Thursday, November 10, 2011

Interview with Jesse Treece





q)Who are you? Where are you from and where do you live now?

a)My name is Jesse Treece. I was raised, and still live, in Seattle, Wa. USA

q)What is it that you do? What media do you use?

a)I make collages or photomontages and I like to draw as well. I like to work with vintage materials, books and magazines from the 60's, 70's preferably. My other tools are scissors, exacto knife, glue stick, ruler and whatever solid surface I can find.

q)What do you think sets your work apart?

a)Hmm, I'm not sure. I like to think that most of my work is simple but striking. There are elements of absurdity, whimsy, surrealism, odd perspectives and some darker undertones that maybe people are drawn to. I also use landscapes a lot, everyone loves landscapes.

q)How long have you been showing your work for? Did you have a “big break?”

a)It's been a little over 2 years now I think since I started putting my stuff up on the web.

I don't think that I've had a "big break". Maybe an accumulation of "little breaks". The work that i'm most proud of is designing the cover art for Arrange's album Plantation (http://arrange.bandcamp.com/album/plantation), being published in some cool small press zines and getting to collaborate with some really amazing artists like Jeffrey Meyer( http://www.goofbutton.com/), Agogwe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/phokingdragon/) Delilah Jones (http://mymindisanisland.tumblr.com/), etc. And just the feedback I get from people that are really into my work, that's pretty cool!

q)What are some things that have inspired you?

a)Music, mindblowing art, film, books, comic books, people, lot's of things really.

q)What have you been working on recently?

a)I'm getting ready to start another collaboartaion with Delilah Jones and we have an ongoing project called Ice Cream Kingdoms (http://icecreamkingdoms.tumblr.com/) which is a book that is being passed around to different artists to add collage elements to. Other than that I'm always collecting materials and working on new stuff, I seem to always have a few sitting around waiting to be finished.

q)Do you listen to music while you create your work? If so, would you give some examples?

a)Yes, constantly. I'm currently really into the J. Mascis solo album, Gorgeous George by Edwyn Collins, Freedom Run by The Rifles, Romantic Comedy by Big Troubles, new singles from Dive, Terry Malts, Minks. I'm pretty much obsessed with anything on Captured Tracks and Slumberland Records right now.

q)Do you do work in any other media? Other projects not necessarily related to your main body of work?

a)I do dabble in drawing and playing music also but nothing serious at the moment. I would love to have the time to collaborate with someone on some kind of musical project, I have tapes and tapes of ideas that I've recorded when the inspiration strikes me.

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)Juat get it out there somehow! The internet is a great way to get your work seen. Put it up on a social network of your choosing, shop it around to galleries, coffee shops, artwalks. If it's good you'll find an audience.

q)Do you have any upcoming exhibitions of your work that you can mention?

a)I'm going to be part of a group show later this month at the Loading Bay Gallery in London. It's a launch show for Artistic.ly, a new website that will sell limited edition art prints. Other than that, nothing solid but I do hope to be involved in more shows next year.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)I have lot's of websites! People can see more of my work at www.collageartbyjesse.tumblr.com, http://www.flickr.com/photos/collageartbyjesse/, https://www.facebook.com/collageartbyjesse and prints can be purchased at http://society6.com/collageartbyjesse/prints and http://www.inprnt.com/gallery/jessetreece/.