Wednesday, February 4, 2009

K Space Q & A series, with artist Erin Mahoney












Local artist Erin Mahoney, answers some questions about her influences and her graffiti style art.
>>>> www.erinmahoneyart.com <<<<

K Space Contemporary: Can you describe yourself and your work?
Erin Mahoney: I am a migrant farmer and gardener, traveling between Southern Colorado and South Texas. My art is what I am compelled to make, using the tools I have, in the environment which I find myself. Acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, enamel paint, house paint, and spraypaint are mediums that I utilize. I LOVE printmaking.
K Space Contemporary: How long have you been making art?
Erin Mahoney: I have been making art since I was a child. My four sisters and I were brought up by artists in Corpus Christi, Texas. Our parents always encouraged us artistically. During my college education, I had plenty of time during lectures to draw. This is when I began the style of script that I do. Since 1997, I have been steadily and consistenly painting. I am giving up excuses as to why I can't. Being an artist invloves doing, making, creating, and not stopping.

K Space Contemporary: You use a lot of color in your work. Do you have a favorite color or color palette?
Erin Mahoney: I love color. I often use paint that I am given and objects that I have found to paint upon. I use what colors strike me when I am creating a new painting.

K Space Contemporary: When and how were you influenced to the graffiti or mural style in your artwork?
Erin Mahoney: I love art found outside of museums, art that is accessible to all members of society. Being in cities has given me a true love for graffiti, especially train pieces. It is inspiring to me, the time and energy that people put into outside works. These outside pieces are not for sale, I think that makes them invaluable. Graffiti artists are not being commissioned, they are painting because they have the passion and will to do so. Margaret Kilgallen, Shepard Fairy, Barry McGee, Lady Pink ,and Os Gesmos of Brazil, are some of my favorite artists.

K Space Contemporary: You have two murals in downtown Corpus Christi, TX. How did you get those gigs?
Erin Mahoney: Norma Urban, of the C.C. Downtown Management District, offerred the People's Street Wall to myself and Kenny Harrison. He and I started the piece, then Kenny collaborated with other artists to finish it. KSpace artists donated their time to paint the south facing wall of the Lichenstein building, in downtown Corpus, to improve our downtown's visual aesthetic. I think that it has helped. Our downtown has more than it's share of buildings in need of care. Kenny and I collaborated there on the Paz piece.
K Space Contemporary: The mural you did on Peoples Street in downtown CC was recently tagged and essentially ruined. Does this change how you feel about during murals for the public? How old was that mural?
Erin Mahoney: The Peoples Street mural was begun in the Spring of 2004. I would love to paint this wall again. Any public art is at risk of being defaced. It takes motivation, care, and often money to make public art available to our society. The benefit is a more beautiful world that we can take pride in.
K Space Contemporary: What is your greatest influence when making art?
Erin Mahoney: My imagination and desire to create what I see in my head.
K Space Contemporary: You use a lot of flowers in your imagery. Do they symbolize anything significant?
Erin Mahoney: I am a flower and vegetable farmer in Colorado. Flowers are a beautiful example of the cyclic, life and death process of all living things. They give me a great respect for the transitory nature of our lives. They inspire me to live my well and to the fullest while I am here.

K Space Contemporary: Who are your favorite artists?
Erin Mahoney: The deceased Margaret Kilgallen, Renny Russell of Questa, New Mexico, Joshua Williams of Denver, Colorado, fellow Corpus Christian's Loring Baker and Jimmy Pena. I am most inspired by my friends who consistently, continually make their art.
K Space Contemporary: What is the best artwork you have ever seen in person?
Erin Mahoney: In Flagstaff, Arizona, behind the Late for the Train Coffee Shop, there is a outdoor mural by Joe Soren that is an inspiration to me.
K Space Contemporary: So, how do you survive the battle of being an artist? Do you have any favorite jobs?
Erin Mahoney: Having patience, endurance, and surrounding myself with supportive people, helps keep me making art. My farming and garden designing is work that I love. I will continue growing food and flowers my whole life long.
K Space Contemporary: You are a traveler. Where have you been and where are you currently living?
Erin Mahoney: I am currently living in Texas, anticipating a beautiful Spring in Colorado. I love both coasts, especially Portland, Oregon, and New York City. I am inspired by seeing new environments. Cuba is the most interesting country that I've been to. Italy, Ireland, and India are places I anticipate traveling to.
K Space Contemporary: If you could do a mural anywhere, where would it be and what would it be of?
Erin Mahoney: Doing a mural in Europe is a dream. I would do flowers and my script.

K Space Contemporary: How do you keep up the endurance to continue to make artwork?
Erin Mahoney: I see the benefits of continuing to make art throughout my life. My mental, emotional health is sustained by making art, and it's fun. I have no intention of stopping.

K Space Contemporary: Thanks Erin. We love your work!
Erin Mahoney: I appreciate the Kspace, and all of it's members, for being so supportive of art in South Texas. The Kspace keeps hope alive for Corpus and the Third Coast art community.

To see more of Erin’s work, go to www.erinmahoneyart.com

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Read this article: Mr. President, Tear Down This Painting

Great article about how the President should replace all the old artwork in the White House with new, contemporary works by living artists.
Great idea by the way...read here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-melber/contemporary-art-in-the-w_b_163232.html

Thursday, January 29, 2009

simon hogsberg

this is awesome...

"We're All Going to Die - 100 meters of existence"




http://www.simonhoegsberg.com/we_are_all_gonna_die/slider.html

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Thursday, November 27, 2008

why was this bumper sticker so successful?

This bumper sticker was in our 3rd Coast National Exhibition by artist Aaron Krach

thank you...
















Thanks to founders Erick and Raychelle Schaudies, Board of Directors, volunteers, and our contemporary art supporters.
It has been one year (wow!) since the gallery downstairs opened and we have come a long way.
Check out the 70's color palette!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

It always amazes me...

Austin's Flatbed Press came by with a breath-taking selection of prints.
Artists like Julie Speed, Trenton Doyle Hancock and Luis Jiménez (his very last artwork, in fact) were some of the artists within this selection!
Wow.
And yet, we only gathered a small crowd. Only a small amount of locals came out.
Why oh Why Corpus Christi? Why?
Did we not do enough PR?
Not enough e-mail invites?
Not enough flyers?
What the heck is going on?
Do we need more volunteers?
Will Corpus Christi ever change?
We know it will.
C'mon people.
Corpus Christi + Art = Change.
xoxo,
leonardo da vinci


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Feed Corpus Gus an alka seltzer already.

So, a couple days ago an older gentleman came into the gallery and was wondering if we offered any art classes for his wife.
I told him we offer "figure drawing" with a nude model every Wednesday night and we are offering some upcoming workshops....he was pleased.
He said he had been to the Art Center of Corpus Christi (the most popular art destination, and yet the most backwards.)
He asked them if they ever needed a nude model or if they offered figure drawing. He got a call the next day from the Art Center....they told him, "If this is what you are looking for, never come back!"
I was not surprised.
He said he was new to Corpus Christi (moved here from the Midwest) and was shocked at how conservative the city was.
Welcome.

(By the way, the proportions on your seagull are all wrong.)

Seriously xoxo,
Leonardo da Vinci

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Join us October 13th!
See the new floor level gallery and the exhibition Third Coast National.

here is K Space Contemporary

We are testing out our first blog!