Thoughtful, intelligent, and full of great advice. Today I’m talking to Baltimore based artist, educator, and part-time MFA student Sidney Pink. I have loved his weird and whimsical work for years, and, I just recently found out about some really interesting research he’s been doing around “arts entrepreneurship” – standardizing and adding business curriculum to the world of art academia. Clearly I had to ask him about that… and while I had him on the line, might as well ask about the strange characters that make an appearance in most of his drawings. You can listen right up there under that Japanese schoolgirl , or you can subscribe on iTunes. First up, a few of my favorite “Sidney Pink” pieces: some schoolgirls, a business man, and an astronaut… obviously.
Thank goodness for that lightbulb moment when Sidney realized that he loved white space and decided to roll with it! Gorgeous, weird, narrative… perfect combo. Oh, and among other odd bits {like an octopus}, here are the laser guns I mentioned:
… and one of my most favorite pieces from Sidney’s portfolio, two girls and a tiger mask:
Oh, and a girl in a cow mask with laser gun shooting astronaut, of course. I loved his reason for the masks {not giving it away – you have to listen!}. And along those lines, I also really loved his advice for embracing the things around you, objects and experiences that are in your day-to-day life, and incorporating them into your work. Animal masks, for example.
In the speed round I asked one question I knew the answer to. The origin, or inspiration, for his name… current name is more accurate, I suppose. Here’s where it all started:
Reptilicus by Sid Pink. Such a good story… again, you have to listen! Ah, good old speed round comes through again. Thanks so much to Sidney for all of his great advice and wonderful perspective on life as an artist; to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode; and as always, to you for listening. I’ve already got the next episode ready to go … it will be up next weekend!
Other links from our discussion:
AKIMBO Dance & Movement Art Festival, Baltimore
The Critical Response Process by Liz Lermon
Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education
Such a wonderful, inspiring, honest conversation with Sidney Pink. It’s so easy to forget we’re all just trying to figure it out as we go… and that’s beautiful. I feel like your podcasts are my therapy. 🙂 Thanks for what you do.
A lot of wisdom here. Love the part about allurements. I’m currently following what fascinates and charms me down the rabbit hole. I’m not sure where it will lead, and that’s okay.
somewhere beautiful if i know you ; ) xo
another great interview, and the quote at the end was shared on fb.
oh really? by you? thanks!
Loved your chat with Sydney Pink, one of the best!! Thanks Danielle xx
thanks jane! he’s a very smart guy!
This is definitely one of your best interviews yet – I really like hearing from artists who are also teachers in some capacity! Thank you, and keep up the great work!
Such a great interview. I listen to your interviews in my studio as I am creating and it makes the space so much more safe, as if there are comrades sitting here with me and talking. What did happen to CD ROM’s anyway?
haha! who knows… they’ll probably come back as “vintage” 😉
(and thanks for listening – you do in fact have comrades in your studio!)