Gary Baseman.

Gary Baseman.
http://www.garybaseman.com
Gary Baseman.
http://www.garybaseman.com
Text and interview by BrenB http://www.brenb.net
Previous page.
‘Toby’ army.
It’s probably easier to list the things Gary Baseman hasn’t
achieved such is his prolific talent and success. He was
obviously absent on Career Day in High School and missed
the “Focus on one thing and keep doing it forever!” lecture as
his work has crossed over into so many different mediums he
must be constantly spinning. When I met him for this
interview he took time from his preparations at Base Camp
for his annual show at the top of Mount Everest. Thanks Gary
and good climbing!
01. You’ve contributed illustrations to The New Yorker, TIME
magazine and Rolling Stone (amongst others), your paintings
are housed in the National Portrait Gallery in New York and
the Museum of Modern Art in Rome as well as countless
gallery shows around the globe, you have created an Emmy
winning TV animation show for Disney (now a feature film)
and your toy designs are flying off the shelves. So I guess my
first question is… where did it all go wrong?
I am an amazing fuck up. I have done so many things wrong
but the few things I have done right stand out. You may see the
that I have contributed to the crème de la crème publications
like the New Yorker, but I also spent many years drawing for
“Stick in your Butt” Magazine, or is that the New Yorker?
Actually I love the New Yorker. But I have worked for Nail Biting
Monthly, Dingleberry Today and a lot of mediocre publications.
Before I got Teacher’s Pet picked up, I spend many years on
pilots that never saw the light of day. Even today, I feel that I am
starting from scratch. But the one thing I have that I did not
when I was right out of college is perspective.
The devil is in the detail.
My goal is the blur the traditional definition of fine art and
make it relevant to the world we live in today. There is an
explosion of new media and the way we interact with each
other has changes so much in the last ten years. No one has
time to digest information and we all react immediately.
Pervasive Art is the future. Pervasive Art is now. I feel my
approach of participating in all media, traditional and
untraditional, with strong iconic images is the right approach
to smack one’s artistic message into the face of society. Or
maybe the ass of society. Nice and beet red.
02. Can you describe your work practice and how it spans so
many mediums so successfully?
I work all the time. I carry my sketch book everywhere I go.
My self esteem is rapped in my art. If I create good work, then
I am good. If I create shit, then I am shit. Creating is all I do
and all I want to do. I know it is a cliché. But I eat it. Sleep it.
Kiss it gently. Fuck it. Shit it. Roll in it.
I don’t like to see false boundaries and boarders. That is why I
want to blur all the lines, like fine art and toy culture and
commerce. My old tag line was where the line between genius
and stupidity has been smudged beyond recognition.
>>
03. With such a heavy workload, what keeps you motivated?
My mortality. I have been goals and ideals and I want to do
my best. I really want to create a strong art company, where I
can challenge myself with my fine art exhibitions and create
smart and beautiful products for the masses.
04. Obviously you have to be mindful of your audience when
creating ‘Teachers Pet’ for Disney compared to your gallery
work. How do you switch from one to the other, and how do
your toy designs fit into this Adult/Child separation?
If I create anything directed to children I would never put in
anything that is inappropriate. But at the same time, I will
never talk down to them. With my personal art, I am willing to
offend anyone and everyone to get my message across. Most
of the designer toys are not for children, they are limited
edition sculptures for the masses.
‘Creamy dreams’.
05. Your work is such a personal vision, was it difficult at first
to collaborate with the animators on ‘Teachers Pet’ and the
sculptors for your ceramics and vinyl work?
I love both. I enjoy working by myself and I love to collaborate
with people more talented than myself. With animation, one
can not do everything yourself. You need great people working
with you. And I was very fortunate to have an amazing team of
artists, writers, animators, actors, musicians, etc.
I am looking into doing an really stupid animated short about
the Dunces with a smart animation studio.
>>
Top left.
‘Hot Cha Cha Cha’
Middle.
‘Dunces’.
Bottom (Left to right).
‘Toby x 2’, ‘Hump-QEE Dump-QEE’,
‘HISculpture’, Capsule toys.
06. You have said before toys from the 20s, 30s and 40’s are a
major inspiration for you, can you expand on this?
No. Fuck off. I mean, okay. Yes, I love old composition and
wood jointed toys. I have a lot of old felix the cat toys, and
pete the pups. Pete the Pup has a special place in my heart
only because I see him as a failed cartoon character.
07. How does it feel now you are designing your own toys?
I love it. I design what I want. What is not to love. But with
every success, I feel I have an obligation to push the envelop.
Take bigger risks. I can’t wait for the God of Love to come out.
The Big 12 Inch Dunces come out Dec. 8th. I love love the big
cone shaped box.
08. Do you collect URBAN VINYL? Who are you favourite
artists within the toy world and in non-toy world?
I collect more from my friends. I love KAWS. I think his
original black companion is the cream. I love what Lil’ Timmy
Biskup is doing. I just got a beautiful Clayton Bros hand
painted vinyl figure for my studio.
09. What's the most satisfying stage in your creative process?
The research? Sketchbook work? Collaborating? Adulation by
the masses? Seeing the world? Getting paid? etc...
They are all satisfying and frustrating. I think the best, the best,
is when I come up with a new idea that I find brilliant and I
surprise myself. The adulation of the masses isn’t bad either.
>>
10. What are you working on right now and what do you have
in the pipeline?
I am finishing up a special solo exhibition in Charlottesville VA
titled Bedtime for Toby that will run Dec. 2nd to Jan. 28th.
The Curator of the Second St. Gallery used to curate the
Contemporary Art Center of Cincinnati.
I am also working on the release of the new Dunces that will
come out two at a time.
I just finished a wild installation at the Pasadena Museum of
Art titled A Moment Ago, Everything was Beautiful, with 7 foot
magi spirits that are the keepers of our memories. I created a
special stationary for the event and those who came into the
room had to leave a memory. So I am going over those now.
I am working on trying to turn my curated summer gallery
show, Everywhere, into a moving museum exhibition.
Also working on a new art book, new exhibitions for 2006, and
a possible big 12 foot sculpture for an art organization in Taiwan.
Now leave me alone. Or lets go out for a beer or some candy!
Top row.
‘Magisteps’ & ‘Our Queen’.
Bottom row.
‘TobyDuckDuckDuckGoose’
& ‘Toby’s baby bottom’.
Dunces.
Baseman QEE.