ArtStew Magazine is published by Scott Stewart. Special editorial and copy-editing contributions for this issue were made by Jouvelt and Baylee Suskin. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. ArtStew welcomes submissions but cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Correspond to:
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ArtStew Magazine P.O. Box 442398 Lawrence, KS 66044
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History:
ArtStew started as a small, grass-roots art ’zine in Lawrence, Kansas and its nearby surrounding areas back in January of 2006. It was made for the local art community, by the local art community, supporting all categories of self-expression; whether visual, auditory, or any other arrangement of aesthetics we’ve showcased in the magazine or on our website. Our original purpose was merely to reach out, meet, and collaborate.
Presently:
Today, the magazine’s intention is pretty much the same. Remaining dedicated to promote and inform, we are continually bringing together the creative do-it-yourselfers, collaborators, and any other artistic networkers that we can. We are helping to foster an outlet and a place to join diverse ideas and information through discussion and presentation. Simply put, ArtStew’s goal is to help create new opportunities through bringing the Lawrence artist community together. Whether you consider yourself an artist, or just an art lover, we welcome you either way.
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ArtStew is a ’zine in progress, with a mission to promote local contemporary artists as well as connect them to people in the community who appreciate their art.
DearReader, We are still in our early developmental stages, but all the same, we’d like to welcome you to the third issue of ArtStew Magazine. It’s been a long time waiting, but we’re still pushing ahead. Thanks to the hard work and energy of great local artists and designers, this ’zine has new life! This time around, (you may have noticed) we are proud to present you with a new look to go along with our new size. Along with the new additions, we are looking forward to making ArtStew Magazine a more consistent source of an outlet for local art and creative exploration, as well as news and events for Lawrence. We believe collaboration is the key to a strong creative community. We at ArtStew strive to provide new opportunities for artists to join forces and challenge their artistic visions, and of course, to get their work seen! Help us help you get the word out to the community about what to be aware of in their own backyard.
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We welcome all questions, suggestions, and volunteer help with the magazine or website. Feel free to contact us through an email message or through the post office. Lastly, please check out www.artstew.org for even more artwork and information, up-to-date news, and other local happenings. Thank you for your interest and support. Keep creatively creating. Scott Stewart Publisher
05__SKETCHBOOK / Baylee Suskin 11__PROFILE / Gabriel Dorsey 14__PROFILE / Ruben Gaucin 15__INTERVIEW / Jouvelt 23__INTERVIEW / Jordan Tarrant 29__EVENT / Fresh Produce Art Collective 31__COLORING PAGES 33__CROSSWORD
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COVER IMAGE: DETAIL OF: 1957 - Frank Lloyd Wright Spire @ Frank Lloyd Wright Bl and Scottsdale Rd (designed 1957, built 2004) - Jouvelt
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Contents
Sketchbook
/ WRITER
BAYLEE SUSKIN www.myspace.com/bayleesue
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TEXT AND IMAGES: Baylee Suskin
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Profile
/ ARTIST
GABRIEL DORSEY www.myspace.com/evilangels
TEXT & IMAGES: Gabriel Dorsey
Gabriel Dorsey is a graduate of Dodge City High School. His first attempt at college didn’t last more than a year. If you ask Gabe why, he will tell you it was because the refrigerator in he and his wife’s apartment was no larger than a keg and the freezer couldn’t hold a cd.
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Seven years of wandering the earth with his wife finally led to settling in Lawrence, Kansas. After an epiphany while jockeying the cash register at the local deli, he looked around and realized that he could not become one of the content thirtysomethings working in food or retail all his life. Gabe soon enrolled at a local community college and began his education again. This time around he vowed to himself that nothing could stop him -not even his diabetes.
WIP, 29x19in, mixed media
Currently, Gabe works in many mediums. Some include digital, photography, sculpture, paint, and continue...
aerosol. Despite what materials are being used, Gabe’s overall goal is to constantly create, no matter how big or small the project is.
