Interview: Mark Mulroney
Artist Mark Mulroney lives and makes art in Berkeley but hails from Dutton, PA. He came over to the Bay to teach at the San Francisco Art Institute and participate in an economy in which he will never be able to afford a home while he continues to pursue his studio career. Mark's older work looks like construction sites for Dr. Seuss landscapes but painted with the exquisite line of Hans Belmer and the slightly toned down palette of
John Wesley. Mark's recent work is a successful jog into kitsch iconography using the kitschiest of mediums, the airbrush, along with his nimble brush. He continues to mine objects of desire and his childhood as a devout Catholic for content. His new show entitled "What Fits in Your Mouth, Doesn't Always Fit in Your Stomach" will
have a reception open to the public and free of charge this Thursday at Gregory Lind Gallery from 5:30-7:30pm. Mark's work can also be seen on his webpage and at the NYC gallery,Mixed Greens.
Why is Lou Reed irrelevant?
Because no one wants to hear a rich over the hill rock star sing about being a poor junky living in New York. Nobody cares about his boring stories.
What or who else is irrelevant?
I am pretty sure Chevy Chase is not doing so well.
Describe your art:
It is a bit like the season finale of the show "SeaQuest"
What's your take on the Bay Area Art scene?
Let's get over Diebenkorn already.
Any advice for aspiring artists out there?
Make whatever you'd like to look at or experience and don't try and guess what others will like or what the market wants. Work towards a lifelong career as an artist and stop worrying about who is more famous than you
What's it take to get representation is this town and is it even worth it?
Ultimately I believe that if you are having a hard time finding a gallery the first place to look is at your work If you have good work the gallery opportunities will present themselves as for whether it is worth it or not it can be good but SF does not get the attention that NY or LA can provide an artist so if I were looking to get into a market I
might devote most of my efforts towards one of those markets first.
Something people don't often get noticed or appreciated about my art is?
My best work is often the pieces that seem really stupid at first
Favorite local gallery?
There is this little diner in the Sunset that hangs drawings done by customers and such and they have some really great work there. I suppose it is not officially a gallery but I always enjoy looking at the work
Best art show you've seen here?
Shalo Penuela and Homero Hidalgo at Meridian Gallery a year or so ago.
What are some influences on your work?
My grandma, cowboy comics, weegee, John Zorn, naked ladies (boobs), all things proper and Catholic, Lucy, my nephews, Cyrus and Arlo
Casey Smith, Contributing
Introduce yourself in one sentence
My name is Mark and I play stickball during the week at the playground on the corner of Powell and Lombard.
Age and Occupation
I was born on August 31st 1976 and I am currently abstaining from regular paychecks
Home Town
Dutton Pennsylvania
How much time have you spent in the Bay Area?
I have been here for about 3 years split between SF and Berkeley and I have been wandering the streets in search of a more perfect existence.
Favorite website
jotto.com
Favorite local business
Moe’s books
What I'm currently Reading
How Stella got her groove back
Best Deal in San Francisco
Is there such a thing... I suppose naan 'n' curry
Favorite mode of transportation
Foot or Segway
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Dead Kennedy's
Favorite local hangout
My living room
SF has the BEST:
Over inflated sense of self worth
You've never lived in SF until:
You've had a crack head bum tell you to suck his cock
You can tell someone is a local here IF:
They know to avoid the Jones street hill
SF would be soooo much better if only:
It would realized that being liberal doesn't mean that you're not a fascist
Best Burrito:
SF mexican food is a joke....never put rice in a burrito
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF:
That movie "the Rock" is totally awesome it has bombs and boobs
Best thing to do in the city in the summer:
Purchase sweatshirts
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area:
Leroy Neiman
Favorite author to come out of the bay area:
Danielle Steele
Place you always tell visitors to check out:
The corner of Leavenworth and Eddy
Favorite Bridge in the area:
Whichever one provides the greatest opportunity for suicide
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Back to the corner of Leavenworth and Eddy
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Old copies of Vanity Fair
I want all the SFists out there to know:
That I am not sure what a SFist actually is
Tell us a San Francisco Story:
I once saw a pigeon building a nest on the sidewalk...that when I realized
that the humans were losing
Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:How is your relationship with your mother?