Stevie B: The Freestyle Profile

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In 1984, no one identified themselves as freestylers. Like music producer Stevie B, they were just working artists, doing what they needed to do to get an album finished. When he couldn’t find anyone else to complete a recording, or when he was working alone in the middle of the night, he stepped behind the microphone and sung the songs himself. Like all forms of good art, freestyling rose out of necessity. And like all great artists, Stevie B rose out of the working class and into history.

While he would never consider himself the King of Freestyle as fans have dubbed him, he will accept recognition for being a leader of the movement. Drawing from a variety of influences, including smooth Latin and hip-hop, Stevie B mixed the entire radio into a record to create his own personal party sound. A sound that includes, among other things, powerful lyrics conveying a strong story.

Every song is autobiographical, coming from the heart to help everyone relate; he even stretches his reach further to touch the listener physically. Bells, high notes, and uplifting tones give every ballad, no matter how tragic, a hopeful happiness that makes listeners get up and dance. Heartbreak becomes a sore we simply need to shake off and we want to feel love from head to toe again. All the internal emotions stirred by the story creeps into our movements through thumping beats and catchy tones.

Of course, when he first started, he kept trying to sound like someone else. He wanted to pay tribute to all his idols by imitating them, as many artists are wont to do. But his creations came from his heart, through his windpipe, and out his mouth, so they were inevitably, purely Stevie B. The style became all his own, and the people loved it. What started as fifty to a hundred people in the club grooving to a DJ became a career as a recording artist in the studio. “Party Your Body” was Stevie B’s first major hit; it first played on the radio in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then as he began to tour and perform live, he heard it down in Miami, up in Orlando, and all the way to New York City, where he discovered he had made the charts. As he transitioned to stage shows, becoming a performance artist, the demands of his physical appearance became apparent. Like a radio DJ, people imagined what Stevie B might look like, but no facts to determine how tall he was, how he dressed, if he looked as appealling as his music. He wanted, and still wants, his fans to be satisfied after paying money to see him. So he dresses in his best, plays to impress, and performs all his songs exactly how the masses hear them on the albums.

Hearing himself on the radio was surreal at first. Everything he dreamed of, what he had worked on so tirelessly, had come true; he thought he’d made it. However, he had barely knocked on the door. Through the 1980′s and 90′s he continued to have chart-climbing hits, such as “Spring Love” and “Girl I’m Searchin’.” “Because I Love You” would reach the top, being #1 on the Billboard for four weeks in the 90′s. Stevie B admits that, rather than being about a man to a woman, it’s about the Lord God receiving a letter from mankind and answering through music, letting everyone know His love is real. A deeply spiritual song, it put Stevie B on the map for being both emotionally and physically touching. The masses continue to enjoy his sounds, his ballads, and Stevie B loves the complements and recognition; he admits that his favorite thing to hear is that his songs saved someone’s life. That people from all walks of life, from the softest woman to the toughest man, continue to listen to him after all this time, despite all the new competition.

Of course, competition isn’t the only thing to have changed the music business since Stevie B started. As a veteran, the freestyle leader is tired of the politics, the wear and tear of travel. But what has changed the most, in his view, is the business model. Never before could people steal an entire record literally two seconds after it debuts; in the days of vinyl, cassette tapes, and even CDs, pirates would have needed an entire press to copy an album. Now it’s as simple as a click and a download. Stevie B admits that many don’t know how to make it in music anymore, since such a drastic shift is destroying the industry as we know it. The biggest record company right now, according to him, is actually Apple Computers.

Dramatic changes have occurred both naturally and unnaturally. But what remains the same is that Stevie B is still going. He has grown from his days as a rookie opening for Meatloaf and Earth, Wind, and Fire, to a frontliner who had Rihanna open for him. He’s still performing, recording, and loves being a family man. Married for twenty years, he has seven children and considers himself “…just a regular guy.” His son Amir B has a rap career of his own, releasing a new album within the next month. Amir B appeals to the younger demographic, while his father stays loyal to his Latin-hip-hop style, performing for his fans songs that bring back the past, puts the present in perspective, and lays down a beat for bumping the night away.

Filed Under: articleimg, Bands & Singers

Marcia: Personal, Soulful R and B

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

For R&B singer Marcia it was love at first listen.

Despite being only 12 or 13 years old the R&B music genre really impacted her. The songs spoke to her. She began writing her own poetry and later converted that into music. This led to her very first song called “Enough.” Written at 13 years old, it was what you would expect from a teenage girl: a song to her boyfriend who she thought she was in love with, but he didn’t want to be with her.

Now at 23 years old, Marcia’s music has grown with her. “A lot of my music is my own personal endeavors,” she said. “Anything I feel like people can relate to I write it down and try to put it into words where it can flow into music or a song and make people really see the life in their mind.” The lyrics are often based off friends, family, things she sees and her own life.

Growing up in a Latin family, she mainly listened to Spanish music. “I am Latin, but I sing with a soulful tone,” she said. She brought together her inspirations – such as Selena, Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys and Destiny’s Child – with her heritage and her love of R&B. “To me it’s kind of like a little best of both worlds where I could show my sexy Latin side, but also be soulful,” Marcia explained. “Which is something that the music industry doesn’t really have right now.”

Marcia grew up about a half hour outside of Boston. As a child she was able to express who she was. She played sports as a way to getaway. Then, of course, there was writing poetry. If she saw it, felt it or had any idea that she could put into music, she had to do it then and there. Paper and a pen were always at the ready. Yet Marcia wishes she could have started her music earlier. When she was young she was afraid what people would think or that someone would use her for her talent.

But now, Marcia is no longer afraid. She is confident to show what she has and sing out loud. That confidence is supported by her fans. The fans drive her forward. “When I see people that don’t know me and are rocking out to my song and they want to take a picture with me,” she said. “That makes me feel like okay, I really do need to do this.” Writing her own lyrics she has stories to tell, stories she hopes will reach out to other people. The response from the fans is a real reward and it’s what keeps her staying late after shows for autographs and pictures.

Marcia is focused on getting her album out in 2012 despite not having a label. She also wants to grow her fan base. “I want people to know who I am, where I came from and love my music,” she said. You can get to know Marcia and her soulful voice more on facebook.com, her website maricamusic.com or her twitter.

Filed Under: articleimg, Bands & Singers

Raquela: From Opera to Latin Dance

February 2, 2012 By 1 Comment

For the New Year, International Dance Artist Raquela isn’t making your typical new year’s resolutions. She is hitting the Latin market hard. Her year has already started off with a small release of the Spanish version of “Tell it to my Heart.” The version will be widely available just after Valentine’s Day.

This version allows Raquela to embrace her Hispanic side, which she’s always been connected to through her mom. She was raised bi-racial, both Mexican and German. “I looked odd to everybody,” she explained. “So I guess I had to build my own world around me.” That world started at a record store in Northern California where she grew up. She bought Broadway musicals and Freestyle dance music and it grew into an obsession with music, singing and live performance.

Raquela has been singing since she was 9 years old. She started out in the choir of a Baptist church in the little town of Elk Grove. The teachers helped her learn all about music and train her voice throughout her adolescence. From there she got a scholarship to study Opera in Los Angeles at Biola University. Although it seemed like a perfect opportunity, Raquela realized she didn’t want to do opera. She wanted to do Broadway. So she packed up her bags and transferred to University of California of Irvine to get her BFA in musical theatre.

Throughout the 80s she was a huge part of the theatre scene. But this supportive group of artists was greatly affected by the AIDS epidemic. Some of the most supportive people in her life were lost. Raquela never forgot them though. As her career progressed, she knew it was part of her job as an artist to give back to society. When Raquela became Miss Orange County she focused a lot of her pageantry on fundraising towards AIDS research. Miss Orange County was an opportunity. She sang her heart out at benefits to raise money for a cause so close to her heart and history. The experience, she said, helped her grow as a person and a performer.

“I’m addicted to applause,” Raquela admitted. Music and performing is how she expresses herself, whether it’s through Dance music or musical theatre. Yet as an artist she is also reaching out to her audience. She wants her music to bring something to other people. Whether it’s three hours on stage or three minutes in a song, her performance helps someone get through their day. Raquela believes each person can “find a song or a performance that explains exactly what they’re feeling or going through or who they are as a person.” The applause is what solidifies that idea. They don’t clap just for Raquela; they clap for the feelings that they understand and they connect with.

That resounding moment, when she can catch her breath and listen to the sounds of approval rippling from the audience, is why she sings. That record store in California drew her into dance music, along with her mother’s Latina influence. She hopes that dance will catch up with technology and make a comeback. “Dance music is about the celebration of life,” Raquela said. “That’s what it’s about and that’s why I do it.”

Look out for her Latin version of “Tell it to my Heart” this February. Her music can be found on ITunes, CD Baby, eMusic and Amazon Music. Keep an eye out for more Taylor Dane songs from the 80s, because she’s not done with him yet.

Filed Under: articleimg, Bands & Singers, Music

Rocky Karlage: His Days of Walking with Ghosts and Life on ‘The Farm’

December 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

Rocky Karlage wears many hats, and I’m not referring to the literal kind you take to baseball games or the beach.  What I mean is, the guy keeps busy.

Highly creative, intelligent and motivated, the Cincinnati, Ohio resident has worked as a producer, writer, creative consultant, photographer, and researcher just to name a few.  The man of many titles refuses to get bored.  “I’m always thinking and planning,” laughs Karlage during our recent interview.  “However, the hard part is making it happen.”

