Thanks for Four Years of Awesome
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Blogged Around Philly: Farewell Edition
Photoist
This week's ArtIST is Katie VanVliet, a Moore grad with a degree in Sculpture and Printmaking. She is a self-described "multi-tasker"—a veritable artist jack-of-all-trades, with a limb in a number of creative outlets, including a website, an Etsy shop, and her print shop, B.Y.O. Print. Keep reading to learn more about this multi-tasker, who describes her work as "surreal, awkward, anthropomorphic, miniature, [and] idiosyncratic."
Your work appears to seamlessly blend your talents for illustration and metalwork. Can you tell us more about how you combine these mediums?
I draw on/with/into metal. I am an etcher, and love copper (zinc and steel, or Plexiglas are also possible matrices for intaglio). As a sculptor, I am using old pieces of band-saw blades (cut and bent) to make sharp 3-D line drawings. I like the contrast of metal (hard/sharp/masculine) with imagery that is softer/nostalgic/feminine. I love the lengthy processes that are involved in working with metals.
We love the jewelry you sell in your Etsy shop. Would you say that your artwork is typically geared toward women?
I hope that all sorts of people like my work! The ones who tend to enjoy it are lovers of history and nostalgia. Age is not a factor. Some of my work is geared towards women (because a few ongoing bodies of work are all about gender roles and birth control, a consequence of an all-women art education!).
Your art spans different subject matter and mediums, from drawings, to jewelry, and sculpture. What are some unusual sources of inspiration for your eclectic creations?
I am inspired by my grandmother's ridiculously expansive collection of tiny things, The Neverending Story (the book), the Narnia books, and other fantasy kids' books that I read over and over again (and still do!). Seeing a Tim Hawkinson retrospective in NY several years ago changed the entire way I considered what could compose a cohesive body of work.
How about locally—are there any places in Philadelphia that you frequent for artistic inspiration?
My favorite place to go is The Random Tea Room, at 4th and Fairmount. Not only am I addicted to their chai, but the owner and I share the same love for curious objects, and several things I've picked up there have become the subjects of etchings and sculptures.
We can definitely see how your work tends toward the curious and fantastical.
My imagery is usually personal, but [I create] odd combinations to make surreal situations. I'm presenting a story of sorts, that's either ridiculous, awkward, horrifying, or some [other] combination. I'm trying to be aggressive and silly at the same time. Most of my images are drawn from miniatures, so there's already a degree of separation from surreality.
You founded your Fishtown print shop, B.Y.O. Print, as "an affordable, accessible printmaking studio in Philadelphia, with the mission to keep artists printing on their own time within a reasonable budget." What prompted you to found this successful artists' venue? Was it a difficult process?
I couldn't find an affordable or convenient place to print after college, so I started my own! Working with others is always difficult, as I am a Leo and very aggressive and don't like to be wrong. Partnering with another artist who is the same way to start B.Y.O. Print was probably the most difficult and satisfying accomplishment. My partner in print, Lauren Fischer, and I don't always agree, but have learned how to work together to find a great solution.
How does it feel to be a part of the Philly art scene, now that you have tangible ties to the artistic community with B.Y.O. Print? How has this development affected you?
I think that Philadelphia is an amazing place, and I am most attracted to the small-town-ness of the art community here. I don't use the city itself for imagery, but I love being part of this place. Philly has definitely shaped the person that I am, but hasn't necessarily influenced my artwork itself. When I moved to this city for college eight years ago, I was a very quiet and introspective person. Not so much these days. I speak with gesture now, and am not afraid to get loud!
Finally, please tell us about any upcoming events or shows.
I will have an installation in Moore's Juried Alumnae Show in early 2011.
VanVliet's artwork can also be found at local craft fairs (check her website for updates), and for sale at Moore's Art Shop.
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