For the month of May, I interviewed Mr. Brian Gubicza as part of the monthly artist feature at Go Flying Turtle. The work featured here merely scrapes the surface of Brian's output of Collage, Graphic, sketch and sculpture work. His consistently updated Dream Shapes blog is always a pleasure to visit, with occasional original art giveaways. I hope you enjoy this excellent interview and the wonderful work that accompanies it!
1. Q: Your "Dream Shapes" series and blog is truly unique and inspired. How did you come up with the idea in the first place?
A: I took an experimental college course. It was taught by
three professors
1-Philosopher
2- Writer
3- Illustrator
We all kept journals and discussed our dreams. We practiced sleep
deprivation and made over 500 automatic drawings during a two week
session. I've kept a journal by my bedside since then. The actual
illustrations started as photoshop roughs. They were created for personal
use to accompany my journal. I posted a few on a drawingboard thread-
which lead to the blog- and there you have it:)
2. Q: Some of your cut out collage work reminds me of the cut outs from Matisse. I also see some classic cartoon influences in your more illustrated works. Who were some of your strongest artistic influences and why?
A: I love art history, and I love to dissect work. My influences change every
week...seriously. I can't paint, but I can use scissors and glue. I
started doing collage after seeing Teddy Newton's work at the Pixar Show
(MoMa). It is a very relaxing hobby to arrange pieces of colored paper into
characters.
As for influences.... that's a tough one. The last two books I took out of
the library were:
The Graphic Style- a book about 20th Century poster design
Late Gothic Art - 14th and 15th Centuries
3. Q: More and more, I see the lines blurring between the worlds of art and illustration, and creative imagery seems to be increasingly more difficult to classify. What are your own views regarding this?
A: It's a complex and scary world. People set boundaries for themselves
to create a (false) sense of security and permanence. Art/Illustration
Design/Illustration Craft/Art Hoagie/Sub/Grinder/Hero.
I guess since you are asking me. I personally don't care what you call it.
Yes, there is a lot of everything swirling around; just as always. It's
largely a question of Art and Commerce mixed with time. Degas painted whores
and now he's a coffee table book. Graffiti art was considered vandalism
and now those same artists are making limited edition designer toys.
It's just a story of personal perceptions.
4. Q: Your work has such a strong sense of shape, color and composition, and some of the wit and humor makes it all the more engaging. What would you say to folks who hold the view that work produced on the computer is not art, or "has no soul"?
A: The computer is just a series of tools with one carbon-based one
sitting in front of it. You would first have to sit this person down
and try to define "soul" . That could take hours to discuss; and by your
dinner time it would be their bedtime. This is really not an issue
anymore; unless you enjoy high waisted slacks and bingo.
5. Q: The ATC stuff you do is brilliant. What turned you onto the world of Artist Trading Cards?
A: At Etsy.com I saw a product listing for an ACEO, and thought what the hell is that? But I do remember
garbage pail kids, hockey and baseball cards from my childhood. It's a
great hobby that I am really happy to have discovered.
6. Q: I recognize lots of pop culture influences and references in your work. How big a role do movies and film play in what you create?
A: I love films...and enjoy movies. I am a product of my time
and the cultures, and sub-cultures surrounding me. Dreams
are very cinematic- told in a series of images. It's hard to ignore
the similarities between dreaming and watching a film.
7. Q: Did you see any good movies lately?
A: Yes.
Inconscientes (2004)
A Freudian comedy set in Barcelona, 1913, that playfully questions sexual
taboos through a Sherlock Holmes-style investigation.
Really terrific film with a screwball feel to it.
8. Q: I noticed you're something of a classical music fan and you also are into the guitar. If you had one musical hero, be it musician or composer, who would that be and why?
A: I love music. "Classical" is a blanket term that doesn't really explain
symphonic music, and as result it seems stuffy and conservative to some. I
like 20th century stuff. The more loud; and off-kilter the better.
Bartok, Stravinsky, and the complex piano work of Ravel and Prokofiev.
During college, I worked as an usher in a symphony hall- so that I could
listen to the performances for free. :)
Yes. I play guitar and piano, and am currently studying musical
composition. I study and practice a few times a week. Composing is very
much like assembling a large puzzle, and there are many overlaps from the
visual arts: Color, shape, direction, contrast and depth etc.
9. Q: Where would one go, out your way, to check out some good art, both current and classic?
A: MFA in Boston and the Fogg at Harvard.
Jen and I do art and craft fairs- lots of good work there.
In fact the season starts in May "South End Open Market" - Boston.
10. Q: Any exciting plans in store for Goobeesta, regarding creative endeavors, in the future?
A: Very Exciting! I will be providing illustration for my wife's company
"Zooguu" . We will be moving to Brooklyn shortly to begin work on this
venture. I will be updating my dreams and shop weekly. l have a book of
Poems called "Barnacles and Cakes" which will be available in my shop by
the end of May as well.
Thanks Steve!