He doesn’t seem to have too much trouble making it happen though.  This past year, the talented Karlage produced an independent feature film titled, The Farm.  Not only did he act as the film’s producer, but he also worked as its screenwriter and web developer.  Steve Olander directed and edited.

According to Karlage, The Farm is based on true events, and let’s just say, it’s not exactly about cows and chickens.  Rather, the film focuses on a young, married couple while on their honeymoon.  The bride’s aunt, who is a realtor, loans her and the groom a rustic farmhouse to stay in after their wedding.  The country abode, however, is hardly charming and the couple’s romantic retreat turns into a horrific nightmare of sorts.  Estella and her new husband, Johnny, become stranded at the farm due to inclement weather and they soon realize they are not alone.  Ghostly events begin to take their toll on the couple, and whether or not they can escape their ordeal is left to be unseen- or at least for now.

Karlage will not discuss too many of the film’s details at the moment, as The Farm is still in the editing process.  He hopes that its full length version will be released the end of February 2012.  Currently, only a shortened version can be seen, which was run at a festival in Ohio in October of 2011.

The paranormal-horror film has the perfect trifecta for the making of a hit:  a creepy setting, several very talented actors and a brilliant production crew.  Karlage proudly states that Hollywood is already beginning to take notice of The Farm, and he hopes that after its spring release, the film will gain even more praise and recognition from not only big name critics, but also from audiences across the nation.

I, personally, have no doubt that Rocky Karlage will soon become a household name after The Farm‘s major debut, earning him a much coveted mark in the film industry.  In fact, the film did so outstandingly well at its Ohio screening in the fall, that it was also invited to be shown at the 2nd Annual Independent Film Festival in California in March of 2012.  Karlage further states the film will have a sequel, which hopefully will premiere sometime next year.

The Farm is not the only big project that Karlage has under his wing.  He is also the creator of  the much loved and highly respected Ghost Walk Saga.  Karlage’s Ghost Walk is an epic ghost story based upon historic events in late 1800s America, centered around the prestigious Lane Family of Cleveland, Ohio.  The fictional characters were  founded by Karlage; however, they may be more real than they seem.  “I have been told by psychics that the characters created for Ghost Walk are very close to “people who actually exist or existed.”  For instance, take Ghost Walk‘s most popular character, Little Lela.  Lela, the mysterious girl whose story is unfolded in the series, is based upon the “real” spirit known to Karlage as Lilly Rose.  The producer states that Lilly Rose has visited him in her ghostly form many times over his lifetime.

“Lilly Rose is a little girl ghost that is always around me.  She makes herself known quite abit,” explains the Ghost Walk creator.  Karlage goes on to state that Lilly Rose, who according to sensitives passed away over 200 years ago, looks for her mother who may be trapped, paranormally speaking.  Karlage feels this notion to be true as he communicates directly with Lilly Rose.  Considered to be an intuitive, Karlage often receives messages from this little spirit.  And, according to other Ghost Walk staff members, Lilly Rose is beginning to connect with them as well.  “Lilly Rose just wants to be heard.  She has reasons for reaching out to me and pushes me with my plans,” confides Karlage.  “She is an inspiration behind Ghost Walk .” 

Karlage continues on to say how all the characters in the saga are amazing.  Each and every one of them is beautifully complex and fascinating, adding to the drama and intrigue of Ghost Walk.  “To me, the saga is the ‘Gone with the Wind of the Paranormal’,” chuckles Karlage.  “In all seriousness, the Ghost Walk stories are very important.  They have meaning, are educational and full of history.  And within each story they feature dangers that are real.”

Some of Ghost Walk‘s other characters, in addition to Little Lela, include The Ladies Three:  Miss Dorian Lane, Mistress of Lane Estate and Manor; Leila Trent, Dorian’s best friend; and Sara ‘the hunter’, guardian of Lane Estate.  The Main Men of the Estate are as follows:  Taggart, the foreman of Lane Estate; Siegfried Lane, Master Lane of the Estate; and Jonathan ‘Jack’ Dawson, Lady Dorian’s fiance.  There are also the two children:  Little Lela (also known to many as Lilly Rose) and William, who is Lela’s best friend.  In addition, the Romy gypsies are characters in the saga, and their caravan lives on the eastern border of the Lane Estate.

Within the Ghost Walk series, “monsters” are said to walk among the so-called ordinary population, unbeknownst to others.  These dark creatures may look typical, acting much like “real” individuals, when rather they are far from it.  The three main female characters become entrapped in the supernatural schemes of the evil master of an ancient secret society.  All the while, times and places depicted within the stories are historically accurate.  Karlage is particularly proud of this, as he is a lover of history.  Ghost Walk‘s president and producer has worked hard on his saga.

Ghost Walk:  The Harvest Ball was screened at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in August of 2010, a most honorable accomplishment indeed.  Karlage’s Ghost Walk company continues daily to develop a high concept story that incorporates many aspects of art, such as photography, video and musical composition.  “Ghost Walk Productions will bring the Ghost Walk story to book and even cinematic reality,” explains Karlage.

In addition to the actual saga, Karlage hosts a blogtalk radio show titled, Ghost Walk Mysteries, which airs every Monday at 6 pm EST.  The weekly broadcast of old-time radio from the mysterious to the downright frightening transports listeners to an era past.

Ghost Walk also features an online store, which can be found at http://ghostwalk.miiduu.com/index.php?route=product/allproducts.  Here, one can browse various items, some of which are a tad creepy.  Karlage sells haunted dolls on the site, which are quite popular nowadays.  The dolls are said to hold the spirits of the deceased either by choice or because the spirits were forced into the dolls (or hosts).  Dolls are “adopted” regularly through the online store.  Karlage also offers a variety of jewelry, worry doll accessories, and smudging kits.  This season Ghost Walk Productions has joined forces with the FreeStore Foodbank to help ease the hardships of families in need.  Therefore, the online shop will give 25% of all sales to the foodbank til December 31, 2011.

And speaking of haunted dolls, Karlage excitedly takes a moment to mention his good friends and colleagues, Tom and Traci Watkins of Knight Paranormal Investigation out of Albany, Pennsylvania.  The Watkins are the founders of the famous “Doll House Cam.”  The two paranormal investigators started the idea simply enough a few years ago at their home.  The couple set up video cameras in the hope of capturing evidence of their haunted dolls moving about on their own.  According to the Watkins and those who watch the videos through www.dollhousecam.com, the dolls will move slightly, without any help- at least from the living.  On one occasion, one of the Watkin’s cameras caught something pretty phenomenal.  On March 20, 2009, a camera facing an empty stairway, caught a most extraordinary ghostly image.  The apparition stayed in view for nearly two whole minutes, something quite rare when it comes to capturing evidence of this kind.  The image, most likely a small child, is very easily seen in the film.  Traci Watkins was out of town that day, and Tom was busy with their three children in another section of the house at the time.  The paranormal footage is now on YouTube under the title, The Apparition.  Karlage helped put the video together along with colleague, Sharon Watkins.  The video is well watched and continues to amaze even the most skeptical of viewers.

When Karlage is not busy with making films or videos, and isn’t working on his Ghost Walk projects, he is spending time on his publication, Haunted Path Magazine.  Karlage is the magazine’s publisher and consultant.  He started Haunted Path in August of 2010 and it has been growing rapidly ever since.  Haunted Path Magazine is both a printed and online publication, as well as a website.  The magazine features special industry and life interviews, topics involving the paranormal, horror, spiritual and human interest.  There are also write-ups on all the latest books, movies and works of art in the world of the paranormal.  Editor Sharon Watkins and General Manager Traci Watkins work alongside of Karlage and their outstanding efforts are easily seen in each and every issue.  In addition to the magazine, there is Haunted Path Live, which is the radio version of the popular publication.  The weekly show is hosted by Maria Mazur of Knight Paranormal Investigation.  Each week a new guest is interviewed for the show.

Karlage confides to me that he is currently working on forming a band in order to promote his latest projects.  Although the idea is just in its beginning stages, he is quite excited about getting members together and coming up with a unified musical group; yet another “hat” for Karlage to try on.

Oh, and did I mention that Karlage is also a professional photographer?  “I don’t have much time for this anymore, but I do still enjoy it when I can,” states the talented Ohio resident.  “I have done a lot with fashion models in particular.”

Karlage was also chosen for Stanford’s Who’s Who “Black Book” 2012 and was published and listed as one of “Ohio’s Top 77 Poets.”

No doubt Karlage is incredibly gifted and passionate, but he’s certainly not one to boast his achievements.  During our interview I found him to be a genuine and modest person; quite rare in this day and age.  I found his kindness and humble nature to be extremely admirable traits indeed.  “My dad, the best man I ever knew, always told me that if I wanted to have friends, then I needed to be a friend,” states the gentleman.

While chatting with Karlage recently, I found myself wanting to ask him more and more questions.  To say the least, I was intrigued.  I wanted to know more about his inspirations, his mentors and what got him interested in the paranormal and horror.

For Karlage, as long as he can remember, has been fascinated by things that go bump in the night. ”I have always loved horror movies and have always been interested in the paranormal.  I love Hans Holzer books.  I used to be very much into H.P. Lovecraft, but it was a little too dark and creepy, so I got away from that after awhile.  I’m also a very big fan of Alfred Hitchcock,” says Karlage.  “I’m not so much into slasher films.  You know, the ‘in-your-face’ blood and guts kind of stuff.  I would much rather watch a suspense film, a psychological thriller, if you will.  Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy some of those gruesome movies at times.  They can be fun.  I respect the people who do those films, but I love something that makes me think and that’s why I love Hitchcock.”

