Adaptation: the paintings of Robert Porazinski is on display on the 8th floor through December 27, 2013.
Q: Why did you choose flowers as your subject matter for this series?
A: The flower is a universal subject, not to mention a ubiquitous one throughout art history. It has been traditionally a simile for the fragility of human life. For me, these flowers and landscapes identify our discordant relationship with nature, one of great admiration but a desire to manipulate and control it.
Q: Are there artists or styles that have inspired or influenced your work?
A: A couple of my favorite artists are Francis Bacon and Gerhard Richter. The surrealists and color field painters from the mid-20th century are movements in art history that really interest me.
Q: Your paintings have an almost photo-realistic look. What is your process for creating them?
A: I am working from photographic sources, but it is not necessarily my intention to create photo-realistic paintings. The distortion in my paintings is achieved in a variety of ways; photographing through glass block, reflecting in mirrored Mylar and digital manipulation to combine multiple images, most often used in my landscapes.
Q: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to a career in the arts?
A: A career in the arts can be both rewarding and very discouraging. The opportunities to make a living from your art are out there, but you really have to spend the time pursuing them and building relationships with people who believe in your work and will champion it.
Adaptation: the Paintings of Robert Porazinski will be on display on the 8th floor November 1 - December 27, 2013.
