Interview with Artist - JENNY MONICK

MDLF: What is your name?

JM: Jenny Sprague Monick

MDLF: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

JM: Impossible

MDLF: Where do you live? Which cities do you most frequently go to and why? Are you more drawn to one place or culture?

JM: I live in Brooklyn, NY.  I most frequently visit Los Angeles, CA.  I feel best near enormous bodies of water and at cultural crossroads.

MDLF: If you can, tell us three things that bring you joy

JM: Joy is a capital letter word - it could be anything, so I can’t tell, really.

Name Of Piece: Still life with yellow

Size of piece: 11 x 14"

Medium: Oil on linen

Photographed by: Paul Takeuchi

Location, Year: New York, NY 2017

MDLF: Can you tell us about any artist or person living or dead that inspires you.

JM: Most of my love goes to Piet Mondrian, who was also a Pisces, clearly.  What is left over, which is a lot, goes to many many artists and other people, animals, plants, acts of nature, celestial bodies, etc.

MDLF: When did you first identify being an artist? When did you start creating?  Did you foresee a creative path in your childhood?

JM: My childhood bedroom was my first creation.  A furtive, almost invisible Total Work of Art, I did what I could, as it needed to appear a proper bedroom to the adults who were a little too frequently dropping by.  I didn’t want to have to answer any questions.

I also had a dollhouse (the ‘family’ was quickly dispatched to sit amongst some broken furniture in the attic, they felt a little creepy and irrelevant) and in the house we lived in, any shelf, closet, toolbench, or cupboard I could arrange and rearrange was an expressive opportunity.  

Later, visiting the old MoMA, when I was 12 or so, the room with the Water Lilies, The Japanese Footbridge, a grey low pile carpet, and leather and wood benches along a full wall of windows facing North.  It was perfect. It was a perfect room, a Poetic Image, I understood, despite knowing nothing formally about what any of it was. Unfortunately my enthusiasm was taken as an interest in French Impressionism, which it decidedly was not.  But I still have a poster of the Monet in this same childhood bedroom, in the house my parents have lived in since I was born. And from then on I felt on a path.

Name Of Piece: Lining

Size of piece: 15 x 23"

Medium: C-print

Photographed by: Gedi Sibony

Location, Year: 2001, Long Island, NY,

MDLF: How often do you create? What motivates you to keep practicing?

JM: Not sure.  

MDLF: What challenges have you been met with while moving through a work in progress?

JM: It is all a challenge.  It’s knowing when the difficulty is clear, and when it is unclear.  If I can get a grip on what the problem is, I can probably solve it.  If I’m not sure what the problem is, I’m pretty lost. Which is fine too, for a while… 

MDLF: What accomplishments are you most proud of?

JM: For one, my work with children.  I was at one time the curator of a gallery set up to display children’s art made at public schools receiving grants from a particular not-for-profit.  The openings were a gas and thrilling and also very moving. Pint sized dressed up artists and their adults….  

MDLF: Can you share with us your creative process? Where does your mind go, what is your creative space like, what are your go-to-tools, when is a piece finished?

JM: Do you know the one about the dancing centipede and the jealous daddy long legs?  It’s like being both. 

Name Of Piece: Stilll life with songs

Size of piece: Variable

Medium: Cassette player and cassette tape

Photographed by: Veli-Matti Hoikka

Location, Year: Reserve Ames, Los Angeles, CA, 2017

MDLF: Did you go to art school? If so, what are your thoughts on its effect on your art and process, Would you recommend it for others?
JM: No.  I often wish I had, and as often I am glad I didn’t!  I took classes as an undergrad at Columbia and then later night classes, Continuing Education at Cooper Union, which were taught by recent MFA graduates from Yale.  Meanwhile I worked for artists. Those jobs were helpful, too, to see how it all works, privately and professionally. Later I was an early childhood art teacher. That is where I picked up the most inspiring informative/formative stuff.   I think art school is probably a good idea…it is really hard to say.

MDLF: Can you describe your first painting/piece that defined your style of painting?  How about your favorite work/piece/or show, how long did it take, what was your process, and where can we see it?

JM: Not sure.

MDLF: What is your perception of gender?

JM: I mean...I’m extremely glad this notion is being pried open…peeled, eviscerated, even. 

Name Of Piece: Still life with apples

Size of piece: variable

Medium: Apples and felt

Photographed by: Veli-Matti Hoikka

Location, Year: Reserve Ames, Los Angeles, CA, 2017

MDLF: What does Masculine de La Femme mean to you? Can you apply this meaning to your art or lifestyle?

JM: Language is a tough nut.  

MDLF: Is your work changing in the current political climate? How so?

JM: Well, we are in some kind of wilderness, here…

…Work-wise, climate is the question, for me, more than political.  I wonder a LOT about - things - facture - do I need to make it physical, material, do I need to make it at all - I am a dedicated winnower - , especially now as we are sort of drowning in stuff… Noah Purifoy - … I think about him - just as a starting point… What is value?  What is of value?

MDLF: If you could sit down with your younger self, what would you say?  What learning experience can you share with young women looking to be an artist or figuring out where they are needed most?

JM: Read Uses of the Erotic:The Erotic as Power by Audre Lorde, and re-read often.

Pin up the Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules, somewhere prominent.

MDLF: Where can we view more of your work?

JM: jennymonick.com

Artist, Jenny Monick

Photography by Dan Monick , all shot on black and white film

Art Direction and Wardrobe Styling by Monica Reyes

Featured Brands : Elsa Esturgie, Pas de Calais, Mixed Business

Interview with Photographer - Chris Singer

MDLF: What is your name?
CS: Chris Singer

MDLF: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

CS: It is always hard for me to talk about myself so I would say other people have to find this word.

