ART

1. What was the inspiration for the work in the "Birds n' Booze" show?
   

Rho: I always thought the designs on alcohol bottles and cans were sexy. I like the idea of designed debauchery. The hairy men also highlighted the idea of dirty sexy.

Leone: I would like to thank the local news, The 1st works came from being bombarded with breaking bird flu stories.


2. Describe your overall artistic philosophy in a single sentence.

Rho: Make a painting visceral by combining vulnerability with primitivity.

Leone: Meticulous preparation, craftsmanship, and thought yielding works that are free and spontaneous.

3. What other art has you fired up right now?

Rho: I visited Moca’s first 30 years exhibition a couple of weeks ago and I saw a couple of pieces that I really enjoyed. They were drawings, simplistic and messy. One of them was actually a simple crayon drawing of lines and shapes. I found that to be oddly satisfying because it lingers…

Leone: I can't get enough of the work being done by the "Mantis Dance Troupe" check them out on you tube.

4. Pivotal moment in your development as an artist?

Rho: I think meeting people who are continuously striving for artistic growth and expression is a constant motivation for me to grow, both professional and personally.

Leone: Realizing when I was younger the more I drew I wasn't getting better at drawing, I was getting better at seeing.

5. Artistic goals yet to be achieved?

Rho: The biggest problem I am still facing is to create art without inhibition and not to reconcile norms with expression. Basically not to think too much.

Leone: I don't set "art" goals for myself like, I want a certain # of shows this year, or I want to sell a certain # of works. I paint and draw because I have to. The ideas come, you do the work, put it out there and see what happens. Keep doing this and I feel the art will take care of the artist.

6. Best thing about being an artist?

Rho: Creating, experimenting, development.

Leone: The hours

7. Worst thing about being an artist?

Rho: The fear of not being able to develop further as I would like to.

Leone: The hours

8. "Look Ma, I'm Famous!" artistic moment?

Rho: Hmmm…can’t say I’ve had such a definitive moment. I probably felt the strongest sense of achievement when I won a community arts contest in middle school because it was a first.

Leone: [Did not answer]

9. Most influential person on your career as an artist?

Rho: Probably friends. Not a single one because they have collectively inspired me to create even though it may be in a different medium.

Leone: Gotta be my Pops. He was always very supportive, hell he let me throw up huge murals that covered my entire room in high school. when the house was sold the new owners asked me not to paint over it, they are still there.

10. Number one thing you hope people take away from experiencing the art in this show and beyond?

Rho: Appreciating a different kind of beauty.

Leone: A lot is happening all around us every second, take some time look closely and enjoy.

LIFE

1. Who would you most want to trade lives with for a day, and why?

Rho: I’d like to trade lives with Jesus. I know that might seem trite but I am curious to see what all the hoopla is about.

Leone: [Did not answer]

2. What books are you reading now?

Rho: A Collection of Short Stories by Hemmingway

Leone: "Women" by Bukowski......man, what an asshole.

3. What music is playing in your vehicle right now?

Rho: iPod on shuffle. So ranges between Britney to Depeche Mode.

Leone: The Stooges, guess I'm feeling a little nostalgic.

4. Besides art, what are your greatest passion(s)?

Rho: Writing and film.

Leone: Sound, I'm fascinated by all the info coming into our brains from the two openings on the side of our heads.

5. Something everyone needs to know about you?

Rho: I am extremely shy towards people I admire.

Leone: [Did not answer]

6. What you'd be doing if you couldn't do art:

Rho: Write either books or screenplays.

Leone: [Did not answer]

7. Death Row last meal?

Rho: Korean BBQ and a lot of soju.

Leone: Pancake Sandwich...... Two pancakes, two eggs over medium, three strips of bacon, maple syrup, salt and pepper, and tabasco.

8. Guilty pleasure?

Rho: The City and The Hills

Leone: The Jersey Shore

9. Favorite status symbol?

Rho: I don’t really have a designer anything. The closest would be my Ray Ban Wayfarers which I couldn’t function without. I have sensitive asian eyes.

Leone: [Did not answer]

10. Words of wisdom for today's misguided youth?

Rho: The phrase, “It just happened…” I think gets overused and discredits ourselves from being competent enough to make strong, clear decisions. At least know the reason and learn from it.

Leone: Just take it easy, to make good art, music, or whatever, doesn't need to be a suicide mission.