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Home  BLOGS Mini Interviews Adam Friedman - Mini Interview
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Written by Trippe
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Wednesday, 10 November 2010 16:25
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Location? Age? Education? Website?
Literally just moved up to Portland, OR from SF. I'm 27. Graduated with an MFA from SFAI. And you can see more of my work at www.artbyadamfriedman.com
 How would you describe your work to someone?
To keep in simple, I'm fascinated by geology, the natural world, and the relativity of time's duration. I try to show earthly processes that humans would consider "slow," happening really fast or instantly. The images are an optimistic view of the natural world, post human presence.
Influences?
Oh man... so many. I love the Hudson River School painters... Casper David Freidrich, Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Church, etc. Contemporary painters like Paul Davies, Ricky Allman, Paul Wackers, James Chronister, and many many more. I have tons of talented friends, like Robert Minervini, Nicholas Bohac, Kevin E Taylor, Ben Venom, and Jon Casey Clary, who are killing it! I read a lot... Edward Abbey is my hero.
 Cheese burgers or tofu burgers?
Stanich Burger in Portland (if you wanna get serious).
Working routine? Music? Time of day?
I prefer to work in the studio pretty normal hours... 9-5 type a thang if I can make it happen. I get kinda worthless when it gets too late at night. Music is a huge part of my process. Lately I've been listening to lots of Pentagram, Electric Wizard, Sleep, King Crimson, Can, Hawkwind, Zior, Reinforced Records, Johnny Clarke, etc. etc. etc. But I'm constantly keeping things on rotation.
 How do you pay the bills?
Ha! Good question. Like I said, I'm new to Portland, so I've been applying for jobs like a madman. Hustling and picking up random gigs here and there. But I was teaching art a lot in SF and working at Root Division as a Program Coordinator. If you live in SF and you don't know about Root Division, they do great things so check em out! (www.rootdivision.org). Other than that I get lucky and sell some work here and there, which never hurts.
Describe your process for creating new work.
I mentioned that I read a lot. So I write down inspirational quotes in my sketch book that make me think of an image. Some writers (Ed Abbey, John McPhee, etc.) just have a way of describing things in a manner that I could never put into words, but I try to present visually. So most of my paintings are titled after direct quotes. From there I make a ton of little thumbnail sketches to try to figure out a composition. But they usually change a lot by the time they reach the panels.
 Tools of the trade?
Oh man... way too many. I need to simplify things a bit. I work primarily on wood panel. Mostly acrylic paint and mediums these days. (Wish I could get a lifetime sponsorship from Golden). But I do some screen printing on Mulberry Paper that gets collaged in and glazed over. I make gel transfers, and my homie Robert Minervini discovered this awesome clear masking film that I use quite a bit. Lots of other little things that I won't bore you with.
What are you really excited about right now?
Just got engaged! So that's pretty huge! Living in Portland, and having a lot of time to paint after a busy summer of slowly relocating. Life, love, rocks, dirt, trees, friends, music, etc.
 I just gave you $1,000,000. Quick, what do you do with it!
Pay off my student loans (F. you citi bank! haha), and my fiance's. Basically pay off any debt that my family may have. Buy a modest house, and build a not so modest studio. Travel a bit.
Best way to spend a day off?
Well, if I'm not at work, I'm usually in the studio... But riding bikes or camping with my lady is always pretty awesome.
What do you love most about where you live?
REALLY excited to be in Portland! So many good friends up here. Compared to SF, the cost of living is significantly lower, so it makes life easier and affords me more time to paint. It's so beautiful up here and there are limitless outdoor activities, rain or shine (mostly rain though).
Ok, your chance to rant and rave about something* Talk shit.
Ha! I've probably said enough already and I'm not much of a shit talker... so I'll send out some love. Thanks to my fiance Josi, all my friends and family, Eleanor Harwood (www.eleanorharwood.com), and FECAL FACE for always holding it down, consistently providing inspirational reading material... and giving me the interview opportunity.
