Chat It Up : Interview With Artist Kristina Smith

For this artist interview i caught up with an old friend of mine from high school Kristina Smith. Me and Kris did the whole high school art thing together and I've been a big fan of her work for a long time now. Her paintings are executed with such perfect technique and i must say I find it so alluring that her paintings depict beautiful scenes of abandonment and time. She paints these scenes of discarded furnishings in alleys, streets, and creates such aesthetically pleasing images of scenes we would typically walk right past in everyday life. I have a strong appeal to the fact that she speaks of the American Culture, in contrast to my work, and that there is a lot of bricks in her work as well. Kris Smiths works always reminds me how important beauty is in our society and often the things we last think are beautiful are the most poetic and beautiful things of all. below we discuss American culture, MILFS, DILFS, and the politics of aesthetics. Enjoy!

I've included some of her work above and a photo of her working in her studio. Also there is a great photo of her in which I believe she is wearing a Novem Studios hoodie. Novem Studios are great friends of mine as well.

Emanuel Aguilar: Hello Ms. Smith thank you for agreeing to an interview with me. For the record please state your name and title.

Kristina Smith: I am Kris Smith and I am an oil painter and draftsperson

EA: Nice. So Kris. What would you say dominates your practice.

KS: Images of thrown out and abandoned furniture.

EA: I been familiar with your work long enough to have seen a great deal of change in direction. You used to do a lot more portraiture and the sort, what interest shifted your direction

KS: It kind of happened on accident. i have always preferred working in detail and in realism, and when i found the proper subject, it just stuck.

EA: I must say your skill is quite impressive, it always has been.

KS: You're too kind

EA: In recent times theres been a long debate on the death of painting and such, but i can tell you based on last years Venice Biannale and what i been seeing around that painting is very much in. What would you say on the matter

KS: It can be debated whether or not painting is contemporary enough a medium for these times, but i feel it's one of those aspects of art that will never die. its come this far, and its still a popular major in schools. if it were a truly dying medium, i feel schools would not continue teaching traditionally. And paintings are still widely exhibited in popular galleries.

EA: yes well i think theres a lot more debate within school regarding the teaching of painting. In a sense many schools stray from it . I think in a sense the times began to see a lot more technologies and mediums so it influenced over art production a lot. Andy Warhol once sad to Francesco Clemente that painting wasn't dead it was the sense of a master piece that had died

KS: This is true, there are many mediums and directions in which art can go, but so much can be done with each of those mediums and one can paint in various styles and ways. i know some kids that paint in photo shop, but is that not painting? Even so, i may not even be a painter my entire career. i am open to all media.

EA: True what is painting if not just paint moved around and arrange upon a surface.

KS: Right.

EA: The reason I brought that up was because your work in a sense can read more contemporary than the painting is dead era, there is so much attention to technique which is something that has been overlooked so much in past times, but your work reads of contemporary subjects and approach. I mean the furniture and the architecture and street all speaks of a time and place and yet it could be timeless and it could speak of today. I enjoy that very much in your work, the idea of captured beauty in time.

KS: Thanks! I was hoping they would be viewed in such ways! the idea also speaks for America's throwaway society, and although it can be an aesthetic piece, the paintings also try to make a statement., however the statement is more subtle than the colors and aesthetics of it all. especially when all that detail is involved.

EA: I mean aesthetic in a way is the strongest statement of our Culture. Were such beauty obsessed.

KS: For sure

EA:We throw out the old because we want nothing but new and pretty. Since i mentioned Andy Warhol earlier, he once also said "pretty gets you pretty far"

KS: That's so true.you can definitely school me on some Warhol philosophy.

EA: Ha I wish I could , I think thats as much as I know of him. No you haven't, do please

KS: What u know is useful

EA: Thank you

KS: It's called "America the comfortable"

EA: Ha ha Its sad its so true.

KS: Of course a take on the phrase America the beautiful.And what with this furniture that was once loved and enjoyed being thrown out for something better and cozier. Among other meanings.

EA: Poor Furniture. I personally like things a little worn in and with some history

KS:: I can understand it can be hard to part with things, perhaps these owners are reluctant but feel that new furniture is necessary.

EA: In contrast to when i spent some time in Italy, men adore older women there the older the better. Its such a great aspect of Italian culture an appreciation for experience and good aging.

KS: Wow! Yeah, you hear some pretty creepy things about American men and their obsession with the younger of the opposite sex, but then you hear about this "milf" obsession where older women are viewed as sexy and more appreciated.

EA: Well I think MILF surrounds and older woman who resembles more of a younger one.

KS: Ahh true

EA: But the MILF term always reminds me of Milk I don't know why which doesn't translate well to me in terms of allure.

KS: But doesn't the age add to their appeal? but perhaps what your saying is in Italy the women show that age, whereas a MILF does'nt show their true age as much? Yeah true.

EA: Exactly. Ha. And we all know what the term DILF reminds me and thats not ok either.

KS: hahahah!

EA: So miss Smith what do have planned for the long term.

