John Orth, a.k.a. Tight Beef a.k.a. J-Bird, hails from Gainesville, Florida. He is in New York City alot to see his lovely boyfriend Alan Calpe and to partake in all the fun to be had in this fair city. John is a Florida native, plays music in his band Holopaw, designs and artifies many rad establishments in Gainesville and has an exquisite plant collection in his backyard. John has collaborated with Isaac Brock for Ugly Cassanova, toured in the Cloud Seeding Circus of the Performative Object and is co-collaborator for Wilderless.
Interview by K-Boom, a.k.a. Kellz Bellz, a.k.a. Kelz, a.k.a. White Sands, a.k.a. Bones, a.k.a. K-Bo
Me: When did you start making art?
John: I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making art. I got affirmation early on so I just kept doing it.
Me: What were you drawing as a kid?
J: I thought I had remarkable skills. I look back at those drawings today and they were all poorly realized Ziggy and Garfield characters.
Me: Where did you go to school?
J: I got my BFA at FSU in painting and sculpture.
Me: Favorite shows you have seen recently?
J: Video artist Tommy Hartung was a standout for me at the Greater NY show…really inventive, crude stop motion animation. Brothers Quay darkness cut by some really surprising pop cultural moments…at one point the intro to J.T.’s “Cry Me a River” is soundtracking the video. Amazing. I was excited to see the Hernan Bas show at the Brooklyn Museum last year.
Me: What are you reading?
J: Short stories by Breece J’ Pancake
Me: What are you listening to in the studio?
J: Beach House- Teen Dream, The new Ariel Pink, Jonie Mitchell- Cork and Spark
Me: Your favorite vegetable?
J: Asparagus
Me: What do you use to draw with?
J: Mechanical pencil, Pentel Sharplet 2-it’s really the chocolate brown/okra color scheme that attracts me to it.
Me: What do you think of the Tight Flow Crew?
J: The general lack of ego. Everyone is very genuine. There was a real spirit of collaboration. The group meals by the very talented and generous Alan Calpe. And the general sense of humor and ridiculousness that permeated the space.
Me: What do you do for fun?
J: I like to walk over the bridge with my boyfriend Alan Calpe to Vanessa’s for dumplings. Swimming in springs in Florida. Playing music.
Me: Can you reflect on your process?
J: I muddle about until….with this series it is a culmination of alot of different experiments with materials, graphite washes and patterning. It is the synthesis of a couple of different experiments and once i hit on the process I didnt want to overthink the imagery. I knew it would be faces but wanted it to be as playful as possible and to be open to whatevr happened in that process. Most of the paintings are worked and reworked to get to the final images. Even though it is very precisely realized there was alot of experimentation that occurred during their making. I am also trying more graphic work than in the past and I am trying to push that as far as I can.
Me: How do you know when a series is done?
J: It no longer surprises me.
Me: Themes that you are exploring?
J: The figure. It is a potentially menacing figure but that anything sinister is negated by the very detailed patterns laid overtop of them.
Me: How much time do you spend in the studio
J: It depends on what I am working towards. Sometimes paintings and drawings other times music.
Me: What is your ideal studio?
J: Lots of light. Spring side with a record player and wood burning stove.
Me: Favorite TV Show?
J: News Hour on PBS tempered by shameless reality TV
Me: Favorite Movie you’ve seen recently?
J: Silent Light, Tropical Malady, In the mood for love
Me: Where do you find inspiration?
J: Walking around and working. The dedication of friends to art and music.
See More of his art here: www.johnorthisthehobbyist.blogspot.com