David lives here in Lewistown and we are lucky to have an artist, of his caliber residing in our community. Throughout the interview David showed me many prints and pieces that I will share here. Please enjoy my interview with him:
Me: Thanks for having me in your home and studio David, it feels like a gallery.
D: You’re welcome, thanks for coming.
Me: So, the main question I think, is why are you here? (laughing) Here in Lewist...own I mean.
D: Well in 74 I was in the Core of Engineers up in Flathead after I got my Bachelors and we were on a bus coming through Montana on our way up there and the bus broke down. We were here for 2 days and I guess I always wanted to come back someday.
Me: I looked up your website and also found you on Montana Artist Directory, you have an impressive resume.
D: Thank you. I have done a lot in a lot of places.
Me: Where are you originally from?
D: I was born in Tulsa Oklahoma. I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts from The University of Oklahoma. I had a full ride scholarship there.
Me: Wow, but you taught at University level so you have an advanced degree as well?
D: Yes, I received my Masters of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. I then taught printmaking and Art. You can see my resume on Montana Artist.
Me: I did see it and I am going to post it to the interview I think people will love to see the work you have been doing. (Here are his TEACHING AND UNIVERSITY AFFILIATIONS:
Adjunct Professor of Digital Media, University of Central Oklahoma-Edmond, Oklahoma 2006
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art, Whitman College-Walla Walla, Washington 1999-2003
Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities, Colorado College-Colorado Springs, Colorado 2001
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art, University of Washington-Seattle, Washington 1982
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art, Humboldt State University-Arcata, California 1981
D: I have done a considerable amount of work with nonprofits as well. Along with being a traveling lecturer and Museum Director. I am glad I am no longer doing any of that. (laughingly) I had to raise my own salary and fundraise and work with boards.
(Here is David’s PROFESSIONAL NON-PROFIT EXPERIENCE:
Executive Director, Florida Keys Council for the Arts - Key West, Florida 2007
Executive Director, Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry - Wasilla, Alaska 2004-05
Freelance Designer, Artist, & Non-Profit Consultant - Sun Valley, Idaho & Westport, Connecticut 1988-1998
Founding Director of Fine Arts, The Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities - Sun Valley, Idaho 1978-1987)
Me: Ah yes, that. (laughs)
D: I took a fall and sustained a serious injury and that redirected my life. I guess it made me believe in God. I found my faith and it changed the need to focus on careers as much as the things that were really important.
Me: Is that what brought you back to Lewistown?
D: Not really. I was working at Whitman College and met up with Carol Popenga. She told me she was building a studio up here and it reminded me how much I loved my layover here. I decided to give it a go.
Me: What year did you move here?
D: In 2007. I have been working here out of my house since then.
Me: What sort of work have you been doing?
D: Well I come from a printmaking background and was a Master Printer, so that always influences my work. I work mostly in watercolors now.
Me: I love the natural element of your work, lots of animals.
D: Yes, bears and fish... (showing me his prints of a bear painted in the pattern of a woven hopi basket) I have also just finished an E book called Rain Babies. It is a childrens book. (showing me the prints from the book)
Me: Amazing. Very imaginative. Here is Rain Baby with a radio flyer wagon. Love this.
D: Yes, I got to know the owner of Radio Flyer and he gave me permission to use it anytime I wanted.
Me: What other celebs do you know through your work?
D: When I ran the Sun Valley Art Center there were some major names on the board. At the end of the year they would make up deficiencies by writing a check. (laughing)
Me: That’ll work!
D: Yes, that worked out OK.
Me: I see you are also a musician.
D: Yes, I like jazz guitar.
Me: Oh, I hate that about you. (kidding of course)
D: (Smiling broadly) I have enjoyed some great guitars. (We had further discussion about brands of guitars that I won’t post here but he has good taste. ha!)
Me: You mentioned you have daughters and a granddaughter, are they artistic?
D: Of my daughters one is and one is not. Unfortunately the one with my granddaughter is just like me. Severe OCD.
Me: Well, yes, this is the cleanest house I have ever been in. (We both laugh.)
D: Ya, when I am talking to my daughter on the phone and I hear my grand daughter say, “Mommy, why are you on your hands and knees scrubbing the floor?” well I feel somewhat responsible. (we both laugh)
Me: It might be a blessing and a curse. There is a level of precision that comes through in your work.
D: You have to be really clean when you do print work, you can’t lay your hand down on it and smear it.
Me: I would be terrible at it.
D: Some students were and I just wouldn't encourage them or work with them. (laughing)
Me: What would you tell up and coming artists?
D: Don’t do it. (laughs) No, really, not unless they are prepared for the toughest thing you can do to make a living.
Me: So you better be doing it for another reason other than money, you are saying?
D: Yes. Of course there are ways to make money at art but it’s not a given.
Me: David, thank you so much for your time. This has been a blast.
D: Thank you.
(Additional notes)
David and I discussed a lot of things that I did not include in the interview for the sake of brevity but I have copied and pasted in his many accomplishments from the website, Montana Artists and I hope that is enough to give you a sense of this great artist. Here is a bit more:
FINE ART PUBLISHING:
Director & Master Printer - Littleton Glass Studio, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 1987- 1989
Indian Self-Rule Portfolio: Darin Vigil, Randy-Lee White,
Juan Quick-to-see Smith, David Bradley, N. Scott Momday
The Potters and Prints Portfolio: Kirk Mangus, Richard Shaw,
James Romberg, Jenny Lind, Robert Sperry, Akio Takamora.
Printed and Published Fine Art Prints for:
William Wiley, Terry Allen, John Buck, Don Nice, Harvey Littleton, Margaret Neilson, Jenny Lind,
Roy Deforest, Viola Fey, Robert Nelson, William Wegman, Walter Darby Bannard, Herb Jackson,
Irwin Eisch, Connor Everts Dale Chihuly, Sheila Gardner, Hollis Seigler, Fred Wessel, Glen Alps,
Shiro Ikegewa, Thomas Buechner, Robin Winters, William Allen, William Henderson.
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