Upcoming shows/ projects?
I have a solo show in January at a new(ish) artist run space in Oakland called FM. A group show in January at Root Division in SF... And planning out our wedding next summer/early fall.
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Submit your work
We get a lot of great emails from a lot of talented people introducing us to their work. From time to time we'll be sharing their work here in our mini interviews segment... To be considered for a mini interview send a few jpegs to: mini(at)fecalface.com
|
| Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival
Henrik Haven, who keeps us up to date in all that's Copenhagen, emailed over some photos from the Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival that's running throughout June. In this short installment he introduces us to the work of urban/graffiti artist and illustrator NYCHOS.
 |
 |
| Kelly Tunstall's A16 Commissions
Kelly Tunstall, who's showing w/ Ferris Plock at FFDG this August 16th, recently finished some commissions for A16 in Oakland. Here's a little taste, and check out her last year's show at FFDG.
 |
|
| Brendan Monroe Sculptures, A How To
Brendan Monroe, whose show Melting Into the Floor runs through June 15th at LA's Richard Heller, creates these great wooden sculptures and featured a bunch in the show... He's often asked how he goes about making them and gives us at Fecal Face a little 'how to' on the process.
 |
|
| Mural by Curiot (+Mexico)
Mexico City based Curiot, whose sold out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran last March at FFDG, just finished this great mural entitled "El Retorno de Akhankutli" in Mexico. He recently completed one in Berlin too which we'll be posting in the coming week. The guy is very very talented in our eyes.
 |
|
| The Pizza Slice(r) by Henry Gunderson
This made our day. Not only do we love pizza but we also love Henry Gunderson... So a board shapped like a hot slice designed by Henry Gunderson for The Good Company, well... this writer needs to go for a slice right now.
 |
|
| Wendell McShine @Fifty24SF
Wendell McShine (lives in Mexico City, from Trinidad) opened his newest show, Raccoon's Law, at Fifty24SF on Saturday night. ARYZ was a tough act to follow, but McShine held his own in the space... With a combination of a mural, a video, and both drawings and mixed-media works on paper, the diversity of this solo show was impressive. The Raccoon drawings were especially attractive as the way he executed them looked like they actually had fur coming off the page, and you can only imagine how soft it would be to touch. I was lucky to see his work in person through this show, and I hope to encounter more in the future.
 |
|
| Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest
Ingrid Wells just got her MFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and these oil paintings from her Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest were on display as part of the recent MFA exhibition... Ingrid Wells works and lives in San Francisco.
 |
|
| "Out the Window" at Prohibition Gallery
Henry Gunderson emailed over some photos from his recent group show with Andrew Luck, Jordan Bogash, and Mario Ayala "Out The Window" which ran at the Los Angeles based Prohibition Gallery.
 |
|
| The Tornatos in Moore, OK by Justin Clemons
I got there the day after the tornado came through. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My mind just could not grasp what my eyes were seeing. It was just too much to take in, too much to process. So, I did what comes naturally and took images. It sort of helped me separate from the chaos and helped me focus.
 |
|
| Hyuro "In/Between" at ArtRebels
Check out this, what could be, one of the longest murals ever created. Hyuro from Valencia, Spain was recently in Copenhagen for the solo show "In/Between" at ArtRebels.
 |
|
| ARYZ's TL Mural and The Apple
Rachel Ralph spotted Barcelona-based ARYZ working on his mural in the TL a couple weeks back, and we forgot to share the pics. His show at Fifty24SF opened back in April.