ABOVE: Skull Composition II, 20x16in, acrylic RIGHT: Skull Composition I, 12x24in, acrylic BELOW: Self-portrait, 18x24in, acrylic
For this particular version, Gabe decided to practice some miniscule model-making skills, and put those teeny-tiny, tediously detailed techniques to some good use. Just check out the inside of his head (the motherbrain/central command center?) if you need an example. Notice the flat-screen televisions (all conveniently tuned to porn), surrounding a cozy orange lounge chair, just at arms reach from some pizza, a cigar in an ashtray, and even some old-school 8-bit gaming system fun. All done under eight inches of vinyl -- quite impressive. continue...
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For instance, aside from his traditional painting on canvas, let’s look at one of his less traditional creations -- a collectible toy model figure called a Munny. If you’re not familiar, these characters originally come in a form of hollow vinyl, in your choice of white, black, or glow-inthe-dark. Then, it’s up to the artist to take on the do-ityourself collectible, paint it up, and assemble your very own one-of-a-kind Munny.
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Enough with my description -- here’s what Gabe had to say about it: “The brown and pink color combination for the bear were chosen to convey a sense of cuteness. This was offset by the smiling grin and sharp pointy teeth. I wanted there to be a duality within the bear. Cute, but hiding something. Inside, I added a smaller version of the bear. In a sense, it represents the Freudian “id.” The cluttered mess and the adult images inside the bear convey his lack of cleanliness and overall questionable morals. I added a visibly aged robotic element to the bear by adding the springs and hinges. These were originally gold-plated, but I painted them a bronze color and then added a watered-down light green. I repeatedly added the green as it dried. The end result of all the coats was to create the effect of oxidation. What are the bear’s intentions? Who knows, but keep your daughters away from him.” •
Profile
/ ARTIST
RUBEN GAUCIN www.myspace.com/artistg
TEXT & IMAGES: Ruben Gaucin
BORN: 1979 RAISED: Dodge City, Kansas. EDUCATION: BA in Media Arts and Animation
Gaucin says he would like to experiment more with composite digital images. “I want to create a new CG surrealism in still-frame format, and then transfer my ideas into short animated versions. Eventually, that could carry over into a full-length feature film project.” Think of the animated GIF files you see all over the web already, but now picture them on truly majestic, grandiose High-Definition. That’s Ruben Gaucin -- a projection for the future that is larger than life. •
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Educated, experienced, and talented in all things visual, Ruben grew up teaching himself to hone his talents in 2D. In college, he refined that skill and expanded it to include CG, animation, sound, filmmaking, and craftsmanship in general.
Interview
/ ARTIST
JOUVELT www.jouvelt.com
TEXT: Baylee Suskin IMAGES: Jouvelt
CROSSROADS AT A DRY HEAT -THE PATH FROM DODGE CITY TO PHOENIX, AND NOW TO LAWRENCE.
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BAYLEE SUSKIN: EXPLAIN WHAT “CROSSROADS AT A DRY HEAT” MEANS. JOUVELT: Well, maybe it comes from a concept in my own personal life that I’m feeling -- something going on right now more so than ever. I wanted to physically go and revisit some of Phoenix’s actual intersections, or crossroads, to see one last time before leaving and traveling my new roads.
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DETAIL OF: 1989 - Patriots Square Park @ Jefferson St / Central Av
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1893 - New Windsor Hotel
1956 - General Dynamics C4 Systems
1963 - Chez Nous Cocktail Lounge
1914 - Papago Park / Hole-in-the-Rock
1957 - Frank Lloyd Wright Spire
1968 - Phoenix Financial Center
1918 - Hayden Flour Mill
1957 - Valley National Bank
1972 - Capstone Cathedral
Oh, and the weather here isn’t as bad as people think. While most of the country is shoveling snow and ice, all we shovel is sunshine in these perfect winters. And yes, summer is hot, but not humid. You don’t sweat; hence, the “dry” heat.
DO YOU THINK PHOENIX IS AT A CROSSROADS? JVT: Yeah. Phoenix to me is a fairly new city with not much history, due to 1973 - Harkins Camelview 5
1977 - Scottsdale Six Drive-In
WHAT CROSSROADS ARE YOU AT? JVT: Mostly with career choice and getting older -- getting fed up with a lot of how I thought things were “supposed to” work. I’m typically a very “Plan A” continue...
