Questions And Answers

Q - Are these tubesand art forms your original idea?

A - No. I surely did not invent the sandbag or the sandtube. I don't know of anyone using it as an artform. It doesn't matter to me how original tubesand art objects are. In fact I think it would be very cool if many more artists were creating tubesand art forms. Maybe we could even have tubesand races to see who could fill one the fastest.

Q - Do you know anyone else that is working with tubesand art objects?

A - Yes somewhat, there are other people working with related forms. There are some people working commercially with sand tubes. Some making geotextile tubes to prevent beach erosion, others using long dirt filled bags for architectural structures and others for flood control. And then there are some sandbag artists that make structures along the lines of the sand sculptors, you know, figurative things.

Q - Is there some subjective reference to snakes in these forms?

A - I once heard that anything longer than it is wide is a snake. I do feel sorry for snakes because they don't have any legs or arms. But other than that I don't have much to say about snakes, I think snakes can speak for themselves (if they had voices).

Q - Don't you think that it trivializes your art to post it on a domain name like coloredbeanart.com or coloredsandart.com or famousartist.com, tubesandart.com, what's the difference.

A - I didn't think of that, but yes it does. On the other hand what should I have called it, academicseriousart.com or studiedartinparis.com? It doesn't make much difference anyway. You know when you step out of the crowd and doing anything you run the risk of looking foolish..

A - Why do you ask such negative questions anyway?

Q - I am just asking honest questions that come to me.

Q - Is there any reference in your work to global warming?

A - I really don't see how there cannot be some connection. Global warming is such a huge issue. It seems like everything eventually comes back home to global warming. My initial introduction to the forms was flood control. Melting ice increased threats of flooding and more devastating tidal surges, yes, so definitely there is a connection.

Q - Why don't you move them around into new designs after you have filled the tubes.

A - They are very heavy and don't like to be moved. Small adjustments can be made easily enough, but major changes are difficult. I try to do most of my thinking about placement before they are on the ground. They are much easier to move when they are still on paper.

Q - Why did you choose such a physical medium?

A - Sand bags kept entering my thoughts, when the final decision came to make tubesand forms the physicality of them was just another problem that needed to be overcome. If I pace myself correctly I enjoy the full experience of body and mind that they require, very much like action paintings except without solvents.

Q - Do you see yourself as a guerrilla artist?

A - Haven't found a good definition of guerrilla art. I'm not at war with anyone. My artwork does exist on the frayed edges of the art infrastructure. I mean what is an artist to do when there few established options for exhibition for something like this

Q - Why do you reject the conventional art establishment?

A - I don't reject it. The art culture is a huge powerful entity in the world and I see it expanding. I think what most of us "fringe" people are doing is developing additional spaces for art to exist in.

Q - If you feel that way why don't you exhibit in galleries?

A - Creating art requires particular knowledge, skills and creativity; marketing art requires a different set. I need assistance with the later set.

Q - Have you considered placing the tubesand objects in public spaces without authorization.

A - No, not seriously. The stealth aspect of that sort of art would interfere with the quality of the expression between the tubesand object and site. It takes me considerable time to install one. Surprising as it may be there is much formal thinking that goes into the installation. Very little of the thought is apparent in the end. It wouldn't be the same if I had to jump out of the truck with all my gear and rush to get it completed before the authorities arrived.

Q - Some guerrilla artists "take their art to the streets" so that everyone can enjoy art. Does that aspect interest you?

A - I don't believe that the general public has much interest in tubesandart. It is not sensational enough to make the tabloids. Tubesand objects can almost be dismissed as a public works project (caution! People at work).

Q - What is your biggest problem creating these art forms?

A - I just realized not long ago that my biggest obstacle is my tendency to continually raise expectations for these sand tubes forms. My expectations get to high and then there are painful reality checks. the problem isn't insurmountable as long as I can regain my energy after each adjustment. Anyway, I put myself in this situation, the problems that I have with this form of art don't go much further than my legs can carry me. I have plenty of help keeping an objective view of what I do.

Q - Why the change in your possition on production?

A - I don't want to be an "Art Martyr", simple.

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