Ben Horton Debuts As The Crow Flies

1xRUN Thru Interview
As The Crow Flies by Ben Horton

1xRun: Tell us a bit about this piece, when was it created?
Ben Horton:  I originally created this piece for a show in Oceanside, California called Landline. The show was loosely based on the pros and cons of communication between people in today’s society, one of the pros being the way some people get straight to the point during a conversation. Likewise, crows have the freedom to fly from point A to B, without being forced to take needless twists and turns. The background is a mixture of 1950’s and 60’s automobile ads and car part blueprints representing the seemingly endless twists and turns we are forced to take while driving from point A to B. But a car can also represent a type of freedom as well: being able to go wherever you want whenever you want. The fence is a representation of boundaries that take away our freedom.

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1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?    
Ben Horton: I got the fence from my Aunt and Uncle’s backyard. He had it taken apart and stacked in a pile of rotten wood. I dried it out for weeks from the rain and the mud, rebuilt a portion of it, and sealed it. At the same time I was reading a lot about Crow’s and some new research about their intelligence. Mostly about their ability to use tools and recognize different people by their faces. I also really like old American automobiles as well as the advertisements for them. So I just put it all together in one piece.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?     
Ben Horton: Probably the fence. I have used pieces of fencing and pallets before, but not wood that was this old. I really like the way the wood turned out.

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1xRun: Why should people buy this print?    
Ben Horton: Good question. Hopefully they will buy it because they like it!

1xRun: Describe this print in one gut reaction word.     
Ben Horton: I’m drawing a blank.

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1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?   
Ben Horton: When I was little. My first piece was a volcano.

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Ben Horton: Yes, all different types of music. Lately, I’ve mostly been listening to old Blues. We have a lot of different species of birds around here as well, so sometimes I just keep the music off and listen to them.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?    
Ben Horton: Edward Kienholz. I don’t know how that would work since he was a sculptor and installation artist, but if given the opportunity, I would figure it out.

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1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Ben Horton: The first, I have no idea.  The last was a photo my friend J-hon took while on a trip to Seattle.

1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Ben Horton: Website

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