50 Words With…Mamus
As an artist, you go by the name “Mamus.” How and why did you come up with that name?
I’ve had that nickname for a while. When a friend’s child was learning to speak, he wasn’t able to say James…thus Mamus [maym-uhs] was born. When I started showing my work I wanted to use something that sounded somewhat whimsical and more interesting than James Judd. Also, I have multiple illustrative styles that I work with. Using an alias for each helps me distinguish them and confuses the hell out of others.
Were you surprised that your pieces at TOYS were so well received? (You sold a majority of the pieces in the set.)
I’ve learned that most people tend to enjoy work with a curse word (fuck) in the title. So, I wasn’t really surprised that a room full of people drinking beer and wine liked them. What shocked me was that I sold anything considering the amount of wonderful work that was in the show.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I studied ceramics at Herron before dropping out a few years ago.
What is your artistic medium of choice?
Currently, I find myself using mostly polymer clay combined with found objects. There’s just something about using a material that most would cast off as a craft medium that’s interesting to me.
What’s your creative approach to developing art?
I’ll walk around thrift stores thinking up ideas for just about everything I see. It’s kind of awful, I have a massive amout of crap that I’ll never get around to completing.
What projects are you working on?
I’m working on ideas for a large scale show/installation. Probably something around 300-500 small extremely affordable sculptures enclosed in their own little world. I’ll start working on them and find a place to show it after the new year.
50 Words With…Mab Graves
How did you feel about winning Art vs. Art?
I was super-crazy exited and surprised! I really didn’t think I was going to win. I don’t really have any friends in the Art Community, so the only people I had there with me were my fiancée, Mom, Dad, little sister, and my Fed-ex guy! I guess they’re all real loud-mouths.
It seemed like an easy decision for you to put the winning painting up for auction and face the Wheel of Death. Why?
I painted the Bride of Frankenstein, and I really kinda wanted to see her die. I adore poetic irony in art. I mean, I didn’t want her to get beaten by another painting, but if I had taken her home with me that night, I probably would have had to cut her to pieces. It was irresistibly perfect.
So, you met your fiancée at a previous Art vs. Art?
Ya. One year ago. There was a lot of celebrating for us that night. Prize money = us eloping.
What’s your day job?
I work for Kids Ink, a local independent bookstore, in their school and library division. I mostly work on bringing authors and illustrators into the state and getting them into schools to encourage creative writing and drawing.
50 Words with…Hugh Vandivier
How did you come to be executive director of Primary Colours?
I came to know founder Jeff Martin though a mutual friend and would regularly attend openings at his gallery back in the day. He asked me to join the board of Primary Colours in 2005, and when the need for a paid staff person arose, the board decided that I was uniquely qualified to fill the position.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I earned an AB in English from Wabash College and an MSJ from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
So, how did a writer get involved in a visual arts nonprofit?
I was brought on board primarily to help with writing grants and communications for its events. Whether they be visual artists, musicians, or writers, creative people keenly observe our world and have an innate ability to solve problems. Oh, and I have long had an abiding love of the arts.
What’s your vision for the organization?
If you look at the cities that are strong and growing, they all have a vibrant cultural scene. To acheive this goal, I feel developing meaningful partnerships and mutual relationships is crucial. Primary Colours strives to help emerging artists showcase their talents and to educate and nurture their audience.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I volunteer as an assistant swim coach for Wabash College and as an advisor to my fraternity there, Phi Delta Theta. I like to write fiction and nonfiction essays. I love to watch movies and hang out with my friends. And I swim to keep in shape.
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50 Words with…Ryan Alvis
How did you feel about winning Art vs. Art?
In a word, thrilled. Shocked, as well, but I was genuinely thrilled.
It seemed like an easy decision for you to put the winning painting up for auction and face the Wheel of Death. Why?
Yeah, it was a no brainer for me. Holding the giant novelty check, I felt like I’d already been rewarded enough, so the idea of losing the painting if it didn’t sell was a moot point to me. Plus the audience clearly loves the wheel of death. You can’t deprive them of one last shot at seeing something destroyed.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I went to the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH. I majored in illustration there.
What’s your day job?
I work full time for Creative Street Media Group as an illustrator and graphic designer. Primarily, I pursue my illustration on a freelance basis.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I have a two and four year-old, so most of my spare time is spent hanging out with them.
50 Words with…Mark Ruschman
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
Earned a BA from Indiana University in Art Education.
What’s the history of the Ruschman Gallery?
I started my gallery in 1985 on Mass. Ave. It’s now located in the St. Joseph Neighborhood.
How did the formation of IDADA come about?
As founding member and past President of IDADA, it was created to give the local visual arts community a
unified voice in the Cultural Tourism Initiative started by former Mayor Bart Peterson.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing sports and long walks with my wife.
What elements contribute to create a truly vibrant art scene?
Everyone working together to create a diverse and rich art experience.
50 Words with…Lori Miles
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I graduated from Herron in 1998 with my BFA in Sculpture, from Notre Dame in 2001 with an MFA in Sculpture.
What have you been up to this semester at DePauw?
This semester I’m on a junior sabbatical at DePauw, working on a new body of work dealing with transitional spaces and moments.
What are some of your outside interests?
Outside of teaching and making art, my interests mostly revolve around my two kids, Gracie who’s 7 and Greg, 5.
What is your artistic medium of choice?
I am always drawn to sculptural form in all media because it exists in the same spaces we exist, and is subject to all the same forces.
What advice do you give your students who want to become professional artists?
I tell artists to be perpetually curious and observant. Their first three questions should always be: What is that? Whose is it? Can I have it?
50 Words with…Brad Bernard
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I earned a BFA in Painting from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 1993 and an MFA in Painting from University of Mississippi, Oxford in 2003.
What brings you to Indiana?
My wife is Visiting Owen Duston Assistant Professor of English at Wabash College.
Where have you exhibited recently?
I just recently exhibited at the Crosstie Arts and Jazz Festival in Cleveland, Mississippi, in the Delta.
What are some of your outside interests?
I enjoy bowling quite a bit and singing in the church choir.
What advice do you give someone wanting to become a career artist?
Just have discipline, be innovative, and be open to constructive criticism.
50 Words with…Brian Myers
How long have you been on the Primary Colours Board?
Almost three years now.
What’s your day job?
I work for the IUPUI, Herron School of Art. I’m a foundations instructor and shop technician.
Where did you go to school? What did you study?
I actually graduated from Herron with a degree in painting.
What is your artistic medium of choice?
Oils.
Why do you contribute your time to Primary Colours?
Over past few years, I have participated in the three main Primary Colours events: Art vs. Art, Allotropy, and Toys.
I enjoy being on the organizational side of these events because they offer great opportunities for artists while enriching the local community.