“As far as mentors go, I would have to say Hitchcock again here.  I also must note William Stafford.  He was a college professor I had.  He was very well respected and his writing class was very hard to get accepted into.  He selected me; it was a huge honor.  I also look up to all the classical horror writers of the past,” says Karlage.

And as for inspiration, Karlage has no problem answering that question either.  “My wife.  She is incredibly supportive and she always encourages me.”

It is quite obvious to me that Mr. Rocky Karlage has a lot on his plate, but unlike most of us, he can handle it- and well.  Karlage is, indeed, a rarity in the film industry with his combination of friendliness, creativity and dedication.  His production, The Farm, will most certainly make even the hardest to entertain, stand up and cheer; a frightening cinematic delight that it sure to please.  Karlage has come far, but doesn’t plan to stop here.  His hardworking ways and determination will take him to places many others in the industry only dream about.  With his creative and brilliant mind forever churning, Karlage has no reason to hang his hats up anytime soon.

For more information on Rocky Karlage and his work, please view the following sites:

http://thefarmfilm.com/

http://ghostwalkproductions.com/

www.blogtalkradio.com/ghostwalk

www.linkedin.com/in/rockyohio

http://hauntedpath.com

www.facebook.com/littlegirllilly

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: articleimg, featured, Film

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files- Keeping it Real with Ben Hansen

November 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For over 20 years, I have been investigating the unknown.  With that said, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to paranormal television.  Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of entertaining and smartly written series out there to watch.  However, I do believe that some are beginning to overlap and meld together a little too much.  Personally, I wanted something fresh and different in this genre.  On July 15, 2010, my paranormal prayers were answered.

Fact or Faked:  Paranormal Files is a uniquely developed concept admist the more “typically done” shows on the unexplained.  Fact or Faked isn’t just about a group of ghost hunters who go out and simply film their investigations in the darkened corridors of old, abandoned buildings.  There’s a whole lot more to this series.  In each episode, a team of paranormal experts review various viral videos and photographs which may possess unexplainable and strange phenomenon.  The videos and photos are mostly submitted to the team, although some of the footage is searched out by the show via the Internet.  The team, led by former FBI agent Ben Hansen, looks over the photos and videos in the hope of finding whether they might be faked, or possibly authentic, paranormally speaking.  If the footage is deemed worthy enough for further investigation, the team will then travel to the destination at hand (which may be out of the country, in some cases) to try and replicate the paranormal activity reported.  The group will also attempt to test out various theories through experiments to see if the phenomenon was manipulated in any way.  Once the testing is complete, the members will discuss their findings back at their headquarters in Los Angeles.   When investigating, the team of six will divide into two seperate groups, allowing coverage of more than one case.  For instance, three members of the team may take on a UFO case out in a Nevada desert, while the remaining few will visit a notoriously haunted bed and breakfast in Vermont.  In the end, all members will share what they have learned on their cases with one another in what is called The Situation Room.

On a show such as Fact or Faked:  Paranormal Files, good teamwork is crucial for obtaining significant research and evidence.  I recently was given the great honor of catching up wiht the show’s team leader, Ben Hansen.  Hansen enthusiastically discussed his role within the group, and how his esteemed colleagues help make the show so successful.  Jael de Pardo is a journalist, Bill Murphy acts as a lead scientist, Austin Porter is the stunt expert, while Lanisha Cole offers her expertise in photography and Devin Marble gives support as a tech specialist.  The team meshes well, and brings forth good chemistry and harmonious cohesion.  Cole and Marble are the team’s newer members, replacing former photographer, Chi-Lan Lieu, and effects specialist, Larry Caughlan, Jr.  According to Hansen, team members sometimes need to move on and so they must be prepared to let go and bring in new experts as needed.  “We have open calls for new members all the time.  You just never know when someone will need to leave, and so we are always looking for new additions to the team,” explains Hansen.  Cole, the newest member this season, was the perfect fit in the area of photography.  Hansen states, “She always has a camera with her.  It’s great for a lot of behind-the-scene photos we are doing right now.”

Though some team members have come and gone, Hansen has no intention, himself, of leaving anytime soon.  He loves where he’s at in regards to the show, and is looking forward to Season 3 with great anticipation.  For Hansen, this is a dream job.  “I have had a life-long interest in the paranormal,” confides the team leader.  When Hansen was a child, he started to become passionate about the unknown, especially after watching a certain movie.  “I was around eight-years-old and I watched E.T.  After I saw it, I laid awake that night thinking about life on other planets.  My dad bought me a book on extraterrestrials, but I hid it.  I thought it was geeky, and I was embarrassed to show anyone else the book.  I also very much became inspired by UFOs because of my grandfather.  He worked at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.  Later on, while I was in college, I got into ghost hunting.  I would go out on ghost investigations and it was then that I got my first EVP.  I guess I probably should have been studying instead,” Hansen says with a chuckle.  Post college, Hansen started working in law enforcement and investigated child sex crimes, among other things.  “I love criminal investigations,” states the former FBI agent.  “I always watched X-Files when I was growing up, so I thought, ‘Why can’t I do both?’”  Hansen further states that he uses many of the same skills on Fact or Faked that he did while working in the FBI.  He considers interviewing witnesses to be one of his strengths while investigating.  “After doing an analysis of a video, I need to talk to the witness or the source.  Replication of the video only gets you so far,” explains Hansen.

I asked the show’s leader what is the one place he would love to investigate that he hasn’t had a chance to as of yet.  “I would go to Roswell.  I am really into UFOs, and it would be amazing to investigate there,” answers Hansen.  “There is a supposed autopsy video of an alien at Roswell.”  Now, that would be quite a piece of footage for the team to review!

So, what does it take for Hansen and his team to analyze their submitted videos and photos back at their California base? “First off, I don’t like the word, ‘debunk;’ instead, I like to use the phrase, ‘verifying paranormal claims.’  As far as what to look for in footage, well, that’s a good question.  The human mind has different levels of intellect.  The mind can only keep track of four variables, including logic and emotion.  To me, if I look at something and it just doesn’t feel right, then I break it apart logically.  Then, there are the signs of c.g. (computer graphics) and there are also the psychological aspects.  If I see a video where the camera is set to a certain spot in a room, to me, it looks like the person filming may be staging something; by getting the viewer to look in a specific area, as if something will be happening there.  Also, majority of hoaxing videos are brought to us and not the other way around.  If we go searching the Internet for footage, it’s different.  If someone seeks us out to show their video, it very well could be faked.”

When it comes to hoaxes, some can be quite involved and elaborate.  One case, in particular, comes to mind for Hansen.  “On our show one of the most amazing hoaxes was that of the Dr. Jonathan Reed alien case out of Washington.  We still get comments from Reed’s group, and he is still striving to revisit his case.  What amazes me is the extent he goes through to talk about it,” states Hansen.  Reed is infamous for his tales of alien encounters.  Many in the field consider him to be a showman of sorts, and even worse, a fraud.  Apparently, as one of Reed’s stories go, he was once walking through a quiet Washington forest with his dog.  Suddenly, the dog became spooked and broke loose from his leash.  Reed tries to chase after his pet, but can’t get to him.  Eventually, he discovers a gruesome scene.  Reed’s beloved pet is being ripped apart from limb to limb by an alien-like creature, only a couple of feet away.  Reed runs up to the creature and smacks it on the head with a large stick, knocking it to the ground causing it to bleed.  Soon after, Reed sees a floating object, much like a spaceship, that measures  3 feet by 2 feet.  In addition, after the dog died, Reed claims that the alien turned its bloodied body into ash.  So, he grabs a video camera and starts filming everything going on around him.  Meanwhile, Reed starts vomiting in the background, and can be heard breathing heavily on camera.  He then takes the alien back to his house, wraps it in a blanket, and puts it in a freezer.  Shortly after, Reed decides to take a nap but is too restless to sleep.  He goes back over to the alien body and starts to film once again.  Most who view the footage adamantly believe it to be nothing more than a hoax, albeit an elaborate one.  Some disagree, however, and claim the video to be legit, noting the convincing blinking of the alien’s eyes in one scene.

Hansen believes that paranormal hoaxers have been around for centuries.  Doctored photographs of spirits and ectoplasmic images were commonly seen during the Victorian Era.  “This was like an early version of Photoshop,” laughs Hansen.

Though there are plenty of fakes out there, Hansen also notes that there are videos and photographs that just cannot be explained, especially some of which are seen on Fact or Faked:  Paranormal Files.  “I like the cases that leave me perplexed, including one that will be seen in the spring season.  It’s about a woman in the U.K. who disappeared.  It involves alien abduction.  I can’t really say too much about it, but you do know now that I never could understand the case and I am still intrigued by it,” confides the investigator.

As mentioned earlier in this passage, some footage needs a more detailed investigation, which warrants a visit to the actual site where the activity was experienced or recorded.  Theories need to be tested in order to ensure the evidence filmed is indeed, authentic.  Scientific gadgets and impressive pieces of equipment are used during this part of the research process.  Everything from inflatable spaceships to high-tech thermal cameras are utilized, and many of these devices are worthy of a James Bond movie.  Team members must be prepared for just about anything when investigating a para-claim.  So, how do these guys think of such involved and highly detailed theories and experiments?  “A lot of what you see is through our viewers’ suggestions which are found online.  We try out their ideas, even if the experiments seem over-the-top and ridiculous,” explains Hansen.  “We’ve even called Disney before for information on holograms.”

