photo credit: Joshua Tarquinio
I'm very excited to bring you a very special interview to you all today. I caught up with a very talented artist and writer Karla Lamb. You're going to hear from a woman who balances work, family, art, and life-- who knows, you might learn a thing or two about what it means to be an emerging artist in Pittsburgh and what it took to get there. So without any further ado...enjoy!
What were your earliest memories of art
growing up?
One of the earliest memories of
art I have is an oil painting of snakes, cacti, and the Aztec god of water
Tlaloc that my mom was working on for several years. She never finished the
painting but I liked it that way. She was a tour guide for the Zócalo in Mexico City where the main temple ruins are, and would tell me the Aztec legends as bed time stories.
Yes, both my parents are literary
and creative. They both wrote poetry and fiction in their early years. And now
my dad is into home brewing, baking, and carpentry. My mom has a great eye for
interior decorating, jewelry making, and fashion. My siblings are both into
performance arts, hip-hop, and acting.
Definitely.
I usually associated
with the “art” kids in high school and we would hang out in the art hall
(sounds cliché but its true). We took pride in being marginalized
and didn't mind being called punks, or freaks. Looking back, we were all
producing great
art back then too. Not to boast, but my crew was pretty talented. A lot
of us
ended up in the creative field as adults. I remember I was working on
this 3D
collage of Adam & Eve and someone stole it right out of the art room
during
lunch. It was pretty messed up. I was also in the art honor society, and
all
the advanced art classes. I can’t answer this question without
mentioning Mr.
Slachta. I’m pretty sure he still teaches visual art and graphic design.
He was
a great teacher because he was always so encouraging and supportive in
all our
endeavors. He gave great feedback and let us listen to cool music during
class.
photo credit: Joshua Tarquinio
What did you find yourself interested in first, writing or painting?
I can’t really say one or the
other definitively. I've always done both. It wasn't until I was really coming
into my own that I realized that words existed that described what I was doing.
Like, I was always sketching and journaling but didn't know that that was what
it was called—if that makes sense. I always personalized every book, article of
clothing, and bedroom wall I ever had. I knew early on that I needed to
surround myself with images that inspired me. My earliest collages were of my
own drawings all over my bedroom and I have about five years’ worth of journals
where I wrote down everything because I was afraid of forgetting it.
When did you decide you
really wanted to pursue art as more than just a hobby or recreation?
I
think it is every artist’s
dream to make it on some level. What I aspire to do is just to share my
work,
to inspire, to provoke, to have people see themselves in it, for it to
resonate
and be memorable. I want it to be able to speak for itself. All I ask is
for it
not to end up in storage or in someone’s basement. Art is more of a
passion
really, it’s an addiction and the profound love to create and
communicate emotional
expression with others never fades no matter the circumstance.
Honestly, I've always had some romantic notion of decorating my place
with my own work, just
for me. I get lost in my own palette, the images, shapes, and colors
hypnotize
me. That’s how I know it’s good. If it gets me to stare and get lost in
it, to
be enamored and subsumed. Art is a compulsion, not a choice. It’s called
a
discipline because that’s what it takes to be prolific. You have to earn
that
identity, it takes effort, energy, and commitment. But to answer the
question,
the desire to get my work out into the world has always been there
unconsciously, incubating, scheming, and getting ready to make big
moves. What
better time than now?
I've learned
I am a very messy
artists, but it is that organized chaos that helps my process to bloom. I
believe a collage should be spontaneous and carefree, so I don’t make
sketches
or thumbnails. The layers evolve organically because I am impatient and
glob on
paint instead of waiting for it to dry. It was interesting to learn that
I am
most creative in the evening and in the middle of the
night. I've learned to go
deep into the dark places of my psyche and churn the turmoil into
something
beautiful. It is very gratifying to see a finished work after killing my
darlings, going in an opposite direction, and doubting where the piece
is actually
going. I tend to apply the same creative process to both mediums
actually. I've learned that a piece is never fished, just abandoned.
When I re-purpose my old
paintings and recycle lines from unfinished poems, I see how I am a
different
person with a different story from one day to the next. Lots of editing
but no over thinking-- that is key.
photo credit: Joshua Tarquinio
Who are the artists and writers that inspire you?
