Casey Curran is a Seattle artist who’s ability to fuse thick old books and miles of wire is beyond crafty. Not only does he have the skills to rework wire into an etymologically perfect insect, many of his works feature a hand crank and moving parts on the background of several seamlessly connected, once loved books. Curran’s crafty works can be seen at Gallery IMA in Pioneer Square, and the link, where there is series of his work in glorious vintage (looking) motion.

1. Who or What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
Well that’s two questions. The answer to the first being Alexander Calder. I think of him as the seed that sowed the forest, and a more resent inspiration would be Arthur Gansen. Both are kinetic artists and I gained much of my mechanical inspiration from each. My biggest inspiration art-wise is antiquated knowledge. I like to rummage through old bookstores turning through time yellowed pages and the cracked spines of hard bound books. It’s interesting to read a book written over a hundred years ago and see how the values imbued there apply to the values of contemporary society.

2. What is your favorite local book store?
I do most of my art gathering at both Twice Told Tales and Half Price Books. Half Price Books has a better dumpster though.

3. Where is the best place to view art in Seattle?
You mean besides Gallery I.M.A. where I show my art right? I’d have to say Greg Kucera has consistently good shows but I really like what the Frye has been doing in the last year or so.

4. Best place to hide in public?
The best place to hide is in the open. More often than not when you’re having a really good hair day.

5. What is the best site or blog that we don’t know about yet?
I don’t read blogs, I just listen to NPR. You’ve heard of NPR right?

6. If you could go to any planet in our solar system which would it be?
I’d like to see what’s in the middle of Jupiter’s giant red spot. Of course I would see this from space in the safety of my rocket ship. I wouldn’t really be able to see it from the ground. In fact there really isn’t any ground to Jupiter, just gas eventually compressing to liquid.

Casey Curran on YouTube

[Editor’s Note: As in the print magazine’s Artist Portfolio, the blog feature will showcase exceptional visual talent in all mediums. Please send submissions to ali @ rivetmagazine.org.]

Friends and UW MFA graduates Fred Muram and Mike Simi created Fire Retard Ants to artistically revist the awkardness of their childhood.  Their work about “growing pubic hair, fighting ninjas, eating Cheez Whiz, all while maintaining a C+ average, so their parents will take them to Pizza Hut” is featured this month at SOIL in Pioneer Square.

Title: T.A.R.P.
Medium: 35″x”45″ Archival Inkjet Print

http://fireretardants.wordpress.com/
 

[Editor’s Note: As in the print magazine’s Artist Portfolio, the blog feature will showcase exceptional visual talent in all mediums. Please send submissions to ali @ rivetmagazine.org.]

Friends and UW MFA graduates Fred Muram and Mike Simi created Fire Retard Ants to artistically revist the awkardness of their childhood.  Their work about “growing pubic hair, fighting ninjas, eating Cheez Whiz, all while maintaining a C+ average, so their parents will take them to Pizza Hut” is featured this month at SOIL in Pioneer Square.

Title: WHY ARE YOU PISSING WITH THE DOOR OPEN
Medium: Mixed Media
Date: 2007

http://fireretardants.wordpress.com/
 

[Editor’s Note: As in the print magazine’s Artist Portfolio, the blog feature will showcase exceptional visual talent in all mediums. Please send submissions to ali @ rivetmagazine.org.]

Friends and UW MFA graduates Fred Muram and Mike Simi created Fire Retard Ants to artistically revist the awkardness of their childhood.  Their work about “growing pubic hair, fighting ninjas, eating Cheez Whiz, all while maintaining a C+ average, so their parents will take them to Pizza Hut” is featured this month at SOIL in Pioneer Square.

Title: Fire Retard Ants Curiously Investigating Wearing Ski Masks
Medium: 35″x”35″ Archival Inkjet Print
Date: 2007

1. Who or what is your biggest artistic inspiration?
FRT#2 (Mike) believes that his is confessional literature.
FRT#1(Fred)thinks his biggest inspiration is his angst pot… which is
animaginarycauldron created to hold all of Fred’s angst.

2. Where is the best place to view art in Seattle?
FRT#1 (Fred) Has a fondness for SAM and the Henry Art Gallery and
Western Bridge.
FRT #2 (Mike) FRT#1 agrees with FRT #2.

3. What is your favorite local bookstore?
FRT#2 (Mike) Amazon.com - avoid the crowd- buy books in your undies.
FRT#1(Fred)There is a cool little shop somewhere downtown that sells
tonsofsocialist lit, but there’s also a really cute girl that works
there, whoI always tell I’m Canadian.

4. If you were a typeface which one would you be?
Are there any other typefaces than Helvetica?

5. What is the best blog that we don’t know about yet?
Other than the FIRE RETARD ANTS BLOG?
FRT#1 (Fred) I’m kind of a fan of We Make Money Not Art
FRT#2(Mike) I don’t really read blogs all that much, but really likewatching
television, reading books, and listening to music.

http://fireretardants.wordpress.com/
 

[Editor’s Note: As in the print magazine’s Artist Portfolio, the blog feature will showcase exceptional visual talent in all mediums. Please send submissions to ali @ rivetmagazine.org.]

Visit Alon’s website at www.asimplebag.com 

[Editor’s Note: As in the print magazine’s Artist Portfolio, the blog feature will showcase exceptional visual talent in all mediums. Please send submissions to ali @ rivetmagazine.org.]

Visit Alon’s website at www.asimplebag.com