When the team is not looking for mermaids or is busy searching out life on other planets, they are spending time with people who love them best- their fans.  For Hansen, meeting fans face-to-face is his other great passion.  “I love to break away from filming and meet my fans.  This brings me satisfaction.”  Hansen and his teammates get to visit their Fact or Faked fans at a variety of national paranormal conventions set up throughout the year, and also by organizing ghost hunts with the public.  Hansen, and sometimes other members from the team, will host paranormal investigations and allow their fans to participate.  One of Hansen’s last ghost hunts was at the very haunted Ft. Mifflin in Pennsylvania.  Hansen has worked with the cast of the hit show, Ghost Hunters, and is planning a large investigation set for March with Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango.  Sometimes Hansen leads his public investigations alone, while other times he will join forces with other team members or paranormal celebrities.  “It really depends on the size of the event ultimately,” states Hansen.  “We love bringing the investigations to our fans and allowing them the the chance to learn.”  Participating on an investigation with highly skilled researchers such as Hansen, is a truly great way to gain experience and insight as a paranormal investigator.

Though many aspects of the paranormal are not fully understood, and we often encounter numerous faked or hoaxed pieces of evidence in the field, one thing is for certain-Hansen and his team of experts are the real deal.  Knowledgable, credible and highly professional, the cast of Fact or Faked:  Paranormal Files  is one to be watched for many more seasons to come… and that, after all, is a fact.

Fact or Faked:  Paranormal Files  can be seen on the SyFy Channel on Wednesday nights, 10/9c.

There are only two weeks left of Season 2, so catch these last great episodes while you can!

 

If you would like to connect with Ben Hansen, look for him on Twitter at BenHansen00.  Or, you can become a fan of Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files by going onto syfy.com/factorfaked/twitter.  If on Facebook, you may look for Ben Hansen or go to www.facebook.com/FactOrFaked   

If you would like to make arrangements to do a ghost investigation with Ben Hansen, please contact Kim Rebman at penkavak@yahoo.com for more details. 

For more information on the show or if you are interested in submitting a video or photograph to the team, please visit www.syfy.com.     

Photos for this story were granted by NBC Universal.  Copyright 2011 NBC Universal, All Rights Reserved.

Filed Under: articleimg, featured, TV

Actress Cindy Morgan: Dancing Gophers, Computer Graphics, and Everything in Between

September 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Her sexy poolside strut made men of all ages swoon. She knew how to make computers and Sci-Fi seem sexy.

Actress Cindy Morgan, who portrayed Lacey Underall in the classic 1980 comedy, Caddyshack, and starred as dual characters, Lora/Yori in the original Tron, is still just as radiant today as she ever was.

Yet, Morgan is so much more than just a pretty face.  I recently had the extreme honor of catching up with the actress and found her to be an absolute delight to talk with.  Confident, down-to-earth, intelligent and beautifully genuine describe Morgan well.

Born in the great town of Chicago, Illinois to Polish and German parents, Morgan was just the girl-next-door.  She attended Catholic school and eventually went on to college, becoming the first in her family to do so.  While at Northern Illinois University, Morgan studied communications.  During her collegiate years, she played records on the radio.  And when a local station wanted Morgan to report the news for them, a change had to be made.  Originally born as Cynthia Ann Cichorski, the Midwestern coed took on the name Cindy Morgan.  Morgan was inspiration from the tale of Morgan le Fay, who was King Arthur’s half sister; a book she read as a child.

Post graduation, Morgan took on a job reporting the weather for a local television station, but also kept her hand in radio by working the graveyard shift at a rock station.  She later began working at auto shows, which brought Morgan coast-to-coast.  It was then that she decided to move out to Los Angeles, and in 1978, became the Irish Spring girl.  With her fresh-faced look, it was easy to see why Morgan was cast for such a job.  While the blonde beauty spent time doing television advertisements, she also studied acting.  It wasn’t long after that Morgan landed her first big screen role in one of the funniest movies of all time.

First time director, Harold Ramis, began working on a comedy called Caddyshack.  The film featured many big name actors and was inspired by writer Brian Doyle-Murray and his memories of working as a caddy back in Winnetka, Illinois.  Bill and John Murray, in addition to Ramis, were also caddies back in the day and were able to bring forth their stories to the making of the movie.  The comedy and its colorful characters were based on real-life golfers and caddies through the eyes of Ramis and the Murray brothers.

Ramis decided to film Caddyshack on a golf course in Davie, Florida even though the story was to be set in the Midwest.  The South Florida course was picked as it did not have any palm trees and was far away from California.

From gopher puppets to unscripted dialogue, there was quite a bit of insanity on the set of Caddyshack, as Morgan recalls.

The film starred actors Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, as well as stand-up comedian, Rodney Dangerfield.  With an all-star cast, one could only assume that a young actress in her first big film would be a bit nervous.  According to Morgan, she distanced herself from the actors before the movie was even set to be filmed.  “I just stopped watching their work so that I wouldn’t be intimidated,” confided the actress.  By refusing to watch Chase and Murray, in particular, Morgan didn’t feel as flustered walking into filming that first day.  She merely introduced herself to the men, made friends and began working.

From day one on the set of Caddyshack, there was a whole lot of crazy.  Ramis was inexperienced as a director and it sometimes showed.  {Bill} Murray was on production just six days, and all of his lines went unscripted.  For the climatic golf course explosions which appeared at the end of the film, things didn’t go quite as predicted.  The massive fire balls were not approved by the country club owners because they feared the golf course would be badly damaged.  Movie producers were eventually able to convince the club owners to attend an off-site meeting, and it was then that the Caddyshack crew set off the explosions.  In addition, the golf course was near the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, and after the explosives went off, an incoming pilot reported what he believed to be a crashed plane.  Little did he know that it was one of the most famous scenes of Caddyshack coming together.

The silliness in front of the cameras also existed behind the cameras as well.  The cast of Caddyshack partied throughout the wee hours of the morning, only for them to wake up a few hours later to film.  Some members of the crew drove around in golf carts late at night on the course.  That is, until the keys were taken away from them.  However, that hardly stopped the crazy antics.  The cast and crew soon learned how to hotwire the carts.

Morgan’s first time being filmed for Caddyshack was a bit of a challenge.  The famous pool scene with the diving board was daunting, especially since Morgan is legally blind without glasses and contacts.  Hardly a swimmer, forget a diver, Morgan feared the worst.  “One month before filming I had to take all kinds of lessons, including swimming.  I couldn’t have my contact lens in for the scene, and so I had to literally climb the ladder blind.  I walked out on the board and saw nothing,” recalled the actress.

Her second scene wasn’t any easier.  “I had to film the nude scene.  I had never done anything like that before.  I was in Catholic school and was the Irish Spring girl!  I was suddenly told that a Playboy photographer would be coming out to do a shoot of the scene.  I was furious, so I contacted my agent and he said, “Honey, you’re not a doe-eyed girl from the Midwest, handle it.”  Morgan remembered that many people were standing in the room during the scene, making it even more uncomfortable.  “I stopped the filming and cleared the set,” stated the actress.  With her contract on the line, and the possibility of not ever being able to work again, the strong-minded Morgan fought for her right as a woman in the film industry in 1979.  “They ended up sending in the photographer, but no shoot was done.  I’m from Chicago, and let’s just say my broadcasting background came in handy.  I stood my ground and I’m hard-headed.  No one was going to win that battle.  That was the day Lacey became Lacey.”

When I spoke with Morgan I asked her what her favorite scene was in the movie.  Without any hesitation she stated it was the infamous piano scene opposite Chevy Chase.  According to the actress, many scenes in Caddyshack were improvised and unscripted.  The piano scene was no exception, which was set at the house of Ty Webb, Chase’s character.  “Harold Ramis told me to sit down at the piano next to Chevy.  He said, ‘Sing me a love song.’  Next thing I know, I look over and see the cameras are on and rolling.  I thought, ‘Oh my God, they’re shooting this!’,” exclaimed Morgan.  Needless to say, the piano scene was never set to be in the movie at all and everything involved was improvised, from the singing to the tequila.  It was also at this point in the film that Morgan and Chase were butting heads.  The two had had a fight just prior to the scene.  The atmosphere was indeed tense.  “I was mad at him {Chase}.  He was challenging me, even while the cameras were rolling, and pressing buttons,” recalled Morgan.  Filming the massage scene in Ty’s bedroom was not the least bit relaxing for the actress.  “We filmed in the middle of a Florida summer.  It was really hot; my make-up kept running because I was sweating so bad.  Chevy just kept trying to make me mad.  He spilled all that oil on my back on purpose; it wasn’t in the script.  When I blurted out suddenly, ‘You’re crazy,’ that was genuine.”  For Morgan, her relationship with Chase was “love-hate.”  When things between the two were good, well, they were really good.  Chase helped Morgan on the set at times and was a friend.  “I loved all my scenes with Chevy.  He is a comic genuis,” fondly stated Morgan.  But when things were bad, well, let’s just say the actress had to watch her back… literally.