1989 - Patriots Square Park
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air conditioning only being invented in the 1960s, I think, but right now is taking on more construction and reconstruction than ever. A new light rail train, lots of condos, commercial high-rises, strip-malls -- it’s all new and bland. The very little architecture that does have any older charm and character struggles to exist in the way of these new projects. So the idea for me was to capture any remnants of historic buildings or just some older and interesting gems in the rough that maybe seem to get passed on by. With that in mind, I also wanted to be at certain intersections that had readable street signage. That way, after seeing these locations as an art piece, then someone could go and drive to them. At least, for the ones not being demolished just yet. But that’s even more of a reason to kind of preserve this point in time at some of these area’s crossroads.
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type of guy, analytical, and think too much, but have been recently reaching out of my comfort elements. A lot of traveling and rejoining old family and friends, or making new ones. Quite the change from my previously dominant hermit-shell lifestyle. Also, I’ve taken on a less stagnant work-flow, with more exploring.
JVT: Not necessarily different, but just revisiting what used to make me happiest. Going back to physically touching the canvas, paint, and wood with my bare hands. Not all just graphics on the computer that get printed somewhere you never see. More connected to the piece.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN EXPLORING? JVT: Things like, just living differently. Educating myself
SO ARE YOU MORE TRAINED IN GRAPHIC DESIGN? JVT: I went to school for it, but basically only learned that
some, learning, knowledge, watching too many old movies and documentaries and not enough current commercial movies. Still not reading books, but actually reading a paragraph here and there besides just looking at pictures in magazines. Even eating more consciously. Things were just getting to be too much for me. It was a progressional pattern of bigger and more meant better. Now, I’m trying a lot harder to simplify and be more at ease. Less stress, and starting to do what I actually like to do with art.
my real love was for making something more timeless than commercial, and something heavy to put on a wall -- like a painting. Not just a piece of paper from your printer that you frame up or whatever. I just thought design was how you paid the bills if you liked to draw. So now I’m kind of going back to my pre-college ambitions. When I painted on walls with friends just for fun, not for money. But maybe now for money too. I just want to do what I like, and live modestly off of it -- pay the rent, put some food on the table, travel.
WHAT KIND OF ART ARE YOU DOING NOW THAT’S DIFFERENT?
DO YOU STILL DO GRAPHICS? JVT: I still do some design, but rarely. Now, only if it’s more continue...
PREVIOUS PAGES DETAILS: 1893-Adams St/6th Av; 1914-Galvin Pk/Papago Park; 1918-Rio Salado Pk/Mill Av (Tempe Butte in bg); 1956-McDowell Rd/82nd Pl; 1957-Frank Lloyd Wright Bl/Scottsdale Rd (designed 1957, built 2004) (McDowell Mtns in bg); 1957-Camelback Rd/44th St (Piestewa Peak in bg); 1963-Indian School Rd/7th Av; 1968-Osborn Rd/Central Av; 1972-Shea Bl/Tatum Bl (Piestewa Peak in bg); 1973-Fashion Square/Goldwater Bl; 1977-McKellips rd/McClintock Dr; 1989-Jefferson St/Central Av
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1927 - Westward Ho @ Fillmore St / Central Av
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DETAIL OF: 1927 - Westward Ho @ Fillmore St / Central Av
DETAIL OF: 1927 - Westward Ho @ Fillmore St / Central Av
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO PAINT? WHAT SUBJECT MATTER AND MEDIA? JVT: I’ll do about any subject, as long as the lines and shapes interest me, and aren’t overly complicated or stressful to look at. I probably enjoy portraits the most, but just anything that’s fun to me. And media is tricky. I get too stressed too easily. The original idea is most important to me, so spending time on mixing colors or letting paint dry becomes tedious. I prefer unconventional, mixed with simple. I’m more concerned with texture and color. Or lack thereof. Is it still strong in black and white? Is it better flat or glossy? Things like that.
