1xRUN Thru Interview
Peleda Mask by Nathan Jurevicius
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, when was it drawn and created?
Nathan Jurevicius: The owl pattern was originally derived from a design I did many years ago as a collaboration with illustrator Andrea Kang. The shape of the head is based on a Korean face mask.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Nathan Jurevicius: Peleda is the Lithuanian word for ‘Owl’. I’ve been developing the world of Peleda for many years and have been using various sections of this pattern over that time. I was given some herbal Korean face masks from my friend/collaborator Andrea Kang and they have a skull-like appearance to them. I roughly drew the shape digitally and placed the pattern on top.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Nathan Jurevicius: It’s a fusion of 2 cultures (Lithuania and Korea). My heritage is Lithuanian and owls feature a lot in my work.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Nathan Jurevicius: This is the first time an owl mask has been released as a screen print.
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Nathan Jurevicius: Chaos.
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Nathan Jurevicius: At 6 my dad sat my down outside his art studio with markers and paper. I sold the drawings to people passing by for 50 cents. Professionally I’ve been creating art since high school (worked freelance for designing for a silk screening company). My first piece was titled ‘woman with a fly on her nose in a phone booth’ (age 6).
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Nathan Jurevicius: Our friends had a Hieronymus Bosch calendar on the back of their bathroom door. I’d spend hours in their looking over it. My dad (potter/painter) has always been a big inspiration and encouragement. I love sculptors – Barbara Hepworth is a favorite. Francis Bacon’s paintings are really inspiring. Picasso is always a favorite.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Nathan Jurevicius: I listen to lots of audio books. I’m currently going through Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series for the 4th time.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artist?
Nathan Jurevicius: I’d love to collaborate with George Romero on a project. I’ve always wanted to do a crazy horror film and he has such a great sensibility. For the latter, River Phoenix. I’d want him as the lead actor in the horror film.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? The last?
Nathan Jurevicius: I think it was a piece by Jeff Raglus. I still have it stored at my friends house in Rhode Island. The last was a pencil sketch by Junko Mizuno. 
1xRun: You are crazy busy lately, catch us up on what you’ve been doing?
Nathan Jurevicius: I’m collaborating with my brother on a tv and game for the ABC in Australia (will be completed later in 2013). I’m also creating a series of illustrations for the ‘Electric Daisy Carnival’ music festival.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Nathan Jurevicius: Website – Facebook – Twitter –
-1xRUN