After Caddyshack, Morgan got the role of Dr. Lora Baines/Yori in the original Tron, which was released in 1982.  Actor Jeff Bridges portrayed Kevin Flynn in the film.  Dr. Baines was the computer programmer or “User” of Yori, who was part of the digital world.  Tron was a Disney film and one of the first of its kind with state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects.  Its amazing visuals and talented cast made it a box office success.  It became a cult favorite and later turned into a massive franchise.  Tron achieved movie making history, as it was the first computer generated film.  Acting in this type of movie wasn’t always easy.  There were a couple of times that Morgan had difficulty visualizing objects or settings that weren’t actually there, but said she got through it all with the help of her amazing colleagues.  “I worked with great actors.  The reality of it all was in each other’s eyes,” explained Morgan.  In 2010, TRON: Legacy was released, and to many fans great dismay, Morgan was not in the returning cast.  Therefore, an online campaign, Yori Lives!, was started up by these very same fans in order to bring Morgan’s character, Yori, back to life once again.  It has proven quite successful and Morgan cannot thank her supporters enough.  And because of the campaign, Morgan makes appearances all over the U.S. at various conferences and expos signing autographs and doing “meet and greets” for her Tron followers.  Morgan is greatly humbled by this and tells me it is a tremendous honor to be so loved.

In addition to both films, Caddyshack and Tron, Morgan has appeared on numerous television shows over the years.  She has starred on Chips, The Fall Guy, The Love Boat and Matlock, just to name a few.  Jane Wyman, aka Angela Channing, was Morgan’s co-star on the popular 1980 series, Falcon Crest.  Morgan greatly enjoyed working with Wyman and has some very special memories of her.  When asked if Morgan had a favorite television show she acted on, she quickly answered with Bring ‘Em Back Alive.   The adventure series, which appeared on television back in the early 80s, starred Morgan and her co-stars Bruce Boxleitner and Ron O’Neal.  “I loved that show.  I did my best work with Bring ‘Em Back Alive,” fondly stated the actress.

Morgan has done more than just acting.  In 1995, she was the associate producer for three television movies:  Out There, Dead Weekend, and Amanda and the Alien.

In 2003, Morgan supplied her voice for the Tron 2.0 PC game, and in 2006 she was the voice of Emily S. Preston in Night Traveler, a multimedia adventure series.

Today, the very talented and motivated Morgan is working on a book about her experiences in acting, specifically while on the set of Caddyshack.  A definite must-read for the movie’s fans, much like myself.  And until the book is released, be sure to check your television guide for Bio Channel’s Caddyshack: The Inside Story.  The documentary features some of the cast and their experiences on the set.  Filming secrets are exposed and many humorous stories are recounted.  Morgan is interviewed in the documentary, sharing her own personal memories of the movie.  Once Morgan’s book is published, she plans to go back into radio.  When not writing or traveling to conferences, Morgan spends time at her home in Florida.

She is also passionate about charity events, such as ones which support the U.S. military.  Morgan’s father fought in WWII.  In 2006, she headed the Caddyshack Reunion Golf Tournament at the Willow Crest Golf Club in her home state of Illinois.  The tournament reunited some of the original Caddyshack cast along with other various celebrities.  It was done for a good cause as it raised funds and awareness to benefit the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, an organization to help families of the National Guard and reservists on active duty.

One thing in particular that I picked up on while talking to Morgan was that she has a very kind and genuine nature.  The loyal actress adores all of her fans and supporters.  She attends conferences and expos across the nation to sign autographs, take pictures and talk.  Whether those waiting in line to meet Morgan are followers of her character, Yori from Tron, or those who knew and loved her as Lacey Underall in Caddyshack, she is there for each and every one of them.  In addition to her meet and greets, Morgan also enjoys chatting with her fans via social media sites, such as Facebook.

Personally, I’m a Caddyshack fan.  I most likely have seen the movie nearly a hundred times.  I must admit, when younger, I wanted to be like Lacey.  She was sexy, confident and had great style.  She was always, without a doubt, one of my favorite characters in the film.   I asked Morgan how she feels when she watches herself in the classic comedy.  “It was really hard for me to watch in the beginning.  I was very critical of myself, saying things like, ‘I wish I had done that line differently.’  It’s easier to watch now though.  I was very lucky to have been a part of that movie.”

Although Morgan may no longer enjoy skinny skiing or going to bullfights on acid, there is a part of her that still embodies Lacey.  And, even if the actress did not reprise her beloved role in TRON: Legacy, Yori does still live on.  Morgan’s positive attitude and fearless nature keeps the characters of her past, strong within her soul.

A big thanks goes out to Ms. Cindy Morgan for taking the time to do this wonderful interview with me for The Expressionist Magazine.  It was an honor to have such an opportunity.

***For more information on the actress, please visit her website at www.Cindy-Morgan.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: articleimg, Celebrities, featured

Interview with Sunshine and Bullets

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Interviewed and Written by Rose Gear

Sunshine and Bullets… who are they?  Simply put, they are one of the coolest bands of all time; a rock fanatic’s dream. Sunshine and Bullets brings a new sound to rock music that’s itching to be heard. They are made up of three powerful performers: Rich Keane, the singer and guitarist, Amanda Hamers, singer and bassist, and the drummer Kyle Wolfman. I had the amazing opportunity to talk to these National Recording Artists on what they love, how their album’s going, and the general life of Sunshine and Bullets.

Expressionist Magazine: How did Sunshine and Bullets get together and decide to make music?

Amanda: We all knew each other through different bands and different projects and it was something new to try.

Expressionist Magazine: How did you decide on the name Sunshine and Bullets?

Rich: We were all going through names. Then suddenly I shot out “bullets of sunshine.” Amanda goes, why don’t we change it around since it sounds like “bullet for my sunshine.” Then that was that, it became Sunshine and Bullets.

Expressionist Magazine: Do you guys have an inspiration or someone you look up to in music?

Rich: Yeah, for guitar players it would be Jimi Hendrix, Mike Einziger from Incubus, and Joe Perry from Aerosmith. For vocalists it would be Brandon Boyed from Incubus and Pete Loeffler from Chevelle.

Kyle: Morgan Rose, Jose Pasillas the drummer for Incubus, and anybody who makes me move.

Amanda: For a bass player it would be Emma Anzai from Sick Puppies, and singer Gwen Stefani.

Expressionist Magazine: How does it feel for your first album to come out?

Kyle: It’s exciting! Pretty tough in the works, but it’s definitely a learning experience. I mean, we were actually in the studio and fans enjoy our work. It took a lot to complete, but it is a good feeling and it spreads like fire!

Expressionist Magazine: What’s the first album Fight for Andromeda about?

Rich: It’s not random. It’s like a theme. CD titles equal code names, kind of like Nine Inch Nails. We thought we should code name ours too. We hired some guy to record us and he took our money.  We ended up recording in a better studio, but unfortunately the hard drive died that contained all of our music. We had to retake all the music. It was a heartbreaker incident, but there was a lot of passion and emotion in the album, which lead to the code name for the title.

 

Expressionist Magazine: What is your favorite song from the album?

Rich: “When We Fall”

Amanda: “Style,” because it’s fun to play!

Kyle: “If You Only Knew”

 

Expressionist Magazine: In general how does the whole process of making a song go?

Kyle: It depends on the mood. We start with lyric ideas and melodic ideas then go from there. Vocals and melodies are first, then drums.

 

Expressionist Magazine: If you had to choose, what is the most favorite place you have played so far?

Keith: CW Network’s The Daily Buzz on television.

Amanda: The State Theater.  I had a connection with the theater before I was in the band.

Rich: The State Theater. They hire real professionals. I also like Corkees because they have the best sounding bar.
Expressionist Magazine: Do you guys plan on doing this for the rest of your life?

Rich: We would love to! It has to be the right person to hear our stuff and give it the old English try, and to take the risk! We’re willing to go forth.

 

Expressionist Magazine: Do you guys work while being in a band?

Rich: Yeah, full time jobs.

 

Expressionist Magazine: If you could go on tour with any band in the world, who would you choose?

Rich: System of a Down, Perfect Circle, and Metallica

Amanda: Foo Fighters!

Kyle: Carnival, from Australia. They are incredible live!

 

Expressionist Magazine: Do you guys have a favorite rock magazine?

Amanda: Used to be Rolling Stone…

Rich: Used to be Rolling Stone, too…

Kyle:  Drum Magazine.

 

Expressionist Magazine: What is your band’s favorite place to hang out?

 

Amanda: A venue called Corkees. We hang out there before and after the show. Fun place to hang out! It has really good hot wings, too!

 

 

Expressionist Magazine: You have awesome style, Amanda! Where do you shop?

 

Amanda: I am blessed to have two sisters and a mother. I shop from their closet!

 

 

Expressionist Magazine: What’s the most memorable moment your band has had together?

 

Rich: The first show; it started it all.

Amanda: On live television; we were on the CW Network’s The Daily Buzz!

Kyle: When we go out, hang out, it’s always an adventure.

 

If you want to learn more about Sunshine and Bullets, check out their website below:

http://www.sunshineandbullets.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: articleimg, Bands & Singers, featured Tagged With:

Ted Mikulski: Artist for the New Millenium

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

At age twenty-five, I am proud to say that I am a product of the digital generation. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise defined my childhood as easily as Nintendo games and the Walt Disney Corporation. With mass-produced commercialism and computerization at the helm of our cultural and personal development, it seems that everything has been done and is ready to move over for the next “big thing.” Twenty-seven year-old abstract artist Ted Mikulski acknowledges this and embraces it, as both a challenge and an opportunity to upgrade visual art while still holding on to the aesthetics of yesteryears.

 

Me: It’s great to have you back on The Expressionist…I read on your blog that you recently went to Europe. What sort of impact did such an experience have on you artistically?

