Life & Work with Breeze Smith of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Breeze Smith.

Hi Breeze, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From a very young age I had natural abilities for drawing and an eye for detail. Always with emphasis of inspiration from nature. Began music at age 11/12 on violin, but switched to drumset and percussion.
As a teenager, I was often times confused about spending time on my visual art creations. or spsending the time playing music.
Soon I realized that I could easily do both and they (visual arts & music/drums) began influence each other.
Art school took me into deeper depths of literally all of the visual arts.
With music, I was playing live and started recording at age 16/17.
After several years living in Denmark, everything began to focus more on each of my creative gifts.
On return to this country, I began working in metal works, then more finite wood working. Both of these led to a sculptural venture and eventually to unique, one-of-a-kind musical instruments.
After performing solo at a music conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, i received 3 commissions to create sound sculptures in the realm of kinetics.
Moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and began performing on drums & percussion with many improvising/world musicians.
Now I am creating various aspects of my viual arts and performing & recording in and around Southern California.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As mentioned, the idea that at a young age I sensed that I should focus on either visual arts or musical arts.

In music, I heard sounds in my imagination, yet I could never find the instrument to be able to create those sounds, until I heard all of the widely varied sounds that could be created with drums & percussion instruments. After my metal work and commissions, I had a dream about an all aluminum instrument – and I welded, shaped that instrument from from my dream, which is my ZebraBreeze instrument. Also I created an array of wood blocks from my wood working skills.

The moving around was a challenge for my growth and connections, from Ohio to Southern California to Denmark to England to Ohio and back to California.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
98% of my sculptures are playable sound sculptures

My paintings have elements of recycled materials in some way, which is another aspect of my influence of nature.

i have been told my musical creations are reflective of my visual arts and the same in the other, my various visual arts can move like sounds.

Since having access to cameras, I’ve been creating a long series of art photos, many are details of natural designs in nature. I also manipulate the images, even rapidly moving the camera in a flow like music in order to create moving images in light and color.

I have been complimented on my drumming as “one who floats” within and around pulsing, phrasing patterns with a range of cymbals and more specific tuning to make it more of another compliment “lyrical musical drumming”
I do my very best to set up my instruments in the most ergonomic design possible for ease and fluid motion.

Any big plans?
My most important part of my life as an artist is:

– to always be in a state of learning
– allow nature and spirit to be present within my creations
– find strong methods of using, listening, patience, meditation, visualization

Contact Info:

• Website: www.breezemuse.com
• Instagram: breezemuse888
• Facebook: Breeze Smith