Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Quinn.
I think what’s most important to my story or to the people that know me is my experiences with the supernatural. Ever since I was little kid, I was always drawn to this sort of unknown realm of something extra. I would check out stacks of books on ancient civilizations, UFOs, ghosts and stuff like that from the library and just trip out on it. Throughout my life I’ve had conscious encounters with spirits and been on spaceships in my dreams. I think what drives me forward is distilling these highly personal events through different forms of visual art and sound. It’s not always direct but it’s in there.
I’ve been painting and playing drums for almost my entire life so I guess those are sort of my staples for explaining my position in the world. Music is a big part of my existence, playing in different punk bands or projects or whatever. I’m in between bands at the moment but I have a personal, sort of experimental sound project that’s ongoing. Trying to dwell in the cellar of imagination.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is a lot of things looking back on it, but primarily related to painting. I’ve been working in watercolor on canvas for a few years now because I’m trying to figure something out about it. I like the idea of its impermanence until you choose to fix it. Each stroke effects the next, even after the first one dries like it’s ever-changing in its fluidity. In regards to content or subject matter, I’ve been using stars for over a year. Like a five-pointed star with funk and humanity but it references a lot of different things. Before that I was very image heavy and plan to be again in the future, maybe for another show coming up.
The form often changes based on the idea or the feeling. I don’t feel truly weighed down stylistically because it’s all related in the bigger picture. Lately, I’ve been sort of obsessed with the pulsating star shape, like waking up from a dream or rubbing your eyes and being transported for a moment. What I hope people get out of my work is a sense of possibility in the idea that there is so much to experience here and now in human form. A reminder to live psychedelically, or maybe a weird dream.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
My advice would be to of course make work when you can and find the time to do it. You can’t always afford to make art financially or mentally so when you’re ready just dive in. That being said, it may never be perfect timing but it’s important to get things out of your head even if you aren’t thinking at all. Even though the pressure to make something good or important can be stressful and discouraging, I learn something new every time I pick up a brush. Life happens but you have to designate a part of yours so you can grow your heart and mind through making. There are so many factors in the ability to create and sustain a practice, and everything I’ve done for money and otherwise was in support of this idea of a career.
Not really a lesson I wish I learned earlier but more something I learn more every day, is that people I look up to or was fortunate enough to work with or assist are seemingly just as lost as I am. It’s both frightening and reassuring for so many reasons. I used to get annoyed when people told me “it just happens” with no real advice. The whole art school “keep going” thing. But yeah, keep going. It’s definitely a lifelong journey. I guess most importantly, open your mind, follow your impulses, do what feels right, and be considerate.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see my work on my website and Bandcamp as an archive to compare an contrast different points in time, creatively. Last year was super busy but as of now, I don’t have any shows coming up until October, which is a solo show with Pt.2 gallery in Oakland. Exhibitions and IRL viewings are of course subject to change. Things pop up. It’s been kind of nice to have some time to get back in the studio on a new body of work and not have immediate deadlines. You can support my work by buying directly from my studio, coming over for studio visits, reaching out and saying hello, etc. There are many forms of support, all are appreciated, but the most valuable I think is community.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://benquinn.info
- Phone: 9376600612
- Email: benquinn.info@gmail.com
- Instagram: ben__quinn
- Other: http://guillotinesilverwolf.bandcamp.com
Image Credit:
Ben Quinn, “Flowers” and “Hallway Installation” courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery
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