TM: My fiancée and I went to…Greece, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, and England. It was something I never experienced before; you draw tremendous inspiration from old-world masters…There wasn’t much contemporary work but so many old-world works. Since I teach art I know these works [from textbooks], so being able to see it was phenomenal. There are subtle nuances that you don’t catch.

 

I think it reiterates the fact that art should be something of time and historical value. The quality of my work has to be tip-top and continue to explore different avenues. I was in a natural history museum in Dublin, for example. Old-world building, with preserved animals and skeletons…so I started thinking of sculptures with fabricated bones…that kind of inspiration you can’t get anywhere else.

Me: What did you bring back with you philosophically to use for your own pieces?

TM: I think philosophically I was blown away by these, especially Italy. I was blown away by Renaissance artists, even old works from Greece and Rome. The whole point of Rome was to be remembered and that’s why contemporary artists do what we do; we want to live on. We’re in a creative field based on the fact that we can be remembered. It’s about the longevity of your creation…it’s reinforced why I do what I do and continues to keep me motivated.

Me: From what I saw on your blog, street art in Iceland is quite creative and insightful. How does it compare to American expression?

TM: Iceland was beautiful…I’m a big street art fan; I was [blown] away by the fact that Europe has a much longer artistic history, and America’s a very young country. I think the appreciation for art is there. They don’t mind having public art, they don’t clean it up…we give graffiti art it’s legal laws but it’s not really accomplishing anything…If we had any aesthetic towards street art I think it would thrive here in the States.

Me: Did you draw any graffiti?

TM: I continued a project called Tweets for Life. I’ll find interesting quotes from people and it’ll coincide with people in real environment. I type them and print them up on sticky paper so I can stick them in random places. I did that in Greece, Italy, in grocery stores…on shopping carts.

 

Me: There are a lot of video game icons and cartoon characters in what you call, “Potpourri,” or “Random Works of Awesomeness.” As a member of the current generation, I really liked these works and loved seeing these characters presented in such a creative and personal way. What sort of significance do these works have on your overall art? Do you feel they’re deeply relevant or are they simply just fun to draw?

TM: There’s so much behind them, it’s the memories from when you were a kid. It’s interesting, all these capitalists making money has become personal, lifelong memories for us. I think being…27, and growing up in the early 90s and late 80s, I think for my generation these are the heights of capitalism, for these icons to be burned in our brains. All that stuff, not only is it funny to me cause it brings back memories, but also an ability to inspire from it. I love abstraction; [it] can also be humorous. I love humor and I love comedy.

 

Me: Bearing these pieces in mind, do you feel that technology is detrimental to visual art?

TM: That’s a really good question. I think technology has been great for visual art. Artists choose not to embrace it properly, [but] as artists we’ve been using new technology. Now we have bits from new media…I can look up great pieces of art anytime, from anywhere. Disconnect comes when people get distracted by it. When they could be looking at art they’re looking at videos of cats playing the piano…It’s a great way for artists to be seen like never before, but you have to be careful with what you’re doing online to have it matter.

Me: Do you think the Internet could move art forward, or is it setting it back?

TM: It could absolutely move it forward! Revolutions happen through YouTube and Blitz. I think to ignore that as an artist is very silly. The world we used to live in, you know, hang out in studio, work really hard, and then someone in a suit comes in and says, “You’re the next big thing.” It’s not like that anymore; you need to be out there marketing yourself.

Me: People have to sell themselves.

TM: You have to be your own personal cheerleader. Recession weeds out what artists will and won’t be here. Doing art once in a while is one thing; for those who want to be full-time it’s harder than ever.

 

Me: Many of your pieces have a 3-dimensional quality to them. Is this method of painting inspired by our generation’s demand for media to literally pop! or is this more from your architectural background?

TM: Great question; I think it might be a combination of both. I think, for me…this generation demands more than ever. They can go to museums and be bored by technical art. [They] demand higher standards; dimension has to be there. I’m producing sculptured works and 3-D works; for me it’s more grabbing and more expressing. The “paint” has been done billions of times in history and it’s time to be exploring different materials and…be completely expressive.

 

Me: Of all the forms of art most Americans don’t understand, I feel as though abstract art has the worst reputation. Most feel it is someone simply throwing random paint on a canvas and saying, “Here, now pay me.” How would you describe your abstract work to someone with this opinion?

TM: I think that’s understandable. A lot of it has to do with money. We have really simple art in the modern era from the 50s and 60s where people would paint a square in the middle of the paper and now they’re worth $10 million. I think it offends people in a lot of ways. I think…if money wasn’t involved, they wouldn’t get so offended.

[But] I think it’s the most pure form of art. If you’re going to paint still-life, you’re just re-representing what’s out there. Abstraction is ultimate; there are no preconceptions of what you’re seeing, you’re inventing it, creating it, starting it.

Me: I personally love that abstraction shows the raw emotion behind a subject rather than just the subject itself.

TM: For a lot of people that’s hard to except, that art is just emotion. The subject is the canvas, color, movement, it’s not deciphering a person or a car or a tree. Most people have a difficult time doing that and it involves education and conversation. They won’t spend time looking or thinking. Abstraction’s still fairly young; it’s still 70 to 80 yrs. It may be a matter of time before abstraction is up there.

Me: Do you think it will be?

TM: I hope so. I’m a huge supporter of it obviously. I think a lot of artists gravitate towards it; it’s freeing media, and some people do buy it.

 

Me: Do you give yourself any rules with your abstract work? Many of your pieces, though wild, are pretty comprehensive compared to other works. How do you decide what to channel and what tools to use in the wake of such a loose form?

TM: In many ways, I have concept of color and feeling and what the basic premise of the piece is. When I first started I went with how I felt, and if it came out good I was happy. I’ve been doing it for years and [now] I have a better idea of how things will work. It’s become more of a scientific process, then the emotions come through. That’s when you really get free and start working on it…with abstraction you combine so much paint, action, movement; it takes a part of you with it. I think most artists feel that way.

Me: I like the car you have posted on your website. What drove you (author’s note: pun intended) to paint your car?

TM: (laughs) I got bored with cars always being a same idea. [A] huge part of American society, all solid colors. It doesn’t seem natural to me; I just decided I would start drawing on my car. Of course people were warning me against it, you know: resale value will go down, insurance will go up, [I would] be getting pulled over every five seconds. But then I thought, why worry about it? If I did, I wouldn’t have [become] an artist in the first place! So I stripped the clear coat, a friend at a body shop helped me…I drew it with paint pens, then covered it with another clear coat…It gets attention everywhere, definitely a conversation piece. People going about their daily lives, doing the same thing over and over, then they see my car and it’s a break from all the [monotony]. When routine is broken by a few seconds of art, it can be pretty powerful.

Me: Cars are a vital part of our world; they help us go about our daily lives and become a part of us personally. Why, do you think, more people don’t personalize their vehicles?

TM: Well it’s time-consuming; mine took over 180 hours. People get scared to make cars individual; they’re an expensive investment. It lacks a certain flair and human ability. They’re all manufactured, we know what they all look like; there’s no surprises. It makes life pretty mundane. Putting art on a car seems such a great thing, to have a rolling piece of art can be a powerful thing. I do drive it all the time.

Me: So when can you paint my car?

TM: (laughs) I want to paint another car. I’ve had a few close offers for motorcycles. I do by hand with paint pens, so it takes time and effort. It also takes the right person to want to commit to it.

Me: Do you paint on other kinds of products?

TM: I draw on everything. We live in manufactured worl; nothing has that personal touch, nothing is hand-made or really special. I add art to whatever I can and do it in some way that’s really meaningful. Everyone’s determined to keep things pristine and factory-fresh. I think people are afraid.

Me: What do you see on the horizon of your artistic future?

TM: I think there’s a lot going on. I have a solo show in NYC next year, an amazing accomplishment. For me, my work will continue in complexity and if quality doesn’t continue to go up, they should stop. Quality should be a staple, you want to have quality in what you make. I’m just going to continue in longevity…trying to one-up myself. Whether or not I can afford it, it doesn’t matter, art deserves to evolve.

Me: Do you have anything you’d like to share with artists and would-be consumers?

TM: I think art deserves to be seen and it deserves to be appreciated. I want to expose my art to as many people as possible. I think for art lovers and admirers…if you love my work that’s great, but continue to seek out other artists. It should be up there with music and film and be important in everyone’s lives. Artists are some of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met…I think, to have a following, is a nice touch to all the hard work. People think artists want to do it for themselves but they…deserve the recognition for all their efforts.

 

 

Filed Under: Art, articleimg, featured

Niki Taylor: Defying the Odds

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The glamorous life of a supermodel is one I could only dream of having.  Jet setting all around the world; sipping expensive champagne from crystal flutes; waking up each and every day with my own team of hair and make-up artists at my bedside; earning thousands of dollars just to smile pretty in front of a camera.  Ah yes, sounds quite alright to me.

For Niki Taylor, life as a supermodel wasn’t always golden.

Niki, who started professional modeling at only fourteen,  was forced into growing up well before her time.  A mother of twin boys by the young age of twenty, and a divorcee just two short years later.  She suffered a heart-wrenching loss and nearly lost her own life.  Cosmopolitan once quoted Niki saying, “I may be 23, but I feel like 50.”

