ART BAZAAR FOR WORKER SOLIDarity
STEVAN DUPUS
How are you? How have you been coping with this pandemic/ quarantine?
I’m doing pretty good. A bit stir crazy, but good. I’ve been teaching online, drawing and painting as well as trying to beat all the Kingdom Hearts games.
What are you working on right now?
Since we can no longer go to bars, I’ve had to rethink about what I want to say about the LQBTQ+ community and how I get my source images. I’m currently interested in the facial expressions and emotions displayed on the faces of gay male porn actors during sex.
Do you ever get stuck in your practice? how do you unstuck?
That’s complicated, in a way I don’t ever get stuck. I am constantly doing something creative. When I’m not working on a painting, I can be found spending my time sculpting a claymation figure, knitting, learning 3D modeling, sewing, cooking and lots of other creative outlets. I feel like everything I’m doing is a part of my practice. Now if you’re asking about being stuck trying to figure out what to paint, oh yeah all the time. Doing other creative activities eventually leads me back to painting.
What made you wanna get involved in Art Bazaar for Worker Solidarity?
Nothing upsets me more than the way we treat our immigrants and undocumented workers. It’s beginning to feel like fewer and fewer people have compassion in this world and it’s really upsetting. I wanted to be involved in Art Bazaar for Worker Solidarity because I wanted to find a way to give back to someone whose hard work is under-appreciated. A thank you and recognition to the fact that some of us see them and are thankful they are there to pick the food we eat or do the jobs we refuse to do, even when people are unemployed.
What are some cartoons you liked as a child?
Snorkles, Smurfs, Garfield, Snoopy, Tom and Jerry, Flintstones, Rocky and Bullwinkle, He-Man, Voltron, Transformers, Doug, Roko’s modern life, Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy and many more.
Any favorite foods, least favorite foods?
Anything French, I love French food. I hate bananas, I also hate peanut butter. Elvis must have been insane to eat the two together. Disgusting!
Where are you from and how does it influence your art?
I’m from Kansas City, Missouri. I think growing up in the midwest where it was difficult to be gay is the reason I want to display my lifestyle for all to see.
Have you ever sustained any art related injuries? Tell us about it!
I’ve worn the skin off my knuckles many times stretching canvas. There is literally blood in some of my art.
How do you envision the art world post-pandemic?
I think things are going to open up again. I already know a few galleries in San Diego that are open. I believe they are limiting the amount of people allowed in the gallery at a time and encourage social distancing. As for art education, it has been a challenge to teach online and all the professors I’ve spoken with hopes that this will end soon as well as worry that now that universities see that art can be taught online they will want it to stay that way.
