My first stop on my way down the art extravaganza that is Court Street landed me at Bagel Street Deli. I was greeted by the bouncing sound of RJD2, the smell of steamed bagels, and the equally invigorating artist and bagel steamer Bill Anderson.
Anderson's art collection "Drink" has been on display at Bagel Street since his opening show in late September, with a free wine bar that was well received by the many alcohol connoisseurs of Athens. Anderson had time to sit down with me at one of the home-decorated deli tables, this time the table with many leaves, and explained what the works around us were all about.
"This is the culmination of about a year and a half or so of pieces," Anderson said. "I had a collective drive along the lines of a cartoon vocabulary with a context directed towards ideas that were pursued through drinking or intoxication."
Anderson's pieces range from a monotone map collage of a man on a hanging set of vertical blinds to a sunshine triptych hanging on the opposite wall. I asked Anderson about the noticeable contrast placed throughout the room.
"It's combining the child's perspective with the adult- the opposite of a drunken attitude- using a cartoon vocabulary to help me carry those ideas," Anderson said. "It's not so much a contrast, but accepting a contrast and then utilizing that to create this middle ground of understanding and inspiration."
Anderson chooses mediums like hanging blinds because they're logical items to his buyers.
"It's a recycled idea from one of my first shows in high school...I realize that people love to be able to hang stuff up that can go in their window because it's so economical, and it's fung shui, and it's neat that light can shine through and is still a functional thing. It's a space saver. The context of this piece has to do with being blinded and being drunk- so drunk you can't see."
As an Ohio University art student Anderson appreciates how to utilize the Athens community to explore his art ideas and experiment with the actual idea behind "Drink." After all, the idea is truly recycled: Anderson found these blinds in the dumpster. The yellow-themed triptych will soon be on display in the Standard Salon, another locally owned location. Anderson traded this painting with the salon for a hair cut and storage space. This community connection is what drew Anderson to display his work at Bagel Street.
"I didn't think about it twice," Anderson said. "I wanted to shy away from schools and do something by myself, totally DIY. This place- you can't beat Bagel Street. You don't have to be anyone here."
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3 comments:
I like the way you utilize Anderson to tell such an interesting story. Being someone with nothing but a vague interest in art, I was intrigued. I'll be back for the next post!
I enjoyed hearing the voice behind the artwork. Bagel Street Deli is a place I often find myself Sunday mornings. While the food is amazing, it takes a long time to get your order, leaving vacant minutes to stare at the artwork. I have noticed the collection, "Drink" and was interested to read the meaning behind it.
What a neat approach! The Athens art scene is certainly a prominent fixture in the community but one that is much more subtle than, say, projects in conjunction with the university. We are all generally aware that there are local artists running amuck and that their artwork graces the walls of many venues, but how often do we investigate on our own time to learn more about the artists and their pieces?
I enjoyed your writing immensely—you have a lovely vocabulary, which keeps things fun and fresh. You know the tricks of the trade, such as how to recreate the atmosphere through your eyes. You do a nice job of balancing direct quotes (I especially like the closing quote) with additional, paraphrased information. However, it felt just a tad bit methodical, considering this is a blog. Feel free to mix things up a bit—break from convention! I know it’s hard, since we’re trained as journalists to gather information and then spit it out in a pre-determined, outlined form. I think you could’ve written it much more narratively—think feature writing or, well, blogging! I know this was an interview piece, but you can put so much more YOU into it--your feelings, your impressions, your interpretations. You do a nice job setting things up by speaking in first person and describing details such as the music playing and the scent of the restaurant, as well as verbally illustrating the artwork, but what about Bill himself? What does he look, sound, smell like? I know the blog is about art, but don’t neglect the artist himself—I’m sure he’s just as dynamic. ☺
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