Born March 5, 1975 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nicole Renee “Niki” Taylor was destined to make it big in the modeling world.  The blonde beauty with the sparkling eyes and broad, blinding white smile had the perfect “All American Girl” look.  While most high school freshmen girls were just tyring to fit in with their surroundings and find acceptance among their peers, fourteen-year-old Taylor already had a highly successful career as a supermodel.  She became the youngest model to earn a cosmetics contract.  At the tender age of sixteen, Niki signed a multimillion dollar deal with L’Oreal and then later on with CoverGirl.  The teen also won the title of being the youngest face to ever grace the cover of Vogue.  Niki had become one of the most recognizable faces in the industry.  “Modeling came naturally to me.  I was just a normal kid who’d fly to Paris or New York City for the shows, then go back to school as if it were what everyone did,” Niki once told Cosmopolitan.

The stunning model, daughter of Ken and Barbara Taylor, grew up in modest suburbia.  The Taylor family lived in Pembroke Pines, which was only about ten minutes from my childhood home and was only seconds away from my brother’s house.  With such close proximity to where I spent much of my time, I often found myself driving by the Taylor residence.  The grass was always a vibrant green and neatly manicured.  Most often there seemed to be a pick-up truck parked out front, and the house, which was nicely shaded by trees, looked happy and full of life.

Ken Taylor, Niki’s father, was an officer with the  Florida Highway Patrol, while mother Barbara worked as a real estate agent.  They eventually left their careers to be with Niki on her modeling jobs.  Joelle and Krissy, the other two Taylor daughters, were just as beautiful and personable as their supermodel sister.  However, Joelle never took to modeling.  Krissy, on the other hand, who was the youngest of the three girls, fell in love with photo shoots and runway.  So much so, she started up her own modeling career and even appeared on the cover of Seventeen with sister Niki.

Despite their glamorous career choice, Niki and Krissy kept grounded.  Friends described the girls as “down to earth” and “unaffected.”  Niki chose to remain close to her Florida home rather than relocate to New York City or Los Angeles.  Growing up near the Taylor girls, I often crossed paths with them when out with friends.  Niki and Krissy attended many of the same parties and social functions as I did.  And once I started college in Davie, Florida, I saw them even more.  We knew all the same people there and went to all the same places.  Krissy, a cowgirl at heart, hung out occasionally at the Davie rodeo; a popular site for all the local college kids, much like myself back in the day.  Niki, too, was often seen at the busiest spots in town.  There she’d be, enveloped by the prettiest and most well-liked girls, and of course, the cutest of boys.  The last time I ran into Niki, she was having dinner with friends at the local Bennigans.  I had just gotten into a fight with my worst enemy (now good friend) that night, and Niki was concerned.  That was just how she was.  She was a true friend to all, caring and selfless.

Life back then for the Taylor sisters was happy and virtually worry-free.  At nineteen, Niki met Matt Martinez, a hunky semi-pro football player.  The two fell in love and eloped.  Shortly after, Niki got pregnant with twin boys.  She gained over 70 pounds, but only three months after their birth, dropped the weight and went back to modeling.  Two years later, Matt and Niki ended their marriage in what was considered by many close to them as a “bitter divorce.”

Then, on July 2, 1995, Niki encountered her worst nightmare.  The young woman walked into her family’s Pembroke Pine home only to discover her beloved sister, Krissy, lying lifeless on the floor.  Niki frantically dialed 911, and Ken Taylor, tried with all his might to revive his daughter.  No one was able to help, however; Krissy had died.  She was only seventeen.  The youngest Taylor girl thought to have suffered a massive and fatal asthma attack, but later was found to have died from a hidden and rare heart condition known as Right Ventricular Dysplasia, or RVD.

Though devastated by the loss of her sister, Niki had to continue on with her own life, which meant motherhood and modeling.  Eventually the stress Niki had been trying to avoid for so long had caught up with her and she turned to prescription drugs such as Xanax and Vicodin.  Niki became depedent on the drugs and was often seen falling asleep while dining out at restaurants.  In February of 2001, the internationally known supermodel, checked herself into a Maryland rehab program, which lasted 28 days.

Niki decided it was best to cut back on her shoots and rather be with her twin boys.  Her emphasis at this point in her life was spending less time in front of the camera and more time as a mother.  And though her modeling career took the back burner, she still was seen as the most famous model of the time.  After all, it was then that Niki earned a coveted spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated and continued to work for CoverGirl as well as Nokia cell phones.

That spring, Niki got invited to visit a few of her friends in Atlanta, Georgia.  In the early morning hours of April 29, 2001, Niki almost lost her life.

James “Chad” Renegar, a stockbroker and a good friend of Niki’s, hit a utility pole while trying to retrieve a ringing cell phone in his car.  It is reported that at least one other passenger, aside from Niki, was traveling in the car at the time of the accident.  The weather that fateful morning in Atlanta was stormy, and the roads were wet, not to mention winding and curving.  Niki, was in the front passenger seat during the low impact crash.  The driver and passengers checked themselves and their car over, and realized they were all fine.  The car only had minor damage and no one seemed hurt or injured in any way.

All was well, or so the friends thought.

Once back on the road, Niki began feeling ill.  Her stomach started to hurt and within minutes, Niki was bent over in extreme pain.  She urged her friend to stop the car and pull over.  “I need to get out and walk around,” pleaded Niki.  By the time they stopped, the supermodel was overcome with pain and became dizzy upon exiting the car.  Collapsing into the wet grass, the last thing Niki could remember was the driver hovering over her and calling 911.  Niki blacked out completely.

The next thing she could recall were all the horrific and terrifying nightmares.  The images in her head still haunt her to this day.  “I was being chased and people were cutting me.  There were grizzly bears and people floating in a pool,” recounts Niki during an interview for the Bio Channel’s Celebrity Close Calls.  Not only were the visuals disturbing, but Niki felt extreme thirst and hunger.  “I saw the Devil trying to take over, and wanting my soul.”

Even after waking, Niki’s nightmares ceased to end.

“I wake up in the hospital then and see my mom and dad, doctors and pictures of my sons,” recalls Niki.  “I remember looking at them and feeling despair.  I wanted to get out of there.  I wanted to speak, but couldn’t.  I could look down and I saw tubes everywhere on my body, including a trach in my throat.”  More than anything, Niki felt paralyzed.  Without being able to speak and move, she had no way of communicating with those around her.  She couldn’t even hold a pen to write a simple note.  The doctor’s explained to Niki that she had been in the hospital for over a month; a total shock to the model who felt she had only been there for a mere moment.

As Niki’s story goes, after her friends called for help while she lay unconscious in the grass, paramedics rushed to the scene and took her to Grady Hospital.  Trauma surgeon, Jeffrey Nicholos had just begun his shift.  He didn’t have much hope for Niki; her prognosis was grim.  Within the first 24 hours, Niki had undergone three surgeries and had to have her blood volume replaced ten times, as she was bleeding profusely.

The next surgeon arrived.  Niki was barely clinging to life at this point.  In the hands of surgeon #2 was Niki’s liver, which had been torn in half.  Apparently, the seat belt which Niki had been wearing while in the car, cut her liver in two.  How ironic that something Niki depended upon that night for saving her life, could ultimately take it away. Niki flatlined; not once, but twice.  Doctors informed Ken and Barbara Taylor to start making funeral arrangements, and discussed moving Niki’s body.

Somehow though, Niki defied the odds.  No doubt there would still be plenty of challenges.  For three months, doctors had to keep Niki’s abdomen open from the breast bone down to the pelvic bone.  Her body only loosely strung together by a set of large stitches, necessary to do for all of her numerous surgeries.  According to Niki, the constant re-stitching and scrubbing of her abdomen was brutally painful.  No amount of morphine could help alleviate the extreme discomfort Niki felt.  She described these experiences as “excruiating.”

In total, Niki endured 41 surgeries in this three month time frame.  In Niki’s second month, she finally was able to write, but was still quite challenged.  She recalls it was very frustrating and could only make out a scribble.  Another hardship were all the heavy pain meds that Niki was on.  She was constantly drowsy and sedated.  The meds were necessary for proper healing.  For if Niki was in too much pain, her body would be unable to heal properly.

The ICU became Niki’s new home.  She spent months there, taking her delicate life day by day.

On her last day in recovery, Niki’s trach was removed.  This was one of her most profound moments while in the hospital.  Niki knew that having the trach taken out meant she was going to live; however, the experience was also physically intensive.  After the trach was removed, Niki recalls how strange it felt to take her first breath, unaided.

For the entire three month duration of Niki’s hospital stay, she never once was able to see her six-year-old twin boys, except in photographs.  Children under the age of ten were restricted from visiting in the ICU.  For Niki, her sons’ absence was “the most terrible thing.”  Niki says she is alive today because of her children.  She wanted to survive for them and the fight she made while in the hospital shows just how much she wanted to see her boys again.  While recovering, Barbara enlarged a few photos of her twins and taped them to the ceiling in Niki’s hospital room so they could be seen each time Niki opened her eyes.  When she could finally see her boys again in person, it was a most joyous moment.  “They ran to my bed; they had grown up so much,” smiled Niki.  “They gave me the motivation to fight.”

After months in the ICU with a sewn up abdomen, having endured numerous surgeries, receiving 100 units of blood and flatlining twice, Niki recovered.  Her once torn-in-half liver, regenerated itself completely.  The organ is the only one of its kind that can heal this way.

With severe liver damage, massive internal hemorraging and a shattered vertebra, no one expected Niki to live.  And during her three months in the hospital, anything that could’ve gone wrong, did.  Doctors never could explain how a low-impact car accident could result in such life-threatening injuries.  After all, Niki was wearing a seat belt, and the car’s estimated speed at the time of the accident was only 28 mph.  There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol influencing the driver’s system.  According to medical experts, only one out of ten could live through injuries of that magnitude.