WHAT TECHNIQUE DO YOU LIKE TO USE? JVT: I’ve got a weird thing with that. I’m generally not too secretive, but it’s more that I don’t really know what I’m doing yet. I just call it “mixed-media on panel” or “on canvas” because it changes per piece and per series. Sometimes it’s on wood, or on canvas, or on a bed sheet, or whatever. Sometimes it’s house paint, or acetone ink, or toner, or epoxy, or acrylic. Sometimes they’re glossy, or flat, or both. So I haven’t done a lot of the same, plus it’s kind of fun to me leaving it more mysterious and placing more importance on the imagery than the media used.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR JOUVELT? JVT: Sell my house here in Phoenix and join the art community in Lawrence. As well as the “wet” heat, and wetter cold, and humid everything, and windy anythings. Extra anti-perspirant/deodorant for this stinky boy, I guess. • All images were produced during 2007. The 13 pieces measure 4 x 2 feet each, and are for sale at $350 a piece. To inquire, email: jouvelt@jouvelt.com
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personal. For myself or people that are close. I know they say “never work for family or friends” and also “never take it personal,” but I just can’t follow those rules. I care about taking time, and the quality. Those are the only reasons I’ll do it now. Otherwise, it’s on to my explorations of finer art and self-expression. I’m teaching myself how to paint -and to paint things that I actually like.
Interview
/ ARTIST
JORDAN TARRANT www.myspace.com/nawkart
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TEXT: Jouvelt IMAGES: Jordan Tarrant
Jordan Tarrant is a budding 20-year-old Kansas native, currently enjoying the Lawrence community, and is fresh on seeking out new avenues for his artistic endeavors. According to him, where better than right here? And when better than right now?
Musikal Kolors, 24x36in, acrylic and paint markers
Although at this point Jordan can’t quite put a finger on his profession of passion, he has plenty of skills under his belt in the meantime. When he isn’t so busy being harrassed by officials to get off the streets and stop skating (apparently crosswalks are the only legal place
to skate in Wichita) or having his first art show held at White Chocolate in Lawrence shut down by the cops three quarters of the way into it, he’s attempting to find other, longer lasting, artistic ventures. Some of them the more legal kind, and others maybe not. continue...
Some of those ventures include, but are not limited to, live canvaspainting, dabbling in music producing, video filming and editing, creating mural productions, designing shirts with non-traditional materials, and just all out exploring any new art forms he can think up at the moment. Recently, I caught up with Tarrant to talk about his current ventures into iconic portraiture. Making them as vibrant as he possibly can, he uses as many colors as are available at hand. Generally he’s just trying to show things that haven’t been seen before, sometimes dealing with controversial subjects and deeper meanings, but still leaving the idea obvious and to be taken at “face” value (maybe a bit of pun intended?).
People who have thought outside of the box, that don’t care what other people think. They just go for it. Or people who push the envelope on what’s humanly possible. continue...
Theory of ILL-Regularity, 24x16in, acrylic and paint markers
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I SEE EINSTEIN, MARLEY, DALI, KOOL HERC, REAGAN, N.W.A. -- WHAT’S THE PATTERN HERE? JORDAN TARRANT: Those are idols in a sense, maybe.
PORTRAITS -- IS THAT THE THING YOU LIKE THE MOST? JT: Actually that’s what I’m good at. I wanna kinna stray from that a little bit though. I’ve been doing that for so long.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WON’T PAINT, OR THINGS YOU’D BE RELUCTANT TO PAINT? JT: Umm... I don’t know maybe... I wouldn’t go like paint some S&Ms, you know?
What’s Religion, 48x36in, acrylic and paint markers
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR TO USE? JT: Favorite color? I’d have to say harbor blue, I guess. I SAW A VIDEO ON YOUR MYSPACE. WAS THAT YOU SKATING AND FILMING? JT: Yeah. Nawkturnal Daze - Dub K 2 LA. Me and my roommates, Gluttonius Monk
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and Huntorious, drove to L.A. and then through Santa Cruz and everywhere in between on a skate park tour, filming most of it. I edited it for a film contest, lost, then put it on You Tube and also my myspace page.
Bob Gnarley, 24x16in, acrylic and paint markers
WHAT WAS IT THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS CULTURE OF SKATING AND GRAF? JT: I’ve been skating since I was like, ten. Hanging out, you know, all our friends continue...
or whatever, that’s what we do. We go out and skate. Like some people go out and they play football or something. We’d just go out and skate all day. Especially, living in Wichita, it’s illegal to skate anywhere except for the crosswalks, according to cops. I don’t know. They finally built a skatepark after I left.
