1xRun Thru Interview
Entrance To The Island by Nathan Spoor
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece…
Nathan Spoor: I have several narratives that I’ve been toying with for a while now and I’ve been working out certain moments as paintings lately. These are like stories that I slowly work on, edit, sketch out and eventually test out as paintings for either singular images (like this one) or as sequential pieces that look sort of like book layouts.
1xRun: When was the piece created and how long did it take?
Nathan Spoor: I painted this piece in 2012 and it was done on a 14 x 12 inch panel. It probably took me a couple of months to paint since it was one of several being rotated on the easel. I had tested the idea in smaller drawings a few times and prep paintings until I got this scene with the clouds and fog effect.
1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Nathan Spoor: I guess the immediacy of the piece lies in the vast newness that’s stretching out in front of the tiny protagonist that is just seeing that he has a short way to go; up a walkway and through two grand gates to enter the main grounds.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Nathan Spoor: I don’t want to spoil the whole story for you without seeing more of what’s in store with this series, but essentially it’s about a young boy who is finding out that there’s more to his families.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Nathan Spoor: The elements that make this scene special lie in the uncertainty and curiosity of all involved: you, me, the small person at the lower part of the image, and the question of “what lies beyond”. We are all embarking on an adventure here that will take us to a new place and a new purpose perhaps. That’s the genesis of the concept at least. This piece talks about new places, adventure, birth and rebirth. It’s an allegory of life and is even transitioning into the next phase of what we might call the afterlife.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Nathan Spoor: I never know how to answer this sort of question. Why should anyone buy any art? Why is an image important to some more than others? I think images like this one speak to people on a personal level. On one hand it’s great to have a piece on the wall that is lovely to view and harmonizes with an individual’s personal style. Then there are art collectors that say their favorite art speaks to them. So a personal connection is another reason to have a specific artwork. Art that deals with human drama that employs a poetic metaphor is a potent item for conversation’s sake.
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Nathan Spoor: Grandcurious
1xRun: You have been staying crazy busy lately? Bring us up to speed on everything you’ve been doing the last 2-3 months.
Nathan Spoor: That would take a while but let’s see. I’m in the middle of finishing some current paintings. Some very large and others small and medium sized. There are some paintings I’ve been working on for years and others I’ve just started that won’t be finished for years. That’s just how it goes. This series takes the time it needs and while it’s unfolding I also start other projects. I’ve been working on a couple writing/book concepts and just finished a couple months researching and writing for the Juxtapoz cover features of Ralph Steadman and Hunter S. Thompson. That was fun to work on, just doing the research was a blast, I don’t think I could really do them justice but I gave it the best I had at the moment.
The Suggestivism shows have continued to blossom. Right now I curated a show with MondoPOP in Rome that showed at the gallery and then traveled to a museum in Cosenza, Italy as a part of a larger cultural series of exhibits being held there this summer. Very cool stuff. Next year there’s a big Suggestivism show at Copro which they’re doing a small book/catalog on. So I need to work on some text for that as well. What else? Some co-curating of museum shows with Jeff McMillan for Long Beach Museum of Art, and writing book text for those. It’s fun guys, writing really opens up a new thought portal that tons of ideas fall through. I’ve always enjoyed the wordplay of titles and paintings for my work, so attempting to craft ideas coherently into story or essay fashion is a really beautiful challenge.
1xRun: What else do you have in the works coming up for the end of summer and fall?
Nathan Spoor: This summer and fall I’ll be in group shows and a couple museum shows. Ah, here’s a list!
- RETE MUSEALA SUGGESTIVISM – The New Horizon Museum exhibition with MondoPOP Gallery Galleria Provinciale Santa Chiara Cosenza, Italy June
- LTD ART GALLERY – Over The Line! Group Exhibition - Seattle, WA June 7 – July 14
- WWA GALLERY – Happiest Show On Earth Group Exhibition by Color Ink Book - Culver City, CA July 31
- COPRO GALLERY – 20th Anniversary Exhibition – Santa Monica, CA August 17
- TAG GALLERIES – The Gonzo Collection Group Exhibitions - Baltimore, MD & Washington, DC
- LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART – Risqué Group Exhibition – Long Beach, CA September 20 – November 11
- DREAM FACTORY – Dreams of Wonderland Group Exhibition – Frankfurt, Germany September
- COPRO GALLERY – Espionage Miami Group Exhibition - Miami, FL December 5
1xrun: Where else can people find you?
Nathan Spoor: Website – Facebook – Twitter
-1xRun