EDITOR’S NOTE: For preview coverage of the 49th Utah Arts Festival, which runs June 19-22, The Utah Review is presenting individual or group profiles of artists, performers, entertainers and some newcomers to the event. Visitors will also see the first significant change of the last 15 years in the festival map. There are several new features this year: Voodoo Productions’ street theater will include roaming graffiti stilt walkers, contortionists and living master works of art. Salt Lake Acting Company will appear for the first time at the festival, offering a sample from its upcoming summer show, The Secret Lives of the Real Wives in the Salt Lake Hive. Urban Arts is offering its largest live graffiti mural installation, while a row of several other artists will be demonstrating their creative process in real time. For kids, as admission for those 12 and under will be free, there will be plenty of make-and-take art options in Frozen Spaces in the Art Yard. The City Library auditorium will be the home to the 22nd edition of the international Fear No Film program, with the strongest slate of narrative short films in the event’s history. Of course, dance, who wears the empress jewels in performing arts, will be represented by Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Echoing Spirit Dancers and, of course, the ever-popular 1520 Arts, at The Round. For tickets and more information, see the Utah Arts Festival website.
R N E D
Another of the all-star lineup of graffiti muralists for the Festival’s Urban Arts venue is R N E D from Colorado Springs.
TUR: The presence of the Urban Arts venue has contributed to coalescing the community’s acceptance and perceptions of graffiti and many forms of street art as legitimate, worthy of the same merit and acknowledgment as any other form of visual arts. I would like your opinions and perspectives on how you have seen your work best represent your own creative persona?
I love seeing graffiti and street art being more legitimized in the artistic space. Although I do appreciate the underground nature of graffiti art and undoubtedly that’ll never change. But giving the opportunity for others to view into the subculture I think is really important for its growth. For me it’s really about sharing the experience and passion with newcomers and veterans of the game alike. In that aspect it really represents my creative persona.
TUR: What is your training as a street, graffiti and public mural artist? Who do you consider your most significant influences and inspirations? Do these influences shift as you progress both in your work and life?
RNED: I’m all self taught besides a few art classes in high school and a couple solid buddy’s along my journey. My influences are constantly changing depending on what types of styles I’m into at the time, and generally where my life is at the time. I love all kinds of art from postmodernism to anti style graffiti. I think it all serves a purpose and provides influences and inspiration throughout any artist’s journey.
TUR: Do you work full-time exclusively as an artist? Or, how do you augment your work as an artist?
RNED: Unfortunately I’m not a full time artist, although I would like to reach that point someday. I generally try to balance it out by blocking creative time out weekly and utilizing my days off work to get active and go paint!
TUR: What do you see as the trends, challenges and opportunities forthcoming in the next few years with regard to street, public and graffiti art?
RNED: It’s hard to say, I do believe it all culminates to positives nonetheless. But it is kinda worrying to see the culture be extorted by people and businesses. But with every negative is a positive, for every trend, challenge, and opportunity. It’s up to the individual to decide what is what.
TUR: With regard to participating in the Utah Arts Festival, please share your feelings about being a part of this enterprise? Have you been in other festivals and do you plan to explore other festival venues?
RNED: I personally love what the Utah Arts Festival has done for graffiti and street art. The curation of a designated space that highlights the culture is a great thing. It opens up that opportunity for everyone to learn and explore a niche subculture of art and I appreciate that. This is my second time coming to this specific festival and I’d love to participate in others and future festivals and artistic ventures.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
