ReadysetDC A CREATIVE URBAN ENTERPRISE

Words w/ Cory Oberndorfer

Reported by Tracy

Paint what you like.

Cory Oberndorfer the artist behind this weekend’s “Uncle Cory’s Art Show” invited us to his studio as he prepared for the show to talk about his work, the DC art scene, and his driver’s side mirror. The opening of Uncle Cory’s Art Show goes down at The Fridge on Saturday January 9 from 8pm – 11pm.

Let’s see what Uncle Cory has to say.

TC: What can we expect from Uncle Cory’s Art Show this weekend?

UC: It’s like being at a family gathering and watching Uncle Bobby tickling all your little cousins. Then you realize he’s not actually anyone’s uncle. When you look at the work in this show it seems fun and cute until you reach a point where you think, “huh, that’s just not right.”

TC: How were the artists selected for this show?

UC: I approached the show with the theme in mind, knowing that I would be including myself as one of the artists. I really wanted to search out and meet new artists in the process, but as the curation began it dawned on me that I already knew many artists who fit the bill and were not exposed to the DC market. It has been nice to work with my friends and see what each of them could bring to the table. Davis Connelly creates excellently rendered psychological spaces. Megan Blafas’ stuffed animals are hilarious and twisted. DIABETIK’s paintings are timely and fun. Amy Misurelli Sorensen’s drawings make me very uncomfortable when she takes a religious act out of context.

TC: For those folks that aren’t familiar with your art, how would you describe it to them?

UC: First and foremost, I want my work to be fun to look at. The pop style makes it accessible; the candy and toy elements make it relatable. Those who want to look deeper can analyze the color theory and gender and age issues behind the work.

TC: I first came to know you as an artist through your roller derby work, I love that stuff.  How’d that come about?

UC: Around the same time I was searching for new subject matter for my work, a friend invited me to one of her derby practices. I was captivated by the idea of women playing a full-contact hardcore sport in short skirts and fishnets. I knew I wanted to deal with the imagery in a pop style, but the color field and candy elements didn’t come until later.

TC: Are there any other subjects that you find inspiring and could possibly be the impetus of a Cory Oberndorfer art piece?

UC: I have a couple new projects in the works and they all adhere to my one guideline – “paint what you like”. In my case, it’s usually women and/or childhood things. For this show I started playing around with old-school plastic army men. I’m actually using them in the same way I have the roller girls. Same pastel palette, same graphic representation. The works now become even more about ideas of gender-typing color and color-typing gender.

TC: Is there a place in DC you go to for inspiration?

UC: One of the reasons I moved to DC was the access to museums. When I need painting inspiration I visit Wayne Thiebaud’s “Jackpot Machine” at the American Art Museum. It’s kind of hidden in viewable storage now so I can stand in front of it for hours without anyone else around. Jackpot Machine made me realize that if I see a painting where the color and textures are just right, my mouth starts watering. That’s when I know a work is good and I use it as a gauge when I mix my colors. Sometimes it’s really hard to not eat the paint.

Now the DC art scene just needs a little more confidence in itself and to stop idealizing NYC.

TC: Are there artists in DC that inspire you?

UC: It depends on what sort of inspiration I’m looking for. I aspire to Tim Tate’s level of involvement in the local art scene, the dedication and amount of work Trevor Young creates, the humor in Andrew Wodzianski’s work. I’ve been hanging out with a lot of street artists recently, like the DC 51 crew. Their stuff has immediacy to it, where the image or message speaks quickly and becomes part of our environment. It’s very different from my commodity-based fine art but can be read the same way. I’ve also been enjoying the boom in photography in the area, like the portraiture of Josh Yospyn and Jason Horowitz’s intricate close-ups. And to branch outside of artists, some of the best conversations I have are with area collectors.

TC: What are your thoughts on the DC art scene?

UC: At this point in time, DC the best place to be for those in the creative fields. The energy is palpable. There is a lot of diversity in the kind of art being made and those who support it. Now the DC art scene just needs a little more confidence in itself and to stop idealizing NYC.

TC: What do you love about DC?

UC: The museums. The current boom in emerging art. The fact that anybody can come here and make it home. I love that there is always something to do. Most of all, I love how the city has embraced me and my work. I have been very fortunate.

TC: What do you hate about DC?

UC: Street parking. My car almost never has a driver’s side mirror because DC drivers keep knocking it off. Seriously, is it that hard to NOT hit a stationary object?!

TC: Okay, I have to ask, it even came up on our blog…are you DIABETIK?

UC: Wait, I thought you already interviewed DIABETIK. And you still don’t know who it is? Come to the opening reception of Uncle Cory’s Art Show and I’ll introduce you to the artist.

TC: Is there a cool space, venue, gallery in DC that you’d like to show your work?

UC: I’ve already shown in some great spaces and with some incredible galleries in DC and hope to continue that trend. Hopefully I can help break in the new G Fine Art space. All the murals I’ve done here have been temporary, so I’d like to do some permanent murals around the city, and someday fulfill the dream of making it into an area museum. My ideal project right now would be a series of large roller girl cutout sculptures skating around the Hirshhorn fountain.

TC: Any words of advice for DC emerging artists?

UC: Make it happen for yourself. Whatever you are doing, commit to it. If a gallery won’t give you attention, put together your own pop-up gallery. If we don’t know your work, make us see it. If we don’t know your name, introduce yourself. I’m a firm believer in perseverance and an open mind, you never know where support will come from.

TC: What’s next for Uncle Cory?

UC: Oh shit, did I just give myself the creepiest nickname ever? Next up for regular Cory is a big show in Charleston, SC with the roller girl stuff. It’ll be my first solo show outside a city I’ve lived in. Then I want to introduce DC to a whole new body of work. Some of it may have an Uncle Cory vibe.

For more information on Cory check out his Web site.  Get down to The Fridge  this weekend for Uncle Cory’s Art Show which features Cory and other emerging DC artists, Megan Blafas, Davis McLane Connelly, DIABETIK, Amy Misurelli-Sorensen.

Music lineup just announced: DJ Natty Boom (Anthology of Booty DJ Crew) and DJ Matt Ladd. Here’s a special DJ mix courtesy of DJ Matt Ladd download here.