BENMURPHYONLINE.COM | Art + Thought + Culture from American Artist Ben Murphy…

As posted to ONE Magazine

I’ve known Jeremy since the late 90’s when I was involved in rollerblading; did some road trips over to Erie, PA and we’ve run in to each other here and there ever since. I’ve always known Jeremy to be intensely creative, both on skates and artistically. Never one to conform, he’s always set his own standards… ones that frequently become the norm of others after awhile. Jeremy is a trendsetter without knowing it (or caring), and his creativity and ideas are well worth paying attention to. So, I’m very proud that Jeremy is the first ‘7 Questions’ Interview off my new site; enjoy! -B

7 QUESTIONS WITH JEREMY BEIGHTOL

1.) NAME/AGE/LOCATION

Jeremy Beightol, I am 25 years old currently living in Erie, PA, in the middle of a move to Pittsburgh, PA.

2.) WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO LATELY WITH YOUR ART?

I’ve been very ill since last November with some sort of lung infection(s). There have been a couple of diagnosis’ but not really a 100% straight answer. I was coughing up blood and extremely weak while being in constant pain and feeling like i was drowning. I’m starting to heal up finally and am able to work again and start moving around finally. So, my newest work as of late is about that. I’m taking images from my sketchbook from all this and painting them.

3.) HOW’D YOU GET STARTED IN ART?

I had always drawn since I was a kid, but never really did any “fine art” stuff. Just wasn’t my sort of crowd, especially around here. A guy from Brooklyn who was a photographer at Max’s Kansas City in the 70’s saw me drawing on a napkin at a bar in Erie one night. He was a set builder for a theatre here and he approached me to see what I was doing. I had already been doing graphic work for my own project (KASPA) since ‘96 or so, and was designing for 4×4 as well. But I had never really painted before, not seriously anyway. His protege had just OD’d, and I guess he was looking for a replacement. A couple days later I went to his house. He had made me a canvas and handed me a paintbrush, this was around late summer 2005. I’ve been painting ever since.

4.) WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO COMMUNICATE IN YOUR ART?

I’m not really trying to communicate anything really, it just happens. I’d rather not advertise.

As posted to 4×4

5.) WHAT’S BEEN ON YOUR MIND LATELY? (re: society, politics, etc.)

Mostly the being-seriously-ill-thing. As far as society and what not… it’s the same old thing. Nothing is shocking, really. Well, except for the greyhound bus manimal that shredded his fellow passenger, then taunted police with the guy’s head… that was kind of shocking.

6.) WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? UPCOMING SHOWS? COLLABS? ETC.?

I have a solo show in my hometown in October that I’m currently working on, by then I’ll be moved to Pittsburgh and I’m to have a show lined up down there. I’m also working on a new line for Christmas for my KASPA line, and getting that spread out in Europe a bit more; and I just did a collaboration with Riot Brothers Ltd. designing three shirts for their new line coming out. Oh yeah, and 4×4s new line for Christmas too…dang.

7.) INSPIRATION?

The holy trinity; Bowie, Iggy, Lou Reed, and James Brown, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen, & Danzig. I like graffiti, like carved into tables or drawn on the wall in the bar bathroom — not so much the rich kid scribbles symbolizing their pubescent rebellion. I like to drink and go to the bar… and I think fashion is overrated, but I do like to dress well. I also like Gustav Klimt, and trying to rip off Henri Matisse, and I think Andy Warhol is hilarious. Art nouveau, art deco, Catholicism, and Freemasons… that’s pretty much it, so far and for now anyways.

Link: Jeremy Beightol’s MySpace

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