IF YOU WERE A FRUIT OF VEGETABLE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? JT: I think I’d be a pineapple. Something kind of hard-headed, at the same time, it tastes really good. [Laughing] I don’t know. ‘Cause the inside’s really good. If that makes any sense.
Reagan in Wonderland, 48x36in, acrylic
Fear and Loathing in Space, 18x12in, acrylic with airbrush
Ed Roth R.I.P., 18x36in, acrylic
custom airbrushed t-shirt
to say my box of paints.
ONE MORNING, AFTER A DRUNK NIGHT, YOU DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING, BUT YOU WAKE continue...
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WHAT’S YOUR MOST PRIZED MATERIAL POSSESSION, NOT A PET, PERSON, OR QUALITY, BUT WHAT’S IN YOUR ROOM AT HOME THAT’S YOUR COOLEST THING EVER? JT: I’d like to say probably just my laptop. Actually, I’d have
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Wheel & Tire Warehouse, 1700 E. Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64106
UP WITH A NEW TATTOO ON YOUR CHEST. WHAT DOES IT SAY, OR WHAT’S IT A PICTURE OF? JT: It’d probably have something to do with graffiti. -- It’d have something to do with grafiti, I can’t really tell you what it’d say. Probably wouldn’t be able to read it.
N.W.A., 24x18in, acrylic and paint markers
SOMETHING WILD-STYLE, CRAZY AND UNREADABLE, THAT WAY IT WOULDN’T BE EMBARRASSING? JT: Yeah. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? JT: Yeah, I’m just gonna be real general, I guess. Like when people my age,
New York Thought, 42x18in, acrylic and paint markers
Selected pieces shown are currently for sale. To inquire on originals, prints, or for future commissions, including murals, email: nawkturnalart@yahoo.com
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Dj Kool Herc, 84x48in, spray paint
they always, I know they have something they really want to do, something they wanna do when they grow up, or something like “oh I’ll get to that eventually when I get to where I want to be,” but like, why not just take advantage of being young and doing the things you wanna do now? You know, might as well just go for it. Instead of holding back until you’re paying off some student loans and you’re like 50 years old. •
Event
/ CONTINUAL “SALON-STYLE” ART SHOW
FRESH PRODUCE ART COLLECTIVE www.freshproduceartcollective.com
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TEXT & IMAGES: Jouvelt
Tellers Bar & Grill, located at 746 Mass. Ave. in Lawrence, has been kind enough to host ongoing, local artist, group art shows at their business. They are attempted to be held bi-monthly, but regardless of the month, they are always on a Monday night -- to coordinate with excellent wine specials at $5 a glass. The next “salon-style” show is scheduled for December 10th, but check with Tellers, or go online to Fresh Produce’s website for the most current event information. “SALON-STYLE” AND WHAT IT MEANS: In 18th century Paris, the term “salon” marked the official art event of the year. On display in one location, it gathered together a crowded collection of various painting styles, sizes, and subjects.
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Though not necessarily of one single theme, all paintings shared the tightly arranged space, each jockeying for position. Even before that though, a salon was simply a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another, and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation and readings, often consciously following Horace’s definition of the aims of poetry, “to please and educate” (aut delectare aut prodesse est).
old spirit of a gathering place for a discussion, of sorts). Like in the olden days of Paris, displays cover the walls floor-to-ceiling, hanging art like decorative, adjacent boxes, side-by-side, and on every inch of space available. A variety of artists participate, and the result is an exhibit writhing with an eclectic multitude of mixed visuals, providing a gathering place for intellectuals to meet, discuss ideas, and watch artistic performances. •
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Today, “salon-style” art shows fill the walls of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars (not to be confused with saloons!), and yes, even hair salons (which have usurped the word to rekindle the
Coloring Pages
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IMAGES: Scott Stewart
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Crossword
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Across 1. ornamented 3. gradual falling into an inferior condition 5. recognized standards of proper behavior 6. shedding leaves annually 7. weakened by old age 9. to depart from life 10. unit expressing intensity of a sound wave 11. this lures into a trap 12. ten track-and-ďŹ eld events Down 2. insincere, disingenous, false 3. coffee with no caffeine 4. reached conclusions 6. without doubt or question 7. self-supporting ooring 8. moral decay 11. ten years 13. month of this ArtStew issue
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