.jpg) |
|
| Oversized Paintings by Jeffrey Cheung
Jeffrey Cheung emailed over some photos from a recent one night show he had at Terra Gallery/ event space. The May 19th show also featured live music by Oakland garage rockers Twin Steps and Coldtergeist.
 |
|
| Alison Blickle at Eleanor Harwood thru June 15th
Great solo show by LA based Alison Blickle (Born 1976) up now at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood gallery. History of Magic Part 1... The Hermitage runs through June 15th 2013. -- 1295 Alabama St. Hours: Wed thru Sat (11-6pm)
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| John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 4)
Well, it looks like John Felix Arnold rocked Tokyo with his opening with Koutaro Ooyama at Spes Lab a few weeks back. Even a language barrier couldn't prevent the success of their collaboration. They invited everyone they met on trains, in cars, cafes, bars, restaurants, and people responded by attending, and bringing their families and friends as well.
 |
|
| Sanjay & Craig Premiere Party (+LA)
Last Thursday evening, I was lucky enough to get invited to Nickelodeon's premiere party for their newest cartoon, Sanja & Craig, created by three awesome dudes - Andreas Trolf, Jim Dirschberger, and Jay Howell. Hosted at Tony's Salon with pizza provided by Pizzanistas, the premiere party was filled with libations and celebrations, even a break-dance battle broke out. Congrats to everyone who worked on the show, and especially Trolf, Jim, and Jay who all have been working tirelessly on it. Sanja & Craig premiered Saturday 10:30 am 11 am on Nickelodeon. You can watch Sanjay and Craig Episode 1: Brett Venom on hulu. and read about how the guys came up with it in this interview with The LA Times. Now, here's some photos from the premiere.
 |
|
| Travis Millard Was Almost Rusty Millard
Drawing Stories is a new series from our buddy Travis Millard. Grab a cup of hot coco, get your slippers on and enjoy some time with your uncle Millard.
 |
|
| Tofer Chin @Lu Magnus (+NYC)
Los Angeles Christofer Chin (Tofer) emailed over some install shots of his current show Ar running in NYC at Lu Magnus through June 29th. Simple/ clean and continuing his op artstyle Tofer Chin features new paintings, photographs, and sculpture continuing his exploration of geologically and architecturally inspired Minimalist forms.
 |
|
| Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival
More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.
 |
|
| TrustCorp @Lebasse (+Los Angeles)
TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.
 |
|
| The Sound of Dust
I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.
 |
|
| Murals at Harry Wirtz Elementary
Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.
 |
|
| Ryan De La Hoz @RVCA through 5/25
Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.
 |
|
| Daniel Chen @The Book and Job Gallery (SF)
The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future
 |
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Whole Foods Rips Off Corey Arnold?
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 13:57
Tucker Nichols emailed over this Whole Foods poster (below right) which looks a lot like one of Corey Arnold's photos (bottom left). Coincidence? Where they inspired by Corey's photo? Did Corey actually shoot the photo? Who knows and Corey is fishing for salmon right now (like this), so we can't ask him to find out.
Wait, on this Instagram, Corey Arnold writes "Ripped off!", so we guess that's your answer.
Whole Foods highly inspired by a Corey Arnold photo. Ripped off?
//////////
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:39
Homemade Tattoos (+How To)
Friday, 14 June 2013 10:00
Yeah, bad tattoos are basically a bummer, right? But they're also pretty much a rite of passage for bored and disenfranchised-feeling teenagers the world over. At least it was for about 95% of the people I know. Going to a reputable tattoo shop and getting a wizard or unicorn drilled into your lower back is totally fine, but nothing really takes the place of sitting around with a bunch of friends and some beers, enthusiastically taking turns poking each others' arms full of bad ideas-which actually is fun at any age.