MDLF: Where do you live? Which cities do you most frequently go to and why? Are you more drawn to one place or culture?
CS: I live in Vienna and work across Europe and in Los Angeles. My favorite spot to work at the moment is Los Angeles cause there are so many different locations, always good weather and a lot of inspired and motivated people from all over the world. In the beginning it is always the location which fascinates me and once I spend time there, there needs to be a certain interest in the culture to keep it interesting.

MDLF: If you can, tell us three things that bring you joy.
CS: Sharing experiences with people I really care about.
Nice surf session on the water which brings me back to the the important things in life and a strong connection to nature. When a planed project gets realized and the result is even better than imagined.

MDLF: Can you tell us about any artist or person living or dead that inspires you.
CS: I am not getting inspired by a certain person as much as different works and actions or even from the conversations I have with people.

MDLF: When did you first identify with being an artist? When did you start creating? Did you foresee a creative path in your childhood?
CS: I first realized my creativity during school education in an art school where I was fascinated by photography especially analog photography. During my process of becoming a photographer, I tried different kinds of photography; press, sport and now I've ended up in a kind of fashion and beauty business.
I did not foresee a creative path in my life although my mother and my grandfather were very creative in painting and drawing but not in a professional way more in a passionate way.

MDLF: How often do you create? What motivates you to keep practicing?

CS: As often as I can and I am allowed to. Motivation for me is when you create a piece of art which speaks for itself which is timeless and where the beholder has to feel something deep deep inside. The worst case is when people pass by your art and just say “nice”….

MDLF: What challenges have you been met with while moving through a work in progress?
CS: The worst challenge is when you find out that that your plan which you made before the shoot does not work out, on the other hand it also comes to a point where you let things happen and in most times it is even better than planned.

MDLF: What accomplishments are you most proud of?
CS: When you work hard on convincing someone, especially people from the industry, to participate in your project and at the end they tell you that it was an amazing experience and they would love to work with you again in future.

MDLF: Can you share with us your creative process? Where does your mind go, what is your creative space like, what are your go-to-tools, when is a piece finished?
CS: For me the best ideas come before falling asleep, and these ideas I have to sort during the next weeks.
- My creative space depends on the projects each one can be so different, like my go to tools !
- A piece is finished when I think to myself this is it! Unfortunately I usually think about doing something different a few days later.

MDLF: Did you go to art school? If so, what are your thoughts on its effect on your art and process, Would you recommend it for others?
CS: I attended an art school only for two years and yes I would recommend an art school but not only for one kind of art. It should give you a wide perspective of different kinds of art cause in my opinion everything that inspires you makes you more valuable in your passion/profession.

MDLF: What is your perception of gender?

CS: I prefer to work with women cause I am really fascinated by women's bodies and the way they express themselves.

What does Masculine de La Femme mean to you?

Can you apply this meaning to your art or lifestyle?

CS: For me it means to portray women as independent, self-determined humans without pushing them into a social role.

[…continued] With the support of analog photography I would like to point out the uniqueness of all female attributes because analog photography does not allow body shaping and makes the photo a unique piece.

The styling of Monica supports the personality of the woman and turns her inner self even more to the outside giving her a certain self-confidence and pride without pushing her into a foreign role.

MDLF: Is your work changing in the current political climate? How so?

CS: No I don´t think that my work has any political influence.

MDLF: If you could sit down with your younger self, what would you say? What learning experience can you share with young women looking to be an artist or figuring out where they are needed most?

CS: I would say myself, stay independent in your work as long as possible. Do not produce too much work for money which are not authentic to your vision.
Never give up trying and never feel too good for some shoot you will always learn something new even it is not visual in the beginning, the development will never stop.

MDLF: What would you say to someone to convince them to shoot film vs digital.

CS: I think it is hard to convince someone to change. You have to try it and experience the concentration you need with film not wasting your shots and the tension you have until you have the first developed pics in your hand..
Further more I would say to just have one original picture which is hard to duplicate makes the work even more important and unique, and I am not talking about the advantages of grain and blur which makes it imperfect although this imperfection makes it unique and so interesting for me.

MDLF: Any recommendations on stocks, processing, scanning? Or do you want to keep your secrets safe?
CS: Just keep it simple I don’t care so much about the techniques for me the mood and the expression on the photo is more important than exposure or color balance.

MDLF: React to the statement "Turning a semi boring color photo to black and white magically makes it more interesting"
CS: Unfortunately since social media it is a way people try to get more out of their semi professional work but I guess the era of filters is coming to an end. For me black and white is film and not a colour conversion.

RE: Lilly

What made you think Lilly would be good for MDLF?

CS: Cause Lilly is a really authentic self confident woman who really knows what she wants and works hard for it and the most Important she is true to herself and her attitude.

MDLF: How did you two meet?
CS: A common friend introduced us.

MDLF: What was the thing that sparked the thought "we need to work together on something"

CS: You [Masculine de La FEMME] told me about your project one year before and I checked out your page. That was when I realized Lilly is perfect for that.  She has great expression with her body as a dancer, is self confident cause she is confident with herself.  I also know your styling, in which you truly have  a great gift to select fashion that supports a persons  mood and doesn't  dominate the shoot.

MDLF: Where can we view more of your work?
CS: Chrissinger.com

Professional Dancer, Lilly Leithner

Photography by Chris Singer all shot on medium format

Art Direction and Wardrobe Styling by Monica Reyes

Featured Brands : Everlane, Sugar Candy Mountain, & Other Stories, Radical Yes Shoes, K37HER, Sue Wong

Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles California