Donald Chan
1. Where can people find you?
Depends, it’s hard to spot me on the streets because I dress like a typical hipster. Otherwise, I’m home.
2. What inspires you?
This stumped me for a long time. Maybe friends, childhood, beliefs, and love?
3. How would you describe your art?
Embarrassing to show to my girlfriend’s parents.
4. What’s the nicest thing someone has said to you about your work?
That it inspires them to make their own things.
5. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you about your work?
I don’t know, because they would say it behind my back! But please be nice, I have feelings too.
6. What are your current obsessions?
B.B. King, being a dinosaur, birdmen.
7. When someone says Kingston, you say …
“Oh, Kingston? I go to school there …”
Carlyn Bezic
1. Where can people find you?
Generally, in Kingston, ON. Specifically, Ontario Hall, Colborne St. and good shows (music, art, etc.)
2. What inspires you?
Tabloids, saccharine pop songs, disco culture, glam-rock aesthetics, noise rock, the work of Wangechi Mutu, Julie Mehretu, Kristin Baker, David Altmejd and Jules de Balincourt and my friends.
3. How would you describe your art?
I hope it is seen as both humorous and frightening, mysterious and direct and above all compelling.
4. What’s the nicest thing someone has said to you about your work?
Getting positive from professors and peers I respect is always flattering and fortifying. Most recently, a friend of mine came into my studio and said, in regards to one of my figures in my Untitled work at Union Gallery, “Oh, that’s Whitney Houston.” And it was! I guess I had really captured her hairstyle. I gave myself mad props for that.
5. What’s the worst thing someone has said to you about your work?
I suppose indifference is the worst, but someone saying your work is bullshit would be pretty terrible too. No one has said that to my face, but I imagine people saying that a lot behind my back. That’s probably just paranoia.
Donald once said that he thought an element in one of my paintings looked “like Cheetos.” Afterwards it was tense; I was in a sensitive mood. But then he bought me a cookie and a brownie and all was forgiven.
I think, ultimately, the worst feeling is to work really hard on something and not be fully satisfied with it. No matter what anyone says, good or bad, you still feel terrible.
6. What are your current obsessions?
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, “Close to You” by the Carpenters, “She’s a Lady” by Tom Jones, disco culture, Contortions, Boney M, triangles, bodies, purple, green, Eat Skull’s album Wild and Inside, Wangechi Mutu, hair, big hair, all hair and hair.
7. When someone says Kingston, you say…
It is a city filled with wonderful people that will always stay close to my heart.
—Ally Hall
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