UVF PAINTING UNVEILED

So I guess one of the criteria of being an independent artist is the constant flood of weird inspirations to keep our creative soils from turning barren.

Most of these internal ramblings never see the light of day, like the idea I had of a short film showing the perils of everything that can go wrong in production. Then there are some ideas that you want to get to one day but may very easily die on the vine before you do. I have this one about a large black UVF van kidnapping local filmmakers for fun, let's hope I can get that one off the ground soon. The often frustrating thing about these little nuggets of artistic day dreaming is that you never know which are going sprout into full fledged ideas that reach fruition. That might be why we plant so many.

On one of these occasions (back in October of 2005) I was telling a fellow local filmmaker that I thought it would be fun to contract an artist to do a UVF painting that could be unveiled at a major showcase. Not exactly film related, but art is art, and I am a fan of it in all its forms.

So I threw the idea out at a few artists I know. The response was generally good and I had a few people that said they would love to try it sometime soon.

One of the painters I spoke with was Sarah Turner, a young woman with a dark style of art that some would call disturbed or haunting. Sarah pretty much hijacked the project as her own and instantly began spitting out ideas. She feverishly wanted to know when she could get started on it like a heroin addict liking their lips at the dirty spoon. Needless to say, she had just the type of spunk I was looking for.

Talking with Sarah takes an intense listener (something I'm not), she speaks quietly and often sounds deceptively unsure of herself. You'd almost think she wasn't inspired at all if her face didn't start beaming like a six year old when talking about her ideas for a project. Before you know what has happened she is showing you sketches of things you had mentioned in passing only a few moments earlier.

Luckily Ms. Turner is not a complete stranger to the world of independent film, her fiancé, Jason Wiley, has acted in a few local productions in the last two years and she has taken to helping him prepare for his roles and wash fake blood from his clothing from time to time.

After a few meetings to discuss the essence of the UVF and what type of icons work for independent film and 40's propaganda art she was off and painting. She didn't speak to me much for a few weeks as she rendered out the finished product, probably hoping I didn't add anything else, like a silly propaganda blimp or something.

I asked Sarah some questions about her work and the painting, here is what she had to say:

How long have you been painting?  
Aw, hell, forever.  But I didn't seriously work on a portfolio until six years ago.  I was a sophomore when I nearly failed photography...my extra credit paintings saved my butt,
haha.

Why did you start painting, and why do you continue to paint?   
Artwork is my therapy, my joy, my pastime, my best form of communication...It just seemed like the next logical step to me.  I can't remember a time without a crayon or pencil in my hand, and the progression to painting was a natural transition.  After all, I'm constantly moved to find new ways to exploit my muse...poor thing probably works in a sweatshop somewhere in my head.  
It's not a matter of why I continue as much as I can't stop, my
car has no brakes.  Creation is just so ingrained in my spirit now, that
to stop my art would take away a huge part of my soul, I'd literally be
half the person I was before.

Who are your biggest artistic influences?
Let's see...Salvadore Dali, Mark Ryden, Michael Parkes, Brom...do I really have to stop?  You can see how each are reflected in my artwork, but I try not to reflect them too much.  That would be cheating.

What do you think of the local 'art' scene?
I don't know enough about it to be brutally honest.  I know that sounds very uncultured.  But all I have to say is, all of you shy and insecure artists out there; get over it!!!  Las Vegas needs each and every one of you so put yourself out there!  I think whatever the "scene" is now, if we all came together we wouldn't just have a voice, we'd have an army.    All of you that complain that Vegas has no culture (I've been guilty of it as well), look around.  

What are your views on independent film?
Love the stuff.  How can anyone not love the fact that independent film is free to express whatever it wishes without some stupid studio contracthanging over their heads?  A smaller budget just means that the imagination has to work harder in order to make a film a success.
It's the combined effort of so many different souls to achieve one divine goal and in a film they learn to work and move and reach as one.  I really think it is humanity at its best.

What other art forms do you do?
If it's creative, I do it.  Novels, poetry, singing, acting, multi-medium works, sewing, drawing, digital artwork, graphic design and dolly-making.  Hell I even play a didgeridoo. Did I miss anything?  Probably.  
If you know of anything else fun and creative for me to play with let me know, I sort of have an insatiable appetite for such things.

Why did you agree to take on the UVF project?
Why the hell not?  I'd have done it even if I hadn't been asked I think, my hungry little muse grabbed it with both hands and it's probably still in her vice-grip clutches.  
I think that what UVF is doing is a wonderful thing for the community, they're clearing a path for all independent artists, whatever their medium, and it's a powerful calling.  The film world and the traditional art world are brethren, often interwoven.  If my brothers ask, they shall receive.

What do you personally think about the UVF painting?
Oh jeez, you just had to ask me that one didn't you?  I love the concept (no, I'm not giving it away), and it's something I can pour myself into and wallow in.  Right now it's kind of at the "Oh, hell, I'm never going to pull this off" stage.  I'm not worried at all though, all my artwork goes through the same exact states of mind and they all come together.

What do you expect from the unveiling of the UVF painting?
Um.  I don't exactly know, I've never done anything like this before.  I've been in art shows before, but always with several other artists and my audience wasn't very open minded...generally parents and grandparents who came to see their children's artwork and felt eyeball raped my works.  
Despite my reviews, however, I still hold to the fact that I am not a shock value artist, and all I can hope to expect is to reach a more open audience. Beyond that...I have no expectations.  It'll be an adventure.

Any other information you want to tell us?
I have a magic three toed sloth that lives in my bookshelf.  It comes out at night and tells me that I should never, ever close my eyes so that I never miss a second  of the beautiful world around me.  He keeps me innocent, and for that I'm grateful.


[added April 24th 2006]

Sarah Turners Painting was well recieved by all attendees of the after party. It was fun to see alot of the filmmakers and staff lining up to bhave thier picture taken next to art work that embodies independent filmmaking in Southern Nevada. We cannot thank Sarah Turner enough for her hardwork on that painting, her art embodies a growing movement that is Vegas film!

unzippedgraphics@yahoo.com

A ROSS