I’ve been following the work of Larry Carlson
lately. His psychedelic prints and surreal
collage inspire me to not only fill the canvas but to think outside of it. I
recently got to see an unfinished Egon Schiele piece at the Philadelphia Museum
of Art called Danaë, it is stunning. I've always like his style, along with
Gustav Klimt’s sensual portraiture and color layering. I use contrasting
patterns, swirls and gold-leaf because of them. I've also always loved Matisse’s
composition and line work, “Large Red Interior” is my favorite of his. Of
course, Frida Kahlo and Jose Guadalupe Posada are huge influences from my
Mexican heritage. A lot of the motifs I use allude to their work. As for
writers it is a long list stretching across several genres. The writers I will
always go back to include Sandra Cisneros, Anais Nin, Allan Ginsberg, Don
DeLillo, Mary Karr, and Milan Kundera just to name a few.
Please tell us what is
up next for Karla Lamb?
So, I’m really excited about
being featured in the next RAW artist showcase on June 26. It will be the
biggest exhibit I've participated in so far and I am extremely psyched. I got
scouted by the regional directors when they saw some of my work in the first
ever DOUBLE MIRЯOR Exhibit
back in May. I produced about six completely new collages in a month’s time for
this show, which is a bit of a record for me. I got amazing prints made of the
originals for people to buy at the event, and I only have a handful of tickets
left to sell. These are all milestones in my artistic career so I’m feeling pretty
elated and humbled just to know that I have so much support. I also have
another multi-artist show coming up called Deutschtown Music Festival on July 12th that I
just got invited to be in. And there is always my ongoing project DOUBLE MIRЯOR, which is
an exhibit I help curate on the South Side every other month. The next one is
actually this Friday night so you should definitely come out. All of these
shows have such an amazing amount of talent in them that it is overwhelming to
realize that I am part of such a cool effort to keep art alive in this city.
What are your current goals?
My first
goal is to sell as much art as possible at these exhibits I have coming up.
Next, I want to utilize the momentum I have going and keep on producing. I
would like to get more involved with other galleries around town and network
with different artists because in the art world it is definitely a matter of
who you know-- and I want to be on both sides of that coin. I mean, I like
organizing events, marketing, coordinating and persuading people and I think my
passion and skill set can get me as far as I want to go either behind the
scenes or on the canvas. I’m not afraid
to stir up some ripples in the universe that’s for sure.
Is there anyone you would like to recognize and thank for their input and support?
First and foremost, my partner in
crime Dave. He inspires me to do my best, and to be a boss in everything I do.
He gives me thoughtful and objective feedback on both art and writing, his
critiques are enlightening, and I appreciate his perspective. He’s a mural collagist
and an excellent writer. Our styles are completely different, but we encourage
each other, share ideas, concepts, and images. The inspiration is reciprocal,
and we joke about one-upping each other but the friendly competition just
drives us to be better. We want to see each other succeed. I get a lot of my
images from his vintage Playboys and he’s stolen of a few of my poetry lines,
so it works out. My family and friends
have always been there for me in every way, and I wouldn't be where I am
without them having my back. I've been meeting a lot of new people too, now
that I’m more involved in the art scene. The creativity in this city is
palpable and everyone seems to be working together, so that’s always
reassuring. I would also like to give a shout out to my old roommate Rhys who
introduced me to decoupage.
That’s how this whole obsession with collage started, she probably has no
idea. Lastly, thank you Michael George
for taking the time to interview me and letting me share a bit of my story.
This is just the beginning.
Where can we follow your progress, updates and
work?
I hate to hype up social media, but it’s such a great tool to
reach a wide range of people. I usually blow up everyone’s feed on Instagram
and post pictures of my creative process, sketches, and finished work. My RAW artist profile features a lot of my
new collages and there will be a video interview uploaded as soon as it’s done
being edited. Obviously FB and Google+ for upcoming features and events, and
I’m working on a digital portfolio. I’m also in the process of making a zine of
my collage journal. I tend to be pretty shameless when it comes to
self-promotion so if you already follow me you’ll probably hear about it.
@vinylowl
photo credit: Joshua Tarquinio
Thank you so much Karla I'm so excited to see the upcoming shows and wish you all the best in the world! :-)
And thank you to Joshua Tarquinio for great photography please check him out at:
Tarquinio Media LLC
Tarquinio Photo
Tarquinio Photo Facebook Page
Glad you all enjoyed, M.G.