KS: Indeed, well, I can't wait to return to school. I want to expand my artistic horizons and learn to work successfully in other mediums. Even if its just to experiment, if it becomes the new direction of my art.Then I want to instruct art at an institution while being a working artist as well. I enjoy sharing the knowledge of my passions.

EA: Sounds great. Yeah I cant wait for grad school either. I'm ready to move forward as well. Experimentation is a great thing in art. Most great discoveries happen by accident . I think the most important thing is to always remain focused on what drives you be it your subject matter, your influence, or your medium of choice.That sounds great, you'd be a great teacher!

KS: Thank you! Yeah, art can be a very flexible path if you want it to be.

EA:Yeah I definitely agree. I think its important that Artist gain more of an influence in society and culture.

KS: Have you had a chance to check out more grad schools since our NY failed attempts?

Most definitely.

EA: Ha yes i was just in NY two weeks ago. I got some great info. we should discuss some time. Well miss Kris I think you have a lot to share with the world with your work. Any upcoming shows you'd like to let anyone know about.

KS: Awesome, look forward to the convo! ... but yes i am working hard t complete enough pieces for my first solo show opening on July 20th 2008. It's in Beverly shores Indiana from 1140am-330pm in the afternoon. In the train terminal area. s if one wants to go, the south shore train from downtown drops you off right there.

EA: Great . I'll be there and everyone should check out your work. Well Miss Smith thank you very much for a great interview. Any final words of wisdom, thoughts you'd like to share?

KS: The pleasure was all mine! Words of wisdom? Umm....Keep reading Eman's blog if you're looking for some great perspective on today's art community! I'm bad with on the spot wisdom....

EA: Ha Ha, Thank you very much. We should add a disclaimer that I didn't for this great PR. Greatly appreciated, I'm glad to bring great artist work to everyone out there.

KS: Oh but artist should always keep looking at what's out there. Keep up with the competition.

EA: Agreed. And Scene.

Emanuel Aguilar

New Work : Happy American Child.......

Here are two of my works with American Cheese. Take it my last post, I felt it appropriate to share these works. I use American cheese for various reasons from its cultural symbolic power, it's iconic name and color, and it will never go bad thanks to tons of preservatives added. The first piece is "Untitled(Happy American Child)" and the second is "Untitled(Out of One,Many)" . I'll discussed these works more in depth soon. Till then enjoy.


Emanuel Aguilar

Check It Out: Post-Black: There and Back Again , Kerry James Marshall at U of C

So I'm posting this on very short notice. Tomorrow or today (Sunday), at 2pm Kerry James Marshall, Darby English (U. of Chicago), Kym Pinder (SAIC) and Greg Foster Rice (Columbia College) will be having a discussion at University of Chicago's Kent Hall in conjunction with the Renaissance Society's exhibition “Black Is, Black Ain't”. This exhibition brings into question many things that I find intriguing and worth exploring with my work. the over popular approach to the irreverence of racial identity in today's culture is a very interesting twist in the way race is looked at in our times. Is race even important anymore, In a way the hybrid I often speak about, the idea that as our society here in the US progresses the blurred lines of cultural and racial segregation begin to go from blurry to non existent. That in todays time we are looking at exploring a new form of identity, a hybrid for say, one which is yet to be defined but is causing all sorts of new advancements in what it means to be American or better yet what it means to be an individual in all the sense of the meaning of the word. Yet with all this said it is interesting to note that the more "a like" we all become the more "different" w e tend to pull towards becoming. It is in fact that race is a construct of society yet it holds such a dominance over distribution of powers, class, and importance in society and life itself. I for one believe in the idea that as our society moves forward the question of race means less and less what it meant to those before us. This in saying that race is a thing thought and therefore its a thing that can be "unthought" in a sense. We see this in our modern day in our children. The blurring of lines is most present in children whom have yet to be tainted by the politics of society. Perhaps in these children will finally begin to move forward one becoming less aware of what makes us all different and relax with the knowledge of knowing that we are all more alike and just enough of not the same. I will be at this talk. I was just in New York at Kerry James Marshall's opening at Jack Shainman Gallery, and it was a great show. Mr. Marshall is a very talented and intelligent man but he is also a very nice and down to earth guy. If you can check out the discussion at U of C tomorrow. Ill be there.

I've attached some photos of Kerry James Marshall's work and a piece by Carl Pope.

Emanuel Aguilar

Chat It Up: Artist Interview with Photographer Beth Montoya

I took a bit of a break and finished finals ( All A's , thank you) and went to New York ( got my bag stolen) but more on all that later. In this artist interview we catch up with Beth Montoya. She is a very good friend of mine who recently left the city of Chicago for Dayton, Ohio? But non the less she produces some very interesting work via photo, more specifically digital photos. Her work is very seductive in many ways, the great shots shes able to get with a digital camera, the often inclusion of sexuality, and the fact that they speak of moments that we often find very uninteresting, moments alone. You know the kind of moments shows like the Real World edit out of the final aired shows. Also in a way they speak of the form of feminism existent post women's right to vote and the whole feminist movement of the 70's and 80's. It draws on questions of what does feminism mean today in contemporary politics and society. Liberation, freedom, sex and proud?! Below we discuss her influence from Myspace and Facebook, the popular inclusion of shot glasses in contemporary self portraits, and Edward Hopper and his depressing yet beautiful works. Enjoy!!!