Homemade Tattoos
Andreas Trolf's feature is an olde but goodie
///
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 11:56
Oakland: Organizers Trying to Keep Monthly Street Art Party Alive
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 15:18
OAKLAND -- First Fridays is hoping Oakland hasn't seen the last of the one of a kind event... The street art party is free to attend, but organizers say with police and other costs the price tag to throw the monthly party is $20,000... The City of Oakland has been footing the bill for months and after kicking in $500,000, it's pulling the plug... Organizers are now asking for donations and developing a vendor fee schedule to try and keep the party alive. ~continue reading
From a Fecal Face visit to one in 2008 ( pics)
June Group Show @Guerrero Gallery Saturday
Thursday, 13 June 2013 09:52
SAN FRANCISCO -- Guerrero Gallery, here in the Mission, opens their summer group show this Saturday, June 15th, featuring works from a steller lineup: Daniel Albrigo, Ryan Travis Christian, Alejandro Diaz-Ayala, Frohawk Two Feathers, Michelle Guintu, Justin Hager, Cody Hudson, Terry Powers, Rye Purvis, Victory Reyes, Jamie Williams, and Yarrow Slaps.
~complete details
Work by Alejandro Diaz-Ayala
Austin McManus Photography
Monday, 10 June 2013 14:06
NYC based Austin McManus updates his site with more tasty photography like the below image from his "Partner in Crime" series.
Image from Austin McManus' "Partner in Crime" series
SOEX's Monster Drawing Rally
Tuesday, 11 June 2013 12:42
SAN FRANCISCO --- Southern Exposure hosts thier annual Monster Drawing Rally Friday, June 14, 2013 at THE NWBLK, 1999 Bryant Street (at 18th). Tons of great artists auctioning works at a starting price of only $60.
A live drawing and fundraising event with 120 artists working side by side. The event lets spectators to observe artists in the act of creation, providing the opportunity to watch a drawing come to life, and to purchase a work of art minutes after its completion. Drawings are available for purchase immediately for just $60 each.
~complete details
Disputed Banksy graffiti art sold for $1.1M in London
Tuesday, 04 June 2013 14:00
Wonder if our old emails with Banksy are worth a few thousand dollars. It seems everything the dude touches is worth a million dollars these days! Nutty and much deserved.
A disputed Banksy graffiti artwork removed from a gritty London neighbourhood has sold for approximately $1.1 million US at auction. The provocative Slave Labour (Bunting Boy) sold at a private auction held by concierge firm The Sincura Group at the London Film Museum on Sunday, according to Bloomberg news service. The spray-painted, stenciled work depicts a child labourer using an antique sewing machine to create a Union Jack bunting.
-Continue reading
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 |
|
| |
|
| Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival
Henrik Haven, who keeps us up to date in all that's Copenhagen, emailed over some photos from the Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival that's running throughout June. In this short installment he introduces us to the work of urban/graffiti artist and illustrator NYCHOS.
|
|
| Kelly Tunstall's A16 Commissions
Kelly Tunstall, who's showing w/ Ferris Plock at FFDG this August 16th, recently finished some commissions for A16 in Oakland. Here's a little taste, and check out her last year's show at FFDG.
|
|
| Brendan Monroe Sculptures, A How To
Brendan Monroe, whose show Melting Into the Floor runs through June 15th at LA's Richard Heller, creates these great wooden sculptures and featured a bunch in the show... He's often asked how he goes about making them and gives us at Fecal Face a little 'how to' on the process.
|
|
| Mural by Curiot (+Mexico)
Mexico City based Curiot, whose sold out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran last March at FFDG, just finished this great mural entitled "El Retorno de Akhankutli" in Mexico. He recently completed one in Berlin too which we'll be posting in the coming week. The guy is very very talented in our eyes.
|
|
| The Pizza Slice(r) by Henry Gunderson
This made our day. Not only do we love pizza but we also love Henry Gunderson... So a board shapped like a hot slice designed by Henry Gunderson for The Good Company, well... this writer needs to go for a slice right now.
|
|
| Wendell McShine @Fifty24SF
Wendell McShine (lives in Mexico City, from Trinidad) opened his newest show, Raccoon's Law, at Fifty24SF on Saturday night. ARYZ was a tough act to follow, but McShine held his own in the space... With a combination of a mural, a video, and both drawings and mixed-media works on paper, the diversity of this solo show was impressive. The Raccoon drawings were especially attractive as the way he executed them looked like they actually had fur coming off the page, and you can only imagine how soft it would be to touch. I was lucky to see his work in person through this show, and I hope to encounter more in the future.
