The following is the transcript of a brief interview which took place on May 1, 2008 for the reader's own edification. For further inquiries or to schedule a one-on-one interview and walk-through, please contact Nicky Balestrieri at Mr. Patrick Duffy LLC at: nicky@mrpatrickduffy.com or 212.515.2075.
What is the show's statement? The search for balance never ends.
What is the artist's statement? what is he continually trying to talk to the world about? Take nothing for granted and assume that the information you have is incomplete.
What is the message Bill has for his audience with this show? It is never too late to be reborn.
What inspired this show? [This show was inspired by] the desire on my part to share the entirety of my artistic vision as an interdisciplinary artist outside of the framework of CRUTCHMASTER as a public entity.
Why is this show relevant to society today? The show is relevant because it is a product of today's society and culture. It is very timely in terms of the philosophical approach to materials and execution, and it touches on the duality of our times in both beautiful and terrible ways.
Why now? Fate
Why New York? Why a downtown former sweatshop? New York has deeply influenced the nature of the work. The sweatshop conversion is an unfortunate reality of downtown [New York] and its gentrification. The fact that the show is a buffer between the sweatshop and the rich people with 20,000 dollars to drop on rent every month is really not something I am [happy with]. The space is amazing and perfect.
How has the artist's personal life influenced his art and art form? I have had joy and suffering in my life, I am a Gemini. Some of my work is the end result of my search for meaning. Some of the work is an exploration of material to best express a concept. Some of my work is about designing tools and developing frames for audiences to understand and comprehend what I am creating. I have to know why... to the point that I will do anything to discover the answer.
Where did the artist come from creatively (not what is in his Bio)? I came from the rusted hulking blue-collar town of Pittsburgh digging around for scraps of metal and making them come alive.
How long has the artist wanted to express these ideas? I have the same idea repeatedly. The idea is if I show [the public] my truth in this way then maybe I will finally be accepted.
How does the artist categorize himself as an artist and why? I am a conceptual interdisciplinary artist. I categorize myself this way because I defy a real categorization. It is really a very practical category. I have concepts behind each project within the show. Within each project it might contain one or more pieces of work to express the concept. I avoid referenced works and using handles for my work by threading it through the works of others that are better known. To this end, I am fiercely independent. I don't care what people think about my work or if they like me or not. All I care about is whether the work satisfies my need to find balance within it.
When was your last show and how is it different from this one? My last show was in Monterey, Mexico. It was a choreographed dance and media work performed for a live audience.
How will this show impact the Audience? Who is the Audience? It will make them ask questions about their own assumptions. It will take them on an immersive journey. The audience for this show is urban, sophisticated, sexy and having a sense of humor
How do politics and the world today affect the artist's work? How does he express those sentiments in his art? Is there a message? My work is political without being didactic. I express my politics [that] are both personal and political through symbolism. Yes the message is never give up.
Who are the artist's icons and idols, artistic and otherwise? MJ, Chaplin, Serra, Tarkovsky, Mullen, [and] Ejo.
How has Bill's aesthetic evolved over the years and what caused it to evolve? The aesthetics have evolved as part and parcel to the shifting demands of the ideas and questions at hand. Ideas about space, time, light, the human condition and the state of the world have changed over the years. With those changes came changes in aesthetic.
What is the Bill Shannon philosophy? Do not fear, burn through, embrace, don't turn your back, believe in yourself.
What are your favorite things to do when you are not making art? I don't separate making art from the things I do. If I go skate it is art. If I go see a film I am thinking about art of cinematography or the art of writing a great screenplay. If I cook food I am thinking about art and how cooking can really be like building a series of relationships that result in a masterpiece. If I am with my kids I am teaching them to think creatively providing them with open spaces to discover the question they want to ask. Art is so all encompassing I cannot take a crap with out thinking about the art of standup comedy.
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