Emanuel Aguilar: So hello Mrs. Montoya for the record please state your full name and title.

Beth Montoya: Hello, Emanuel. My name is Beth Montoya, former bank teller.

EA: Haha. I see. well thank you for agreeing to this interview. Now i know you have said in the past you don't consider yourself an artist but I find your photography work to be out most interesting, how would you describe your photo work.

BM: Well, thank you. I'd say my work is pretty self-indulgent. Most people I know don't like to pose and I'm not generally one for scenic shots, so I just photograph myself. It's sort of half photography, half modeling. Without the anorexia.

EA: Yes, I kinda feel the same way about my work sometimes. Plus other people frustrate easily sometimes. So you would say your work is more of a productive way to pass time or do you have messages within these works. haha. Yes, very much so. maybe a little of bitchy also though, I mean they are all about you and nothing but you

BM: I definitely do tend to take more photos when there's nothing on TV and I've been on the internet for too long, but I also take these photos to show that there are more interesting ways of presenting yourself than with boring, smiling head shots.

EA: HaHa. so in a way there a response to myspace and facebook.

BM: Very much so. Nothing disappoints me more than seeing badly cropped pictures of someone posing for the camera with a shot glass.

EA: I mean you do include hints of popular culture within these photos. But the photos themselves seem very distant from popular culture or society in a way. Kinda like your in this jail or box and your only understanding of the outside is via the computer.

BM: Well, I'm a pretty distant person. I couldn't put a picture of me partying it up on my facebook profiles because such pictures do not exist.

EA: Ha, I think I've seen a few, but I also think I'm the only other person included in those photos. Distance sometimes is important in a world with so little privacy , I mean how hard is it to really just google someone and find them and all their past internet history, its almost scary. Your photos remind me of how important sometimes it is to self reflect and find ones place within the craziness that is life. I mean theres a slutty, a dorky, a geek, a jock, a everything within us all.

BM: I like self portraits because you're completely in control of the result. You decide what parts of yourself you want to show and you do it in a way that hopefully has some beauty in it. Or ugliness, if that's what you're going for. Or beauty in ugliness.

EA: Nicely Put. Ha yes, Ugly can be pretty sometimes.........Do you go into a photo knowing exactly what kind of character to portray or do you just come up with it as you go?

BM: I generally have a certain mood in mind, but I also take a lot of pictures so I can try variations. The wonders of digital cameras.

EA: Ah yes. One of the greatest invention up there with Wii and fat free soft serve ice cream. So any artist or celebrity influences you'd say are big inspirations?

BM: As you know, I've always been partial to Edward Hopper's depressing paintings. There's an untold story in each one. An untold story of isolation and loneliness. I don't think all of my photos necessarily tell a story (mostly because that involves props and settings and things I'm generally not in the mood to bother with), but I'm a big fan of isolation as portrayed in art.

EA: HAHA. You know your fascination with Mr. Hopper never made so much sens eto me as it does now. I mean you are like a living Edward Hopper painting.

BM: I think you'll agree that being social is overrated.

EA: So in conclusion, do you think you would ever consider your work as art , I mean i feel in a way your work can speak very loudly to many people on translatable terms, .... And Yes I do agree with that, sometimes all we need is a nice cup of coffee a comfy chair and a poke your friend electronic button to have a social life, and you know what thats ok with me.

BM: At the very least, I try to be artistic about the presentation. Sometimes I just take pictures of myself to be vain and see which angle of my face is the most flattering. But, you know, that's something everyone should try. Everyone can present themselves as interesting and beautiful if they're not afraid to put down the shot glass and wipe off that phony smile. And if, in the process, you can make a statement with your presentation, then, well, that's pretty cool.

EA: Your a genius, I say. Thank you very much for your time. I hope to see more vanity and self indulgence form you in the future. Till then have a pleasant day, I would say exiting and fun filled, but you currently live in Ohio.

BM: I will try.


Emanuel Aguilar

Friends of Eman Show: Kriss Smith

Kriss Smith is a dear friend of mine from the High School days. She is an amazing painter. Check out her work this Saturday.




Emanuel Aguilar

New Work : Colaboration with Ashley Bedore and for some reason Andrew Burkholder

Emanuel Aguilar

Finals Week !!!!!! Ya know

So it's been finals week and I've been super busy trying to finish things up. Funny a week ago I was sure i had nothing left to do and that this week would be a breeze. Man, was I wrong. But its ok. I've gotten some great critiques and comments. I'm off to New York in a week for a potential very big meeting. But ill discuss that after it happens. So its oen more day of finals then BFA show, then manifest destiny or whatever it is that Columbia festival thing is called, and then one week in the NYC and then school again , Yay. Anyways for all you college students I've added Mr. Maurizio Catellan's little squirrel piece because I'm sure we all can relate to him this week.


Emanuel Aguilar