artiste d'mon >>> stephen mead

Who is Stephen Mead?
I am a published artist and writer living in northeastern NY.

What is your favorite discipline in art?
I don't really have a favorite. I can only say that as I've gotten older I've enjoyed exploring what can be done with mixed medias.

What is your most important goal in life?
To go to bed each night at peace with my conscience.

What inspires you?
The regenerational power of Nature.

If you could have just one wish; what could it be?
It sounds cliché but I really would wish for global peace.

If you could meet anyone living or dead; who would that be and why?
I would like to have met Laura Nyro for not only was she an accomplished musician, I think she was a very kind and warm individual whom one could have a decent conversation with.

If you had to live in one room for your entire life, what would it look like?
The walls would most likely be off white, one of them used for
painting purposes. Another wall would actually be one large window either with blinds for privacy when neeeded, or some sort of indoor trellis/terrarrium, perhaps with lattice, so morning glories could grow up it.

I've actually written a memoir so to speak, called "A Thousand
Beautiful Things (A Life In Two hallways and Four Small Rooms)."

I mean, yes it would be nice to live in a nice airy large loft where a person could put screens around the lavoratory and kitchen areas, but I think the main thing is to have a clean and safe environment, one of good lighting and tranquility.

Why writing as well?
I've always been torn between these two obsessions. Perhaps they provide different outlets or utilizing both is a way of finding out what is occurring on different sides of my brain.

Why "expressionism" and "surrealism?
Well, I used these words with broad strokes for, whether it's a matter of marketing or just interpersonal relationships, certain descriptive labels are some times helpful for other's to identify/ perspective if a person's work might be their cup of tea or not.
I describe my work with those terms due to the emotional content and sometime hyper-real, fantastical nature of what is created.

What's new and hot of the presses?
I don't really keep up with trends, though I understand Joan Didion has a new book out which I look forward to reading.


Who have been some of your main influences as an artist and as a person?
As an artist, and forgive any misspellings here, I've definitely been influenced by Chagall, Magritte, Odilon Redon, Georgia O' Keefe, Kathe Kollitz, Judy Chicago...as a person I am inspired by such creative spirits as Joni Mitchell.

Picasso or Dali?
Only by osmosis, not direct study.

Finish the following statement: Good artists borrow, great artists... will allow themselves to be good people who admit to what they borrow, and from whom.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I don't really set long term goals for myself, the world has always just seemed like such a precarious place to me and, frankly, I didn't think I'd live this long. Let's just say that I hope for good health mixed with inner contentment for myself and for
those whom I love.