?
A:
I just finished a book about one of my projects called “The Rhythm is Odd”. I’m also working on
my first solo exhibition, which will be at Western Project on May 11, 2013. Also a
group exhibition, at VAST Space
Project in March. That show is curated by David Pagel. There are a
few other projects in the works but as for now I’m not saying too much about
them.
Q: What has changed the most for
you, as an artist, in the last 10 years? Could be anything, from your
style to technology, etc.
A:
That’s a big list. I went to graduate school at Claremont Graduate University.
If I look back at the work I was making during undergrad I can see some hints
of what I’m doing now, more in the concepts than in the physical work.
Q: Where do you see yourself in
10 years?
A:
Still showing but in internationally and nationally (LA and New York). Dream
big. Who knows if I’ll still be in LA. A year before moving to Providence
I remember having a conversation with a friend and I said something like “Who
would ever live in Rhode Island, I could never live there.”
Q: What do you love/hate about
the "Art Scene" in LA?
A:
Love... There is a great community in LA right now. Galleries like Weekend, Jaus, and Elephant, more independent
spaces that are about developing community and have a strong vision for what
they would like the art world to be, anchor it.
Hate…I’ve
been thinking about Dave
Hickey leaving the art world and the reasoning behind it… The art bubble,
it always becomes a large topic after Miami
Basel. There seems to be a general disappointment in what is going on
right now, not just with big money galleries/collectors but all aspects of the
art world. From MFA programs to government funding for the arts.
We’re looking for something but I don’t know what yet…the general public has no
access point into the contemporary art world. Brian
Eno’s opening speech for the
1995 Turner
Prize is still valid. Jude
Law, at this year’s Turner Prize ceremony, criticized his government for
cutting funding to the arts. I’m curious to see what is going to happen
in the next five years. Will there be a general complacency? Spaces
like Weekend Gallery already have
respect, but when they get more traction, what will they turn into and how will
they influence the art scene?
Q: What do you want to see out
of the RISD LA Alumni organization in the future?
A:
More organization. Some sort of a directory for artists and designers.
Community.
Well
we hear you Nicolas, and we're listening. If you have thoughts on
Nicolas' profile, feel free to share in the comments below. We're looking
for our next Artist of the Month as well, if you're interested please connect
with us via the RISD/LA
Alumni Facebook Group.
Liz Lanphear (neé Hostetler) FAV
04 and Marisa Murrow PT 00