Niki Taylor’s survival is, indeed, a miracle.

Ten years after the tragedy, Niki continues to model internationally and is now the mother of three, with a fourth on the way.  When not spending time with her children or walking the runways, Niki dedicates her efforts and passion to several charities such as Teen Driver Safety and the American Red Cross, which she fought for while appearing on the hit show, Celebrity Apprentice.

When Niki was asked how she beat the odds, she said there were a number of different factors involved.  “I got through the residual with a strong support system.  I am also thankful for good doctors and all the donated blood.”  And, of course, for Niki, her twins played a pivotal role in her recovery.  Niki knew she had to be strong and keep fighting on their behalf.  She also believed in the “power of prayer.”

Perhaps it just wasn’t Niki’s time to leave this Earth; God had other plans for her.  Or maybe, Krissy, Niki’s late sister, had something to do with her fate; heavenly intervention, if you will.

Today and everyday, Niki is reminded of her accident.  She still bears the physical scars.  For whenever she looks in a mirror when getting dressed, the memories of her nightmare penetrate her mind.  She remembers the pain, her helplessness, and her fear.  But with the bad, trickles in the good.  Niki knows just how incredibly lucky she is to be alive.  In her interview with Cosmopolitan Niki was quoted to have said, “I’ve been through a lot, but everything has been a learning experience.  It’s made me a much wiser, stronger person.”

Life is fragile, and no one understands that better than Niki Taylor- supermodel, mother and survivor.  The incredibly gracious Niki states, “Every day is a gift.”

Filed Under: articleimg, featured, Modeling Tagged With:

Kerrie Warren- Expressionism Through Paint

June 26, 2011 By 5 Comments

Expressionism is not your typical style of painting.  It allows the artist to do whatever they wish, without boundaries or limits.  There is no right or wrong to their work, just pure passion on canvas.

Some people see it as a variety of colors and nothing more, while others see something more defined and intense.  Either way, the work is awe-inspiring!

Today, the Expressionist Magazine sits down with Kerrie Warren, an Expressionist painter we found in Australia.  She’s halfway around the world, yet her work connects us all.

1. Tell us a little about yourself- where you are from, are you married, etc. (bio.)

I was born in Melbourne in 1968 and lived a ‘gypsy’ type lifestyle with my younger brother and sister, regularly moving from place to place.  My parents had grand ambitions and fresh ideas with each move so I remember it was always exciting to pack up, but emotionally torturous walking into the next ‘new school’.

To date, I’ve moved 34 times (including caravans) but like a tree I’ve grown roots here in Crossover (Victoria, Australia) with my husband Chris, two beautiful dogs, Garth and Tess, and an old horse named Billy.

I’m a country girl at heart and experienced living on a number of large properties as a child, so I’m completely at home here surrounded by green pasture, rolling hills, dairy cattle and wild birds (paradise for an artist / hermit).  I’ve been here for ten years now and my studio is an old (renovated) dairy.

2. At what age did you start painting, and what got you interested?

From a very young age I loved drawing and writing poetry.  I didn’t have access to paint and brushes, probably due to moving about so much (and pencils were quick to pack up).  My father and both grandfathers enjoyed drawing and I can remember myself and my brother Rodney spending hours upon hours drawing whenever we got a chance.  Mum would often surprise us with a new Derwent pencil and I’ll never forget how exciting it was to smell the wood and admire the fresh color!

But poetry was my pure expression of self.  If I ever felt ‘lost’ or ‘anxious’ (common feelings in those days), I would completely loose myself in the rhythmic words.  The sensation was so profound. From a very early age I was able to tap into ‘me within’, to ‘the source’, and my worries seemed insignificant and I would be at peace again for a short period.  Even reading my poetry late at night helped keep me sane (art therapy).

It wasn’t until years later I learned that poetry is ‘abstract’; it all started to fit into place like a jigsaw puzzle.

I left school to work when I was sixteen, following in my parents’ footsteps and working in a variety of fields hoping that something would ‘fit’. I wound up working in regional television and producing, which I enjoyed to some extent, but still found myself sitting in the car during my lunch breaks madly writing poetry.  I had a mid-life crisis at twenty-five, which was the best thing that ever happened.  I sold my car and enrolled to get my Diploma of Art in Ceramics (I had never touched clay before).

My whole being yearned to create and I allowed myself to be guided by instinct.  These studies also included formal drawing classes and I had taken on additional painting classes too.  The whole world seemed to open up before me and I fell in love with life itself.  I discovered in those years that the raw materials have a life of their own and instead of manipulating them, I would work with them and allow them to take me on a journey within (like poetry did).

I became more and more intrigued by the process itself and continued on to complete my Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy in Melbourne where my mind was opened up to ‘working in the moment’ to ‘abstract expressionism’ !

3. Tell us a little about the part of Australia where you currently reside.

I live in Crossover (West Gippsland), Victoria, Australia.  It is approximately 1.5 hours from our capital city, Melbourne.  http://www.westgippsland.com.au/

4. How would you describe Abstract Expressionism to those who may not be familiar with the art   form?

For those unfamiliar with this style of work it would be best to break it down first and look at the word, abstract, which means to not represent or imitate external reality. (Non-representational)

Expressionism represents the ability to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.

‘Abstract Expressionism’ is also known as ‘Action Painting’.  My work is furiously energetic; a free and spontaneous application of paint which allows the release of pure creativity of the unconscious mind.

‘Spontaneous’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘quick’ and certainly doesn’t mean ‘out of control.’  It’s about stepping into spontaneous itself and being ‘in flow;’ to be at one with the canvas and clear of mind in order to work in that zone and be taken on a journey within.  I’m greatly influenced by my environment and what is occurring in my life at the time.  When the paint dries and I become the viewer, it’s obvious to me that my work is a visual diary of events.

This process is more akin to tuning in a musical instrument than it is to a traditional painting style and I work with rhythm, balance, vibrancy and pitch (in a visual sense) to a point of resonation.  I work with the force of gravity and the thrust of energy; the physical movement in those moments is recorded on canvas in paint.  I walk out of my studio at the end of the day feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck, though the process itself is a spiritual comfort and quite addictive.

5. Who, or what, inspires you?

‘Life’ inspires me.  I’m absolutely fascinated by the miracle of life on Earth.  I’m fascinated by the Universe and what might be on the other side of it.  I’m intrigued by life after death, by God and by the power of Mother Nature and why I might be here, in other words, ‘my purpose’.

I feel that I’m close to knowing something more, to seeing something more, to understanding something else when I’m in the process of creating.  It ‘feels like that’ to me and it is this sensation that draws me back into the studio day after day.

I feel more like a mad scientist than an artist most of the time and yet I have no answers. I don’t experience ‘creative blocks’; I simply make a start and then seem to be following a thread.  It’s excitably tormenting!

I became in-tune with this process during my studies in Transpersonal Art Therapy where I experienced working on the floor, working within the moment and often during meditation or after chanting and drumming sessions.

It was after this period when I first heard ‘the Pollock comments’ (often sarcastic) and I became curious.

I started researching and learning more about this Jackson Pollock.  I was intrigued to learn that, he too, had lived a gypsy type life as a child and had experienced Shamanism (as I did during my Transpersonal Art Therapy studies).

Over time I’ve become more and more fascinated by, energized by, and absolutely inspired and excited by his work.  Even though we are separated by lifetimes and continents, I feel a very powerful and personal connection that I honor and cherish.

6. Do you have any mentors?

I have a number of mentors including my mother (and artist) Judi Money and husband Chris Major who both offer understanding, encouragement, and belief in me and my work.

I’ve formed lifelong friendships with a number of my surrounding colleagues and time after time we have mentored each other and emotionally supported each other through the various cycles of living an artist’s life.

I do, however, experience moments in my career when I feel quite alone and I’m not sure of the next step (not inside the studio, but outside) and ‘self managing’ my career.  Each step is a new one to me.

7. What are your goals, dreams?

To be approached by a ‘Peggy Guggenheim’ who will be absolutely taken by my work, believe in my work and manage my career!

I would also love to create historically significant (and very large scale) works to be hung in and collected by state galleries and museums around the world.

To be known as Australia’s great ‘Action Painter’ on a global scale.

To discover what’s on the other side of the universe through my work (I don’t ask for much).

8. Where can we view your work currently?

I currently have work exhibiting in the Red Sea Gallery, Brisbane (Queensland), Australia and am in the process of organizing my up and coming solo show in Melbourne (details soon) where I will also launch my new design label ‘Kerrie Warren Designs’ inspired by the Guggenheim.

Until I exhibit again in New York, you can view my work on-line at www.kerriewarren.com.au

and my studio is always open by appointment if you happen to be close by.


9. Tell us about your favorite piece, if you have one.

Each piece is significant because it links to the previous and the following much like a chain of events, but I’m always most excited about the piece on the floor!

10. What does painting do for you on an emotional level?

Painting emotionally stabilizes me and provides a spiritual comfort; it allows the release of pure creativity of the unconscious mind.

11. How much time do you spend working on each piece of art?

I tend to work furiously over a 1 – 2 day period and then continue in a more subtle sense while the paint is drying (tuning it in), which is generally over the course of a week depending on the weather.

I enjoy building my own stretchers and bonding with the canvas itself before I launch into it.  It’s like ‘warming up’ first.

Filed Under: articleimg, featured, Fine Art Tagged With:
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