|
|
| Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest
Ingrid Wells just got her MFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and these oil paintings from her Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest were on display as part of the recent MFA exhibition... Ingrid Wells works and lives in San Francisco.
|
|
| "Out the Window" at Prohibition Gallery
Henry Gunderson emailed over some photos from his recent group show with Andrew Luck, Jordan Bogash, and Mario Ayala "Out The Window" which ran at the Los Angeles based Prohibition Gallery.
|
|
| The Tornatos in Moore, OK by Justin Clemons
I got there the day after the tornado came through. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My mind just could not grasp what my eyes were seeing. It was just too much to take in, too much to process. So, I did what comes naturally and took images. It sort of helped me separate from the chaos and helped me focus.
|
|
| Hyuro "In/Between" at ArtRebels
Check out this, what could be, one of the longest murals ever created. Hyuro from Valencia, Spain was recently in Copenhagen for the solo show "In/Between" at ArtRebels.
|
|
| ARYZ's TL Mural and The Apple
Rachel Ralph spotted Barcelona-based ARYZ working on his mural in the TL a couple weeks back, and we forgot to share the pics. His show at Fifty24SF opened back in April.
|
|
| Oversized Paintings by Jeffrey Cheung
Jeffrey Cheung emailed over some photos from a recent one night show he had at Terra Gallery/ event space. The May 19th show also featured live music by Oakland garage rockers Twin Steps and Coldtergeist.
|
|
| Alison Blickle at Eleanor Harwood thru June 15th
Great solo show by LA based Alison Blickle (Born 1976) up now at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood gallery. History of Magic Part 1... The Hermitage runs through June 15th 2013. -- 1295 Alabama St. Hours: Wed thru Sat (11-6pm)
|
|
| John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 4)
Well, it looks like John Felix Arnold rocked Tokyo with his opening with Koutaro Ooyama at Spes Lab a few weeks back. Even a language barrier couldn't prevent the success of their collaboration. They invited everyone they met on trains, in cars, cafes, bars, restaurants, and people responded by attending, and bringing their families and friends as well.
|
|
| Sanjay & Craig Premiere Party (+LA)
Last Thursday evening, I was lucky enough to get invited to Nickelodeon's premiere party for their newest cartoon, Sanja & Craig, created by three awesome dudes - Andreas Trolf, Jim Dirschberger, and Jay Howell. Hosted at Tony's Salon with pizza provided by Pizzanistas, the premiere party was filled with libations and celebrations, even a break-dance battle broke out. Congrats to everyone who worked on the show, and especially Trolf, Jim, and Jay who all have been working tirelessly on it. Sanja & Craig premiered Saturday 10:30 am 11 am on Nickelodeon. You can watch Sanjay and Craig Episode 1: Brett Venom on hulu. and read about how the guys came up with it in this interview with The LA Times. Now, here's some photos from the premiere.
|
|
| Travis Millard Was Almost Rusty Millard
Drawing Stories is a new series from our buddy Travis Millard. Grab a cup of hot coco, get your slippers on and enjoy some time with your uncle Millard.
|
|
| Tofer Chin @Lu Magnus (+NYC)
Los Angeles Christofer Chin (Tofer) emailed over some install shots of his current show Ar running in NYC at Lu Magnus through June 29th. Simple/ clean and continuing his op artstyle Tofer Chin features new paintings, photographs, and sculpture continuing his exploration of geologically and architecturally inspired Minimalist forms.
|
|
| Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival
More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.
|
|
| TrustCorp @Lebasse (+Los Angeles)
TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.
|
|
| The Sound of Dust
I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.
|
|
| Murals at Harry Wirtz Elementary
Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.
|
|
| Ryan De La Hoz @RVCA through 5/25
Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.
|
|
| Daniel Chen @The Book and Job Gallery (SF)
The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future
|
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