MIKE EGAN TALKS TO TD // BACK CHAT

Mike Egan is a Pittsburgh artist who is influenced by funeral homes, death, blood, wolves and devils. Of course we had to speak with him to find out more! Heres an interview we did with him earlier this year..

It states on your website that you used to work as a funeral embalmer. How did you get into a career like that?

Well, the story goes that I went to college for fine arts, where I focused on printmaking. After school I didn't really know what to do with my degree and didn't have access to printmaking tools. I ended up moving back home and got a job working for the airlines as I was close to the Pittsburgh airport. After about six months of working there September 11th happened and I lost my job. So not really having a direction with my art and having an unstable job led me to look into the funeral industry. There is a mortuary school here in Pittsburgh and I was very interested in learning how to embalming and restorative art. I enjoyed the work but the hours are terrible. I was oncall most of the time to pick people up to embalm them which led to me staying home to learn painting.

Were you always an artist or did that develop after working there?

I've always loved art ever since I can remember. I'm a kid of the eighties so I grew up drawing skateboard graphics and album covers like the Beastie Boys "License to Ill" and Guns and Roses "Appetite for Destruction"

Your paintings heavily feature death and religion; Is it fair to say that they are a therapeutic creation to your work history with death? Or is it an influence?

I think that its a little of both. Working in funeral homes is definitely a big influence, I make reference to the human anatomy, churches, coffins and of course the running theme of death. But I feel like getting all of this out of my head and onto wood panels and paper is sometimes a huge relief. I think if I kept all of these thoughts in my head all of the time I'd go crazy.

Do you ever get any people that may protest against your work for religious reasons. If so, how do you handle it?

I've only had one person message me about my work for religious reasons. She said that she was concerned about all of the death that I paint and especially the devils. She felt that I needed to be saved by the Lord. If anybody has anything negative to say about my work I tend to let it go, everybody has an opinion and everyone has different beliefs. Did I like that she said that? No not at all, however responding with more negative words wouldn't have helped matters.

What else influences you and your style?

When I was in college my printmaking professors turned me onto the art of the German Expressionists and Jose Guadalupe Posada, they kind of got the ball rolling as far as my style. I like a lot of southern folk art like quilt patterns and hex signs. Really any old antiques or graphics, that's what I've been looking at lately, oh and Russian architecture.

The number 13 reoccurs throughout your work, what does this mean?

13 is a lucky number for me, so I tend to repeat it over and over again. However I sometimes use it as an unlucky number in paintings as people tend to associate it with Friday the 13th.

You've explored with transforming your designs into resin toys and flip books. Can we expect to see more of these?

I'm not too sure. I'd definitely like to do another vinyl figure. But I'd like to figure out how to do my own figures out of wood myself. With my work being very folk art influenced I think that carving wooden skeletons and devils would be pretty amazing if I can pull them off.

What do you have planned for the future? Any goals?

I've got a bunch of shows lined up for 2016, I'll just be in the studio painting nonstop this year. As far as goals I really just want to keep exploring different ways to tell my story and keep finding new people to collect my work.

http://www.mikeeganart.com

CHRIS D.O.G.T CHATS WITH TD // BACK CHAT

Earlier this year we discovered an exciting individual via the waters of Instagram. Chris Collins is not only a crazy bearded bloke high on life, but also co-owner of a unique art gallery, 'Defenders of Good Times' over in Oakland CA.  We had to find out more... Here's an interview from earlier this year.. 

How would you describe yourself as a creative individual and how have you balanced work life with this life choice?

Growing up I had no creative outlet. I was told that art was not my thing and for some reason I listened to that. So the majority of my life has been nonstop input, observing, studying and admiring from a spectators point of view. Now that I do make art and am constantly creating and releasing all of my ideas I realized that there is no balancing passion and work. They have to be one in the same so I have allowed creativity to consume my life. I've accepted the struggles acquired with what I have chosen to do artistically and learned from my hardships so I can adapt to the craziness of living poor and free. Making what I need instead of working for needless wants.

What are your inspirations / motivations?

My main inspiration is life and all of the crazy shit that I have seen throughout my years. I have gone through an endless list of lifestyle changes and feel that I have lived through them all in order to find myself. I am for the most part still as lost as I ever was, which I think allows me to remain inspired. I have also been surrounded by images that give me a tangible source of inspiration whether it's skateboard graphics, album covers, tshirt designs, comic books, toys, stickers patches, pins, architecture or nature. I just constantly see things that spark ideas in my head and make me want to create something that can spark ideas in others. My motivation is the desire to be a part of life and effecting people's minds so that they realize they are not alone and can relate with other weirdos and to brighten people's view in a world that's clouded by mass media and emotional burdens.

What is D.O.G.T?

Defenders Of Good Times is an open minded, open submission art collective that gathers artists at a round table all on the same wall based around the idea of no rules and no expectations in any medium and subject matter. This allows the artist to show an honest display of their creativity and artistic expression with no restriction and no avenue of acceptance. Everyone is accepted in this movement, no matter the individuals personal actions, lifestyle decisions, experience in "art" or status in the art world. Someone's first doodle can have as much of an effect as someone's masterpiece that they have spent years creating. Not to downplay people's hard work but there will always be someone that appreciates or understands what it is that you are doing, even if it's as simple as making someone smile for a second. What you produce effects the world in some way.

Why did you create D.O.G.T? / Do you feel there is a lack of opportunities for creatives to exhibit their work where you live?

I have seen so many discouraged artists that have personally impacted my life and stagnant people that don't create because they feel like what they make serves no purpose and is just "crappy" and honestly some of the work that I have seen by rookie D.O.G.T artists has left an awesome impression in my mind and made me apprectiate the simplicity of honest release through art. I want people to feel understood and appreciated for their productivity. No one should be looked down upon by people more experienced. We are all just expressing our love for the things we consider good times!

Has there been any tough obstacles for you whilst setting up D.O.G.T?

D.O.G.T has been filled with endless obstacles and struggles, which I cannot imagine will slow down anytime soon. There is no perfecting this, it is a collective of over a thousand artists run by myself and one other person, Kiki. This was all started from nothing, just an idea with no financial backing or prior knowledge of the art world and how things are supposed to be done. Every day is just another set of lessons learned. Basically I have no idea what I am doing so D.O.G.T as a whole is an obstacle.

Why do you think people submit their work to D.O.G.T and are there any boundaries?

I think artists submit to the collective because they understand that it is a positive movement. Our purpose is to encourage people to be themselves and share their honest creativity with eachother. We are in this because of our passions, what we do is for everyone, they are all as much apart of this as we are. There are no boundaries or limits to D.O.G.T. It's an ever evolving idea and movement.

What are your favourite submissions / anything someone has done in support of D.O.G.T?

My list of favorites could go on and on. There are so many incredible artists and pieces of artwork involved here that they are all kind of my favorites. There has been so much amazing support from people all around the world that is unseen that I could write a book just on the kind words and actions people have shared that make this all possible.

What are your goals with DOGT's future?

The main goal with D.O.G.T is to never slow down. We will continue to grow in every avenue and aspect of what we do. Especially finding new ways for everyone's work to be seen and appreciated. The integrity of this movement is what is most important. It is simply what it is and that's what it will remain. We will continue pushing new ideas and trying new things but in the end...what you see is what you get.

Follow @defenders_of_good_times