Seriously... I would like to be the first to say that I have never seen more quality designs, gathered all in one place. The designs kept pouring in and the range of submissions was wild! We had over 1,300 quality submissions... and these were some of the best designs that I have seen. Take a look for yourself by browsing though the LABz 0001 Design Contest flickr gallery where you can find most of the designs on display. You can read more about all the winners from the contest and see the winning designs on the contest page here: http://www.artsprojekt.com/labz_contest
It was really hard to narrow it down to just 10 US winners from the 1300 designs that were submitted, but when it came down to it, we all agreed that Nathan Spoor's design submission named 'Suddenly' was worthy of the grand prize. His surreal design laid out across his shirt template was breath taking and I cant wait to see the final product so I can share it with all of you! We wanted to get to know a little bit more about Nathan so we decided to hit him up to see what he was all about.
1. Welcome to ARTSPROJEKT, Nathan. Tell us about yourself...
Thanks guys, happy to be here! Well, I am an artist living in Studio City, currently painting most of the time, writing, designing and then painting more. I hail from the Lone Star State, where I skated quite a bit, survived a couple car accidents and had to fill my skate time with drawing. Then I got to college and was given a painting problem in a 2D design class. From the day I started painting on that illustration-based topic (make a visual out of one sentence) I was hooked. I've been consumed by some urge to continue painting and visually document an organically growing narrative.
Well, it seems like the ones that are destined to do this sort of work will do it. They have to do it; it's not a job and not a chore when it is a job. So when you get a new generation of kids growing up in a post-Dali and Big Daddy Roth era coming off of the 80's and finding that figurative art can be fun and free - I think a boom or surge begins. I think we have all the elements for a movement, or are almost ready for something like that. I'd like to call this a movement, but it feels more like a "generation" of artists. If there were a common goal or statement, maybe an individual or group that boldly went where all were intrepid, we'd have the makings of a movement. Maybe I'm dead wrong and just don't see it from where I sit. I think we're on the brink of something amazing and unexpected. It's possible that things are still so fractured and distracted that a focus is needed, a light that draws people in to a common transfixed state.
But my take on it as a whole, without having to get caught up on my over generalizing things, is that it's a very good day to be an artist. I think we're on the verge of a real awakening of sorts. The artists are the myth-makers, the visualizers of that tangible magic. I think this age of artists will show us a new kind of individual and will also serve us with new ideas and visuals that we hadn't thought possible. That's what I enjoy about being creative out here in this moment, anything is possible. And anything will certainly happen.
3. Can you give us a peek into your two books currently in print?
Sure thing, I have a hardback book called Suddenly, which is a two-part read. There are a couple different cover and customized options and different goodies with either edition. Since my work involves a growing narrative about a growing mysterious in-between world, and is told through the travels of a young boy and girl, separately, I decided to break it up into two parts. The first part introduces text on some of the latest works, while the second half talks about previous works and the evolution of the narrative and the growth of the characters and symbols. It was an amazing project that's gotten me further into understanding how to work on a more cohesive narrative, and what it's like to put the work into that context.
I'm also honored to be in the second volume of Metamorphosis. There are 50 surreal, fantastic and visionary artists included. You can't beat the company at all: HR Giger, Michael Hussar, Greg Simkins, Lori Early? I hope he does a whole encyclopedia of these kinds of artists. I can imagine a whole shelf of artist encyclopedias. I have great memories of going through encyclopedias, and also remember the frustration of not having any other artist-oriented resource material to look at that dealt in art that fit my idea of being really impressive or engaging, entertaining even, on an intellectual level.
4. What’s a day in the life of Nathan Spoor?
I get up around 7am, paint for an hour, look at emails and map out the day. Then it's off to the gym for the daily exercise. It's close so I usually conserve gas and walk for the extra few blocks of cardio and "fresh" air. Then back for about 2 or 3 hours painting, check emails and respond again, think about lunch. Have lunch. If the girl is here then we have a longer lunch and take a good painting break, and if she isn't it's a short lunch and back to painting. If I need to write or work on anything besides painting that's the time to start it. Then it's more creative, dinner of some sort, maybe a break with a movie, more painting or writing 'til late.
5. Upcoming features, exhibitions, projects we should know about?
Right now I'm finishing up a few pieces for a group show at Bold Hype, that I helped curate in Orlando, FL. But most of my time is spent working on pieces for a solo show at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, CA this June. That's called "The Glass Menagerie", and will contain a bundle of great new paintings and imagery that I'm working out ideas for a new book with. I have a few images with GelaSkins that are doing pretty well, and am curating a couple exhibits in the future that will be fun. I have more going on but it's slipping my mind, and I do keep up with exhibits and things on my site, myspace or blog.
