Brian Sherwin

Brian Sherwin (born January 22, 1980) is an American art critic, writer, and Senior Editor on myartspace, where he has written an extensive interview series with both emerging and established artists.

Life and work

Brian Sherwin is the Senior Editor for myartspace and an advocate for emerging artists. [ [http://www.myartspace.com/view/about-managementteam.jsp "Contact us: Brian Sherwin"] , Myartspace. Retrieved 8 May 2008.] His interview series is titled "Art Space Talk" and is included in the myartspace Weekly Featured Art Edition. The Weekly is an "opt-in" only publication that is sent to subscribers by email, and can be found archived on the site. [ [http://www.myartspace.com/weekly/ "Weekly Featured Art Edition archive"] ] Since 2006, Sherwin has interviewed over 400 emerging and established artists and has conducted up to 30 interviews per month. [http://www.myartspace.com/interviews "Myartspace interviews"] , Myartspace. Retrieved 8 May 2008.]

These interviews serve to document aspects of contemporary art culture. He bridges the mainstream art scene and the underground art scene in his interviews. He has interviewed mainstream artists, Michael Craig-Martin, Vito Acconci, James Rosenquist, Sylvia Sleigh, Georgina Starr, Patrick Brill, William T. Wiley, Norman Carlberg, Bo Bartlett, Pat Lipsky and Aleksandra Mir [ [http://www.aleksandramir.info/bibliography.html "Bibliography (1995-2007)"] , Aleksandramir.info. Retrieved 10 May 2008. Sherwin's interview listed.] , artists associated with the underground art scene, Alex Grey, Chet Zar, Mark Ryden, Laurie Lipton, David Stoupakis and Sas Christian, and members of alternative contemporary art movements, Defastenism and Stuckism. [ [http://www.stuckism.com/interviews.html "Interviews with Stuckists"] , Stuckism.com. Retrieved 8 May 2008.]

Sherwin’s "Art Space Talk" series of interviews also involves his conversations with representatives from the business side of the art world. He has interviewed several editors and publishers from the mainstream art community. Including, Amir Fallah (“Beautiful/Decay Magazine”), Steven Zevitas (New American Paintings), Mark Staff Brandl (Art in America) and David Lee (Art Review, The Jackdaw). His typical questions involve topics such as the state of the art world, the validity of contemporary art fairs, and other topics related to the professional art world when interviewing art magazine editors, publishers, curators, and art critics. He takes a neutral stance when interviewing these individuals according to the Stuckism website.

Sherwin’s interviews and articles also explore the academic community. He often asks interviewees about their art school backgrounds, influential instructors that they have had, and suggestions for current art students. His interviews were mentioned in the May 16th and July 19th 2008 editions of the San Francisco Art Institute newsletter “SFAI/INFORM“ which is archived SFAI website. His interviews with SFAI alumni Seth Lower and Christian Schumann included topics focused on the SFAI program and advice for future students. Sherwin’s interview with Schumann was also featured on the Juxtapoz website.

Publications and Discourse

Sherwin's articles and interviews have added to debates over some art related topics. In 2007, he interviewed Kirsten Anderson, who owns the Roq la Rue Gallery, Seattle. [http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1891 "Kirsten Anderson on Pop Surrealism"] , "Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine", 22 October 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2008.] Anderson is the author of "Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art". In her interview with Sherwin she discussed the relationship between Street art, Pop surrealism and Lowbrow, as well as the growth of "Juxtapoz" magazine, which she thought had "morphed itself into a street art magazine." . The exchange between Sherwin and Anderson has been referenced on several online communities and forums.

Sherwin is a reviewer and a contributing writer for "Hi Fructose Magazine". Sherwin’s articles for "Hi Fructose" document topics involving the underground and counter culture art scene. His articles include a review of Insect Lab, a series of controversial cybernetic sculptures by Mike Libby that involve insects and mechanics.Sherwin, Brian. "Insect Lab", Hi Fructose Magazine, (Fall 2007), Vol. 6] Sherwin also covered the Kokeshi Project, a series of shows organized by Christina Conway, that involve Kokeshi figurines painted by 74 artists representing 13 countries. In the article Sherwin pinned the name “Culture Kokeshi” when describing the international and contemporary appeal of the figurines displayed in the Kokeshi Project compared to the territorial roots of traditional Kokeshi designs.Sherwin, Brian. "Kokeshi", Hi Fructose Magazine, (Spring 2008), Vol. 7]

Several of Sherwin's interviews and articles have been featured content on the "Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine" website. This includes his interviews with Christian Schumann, Anthony Lister, and Alex Grey. [ [http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=76&searchword=Myartspace&searchphrase=any&ordering=newest "Sherwin articles on Juxtapoz website"] , Juxtapoz. Retrieved 31 July 2008.] He has also been a guest interviewer and referenced on underground art sites the "beinArt Surreal Artist Collective", [ [http://beinart.org/modules/Word-Press/2008/03/26/interview-with-jeremy-geddes/ "Interview with Jeremy Geddes"] , beinArt Surreal Artist Collective. Retrieved 8 May 2008.] and "Underground Art Union" [ [http://www.undergroundartunion.com/code/interviews/interview005.html "Interview with Bryan K. Ward"] , Underground Art Union. Retrieved 8 May 2008.]

Illinois and Art Advocacy

Sherwin is a painter, who has had regional success in Illinois. In 2007, his art was featured on the cover of the Illinois Times. [ [http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A6704"] , Sherwin's art featured on Illinois Times cover. Retrieved 8 May 2008.] He advocates art education and advancement in small Illinois communities. [ [http://www.myjournalcourier.com/articles/art_17151___article.html/gallery_damsgaard.html "Art surplus {just in time}"] , Journal Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2008.] He studied art at Illinois College. One of his charity projects involved a youth art fundraiser that involved donated art from Chet Zar and other internationally established artists. [ [www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org/pdf/May 08 Chamber Review.pdf "Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce mentions Sherwin‘s youth art advocacy"] , Jacksonvilleareachamber.org. Retrieved 31 July 2008.]

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.hifructose.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=57 Brian Sherwin- Contributer for Hi Fructose Magazine]

* [http://www.myartspace.com/balhatain/ Brian Sherwin Myartspace profile]

* [http://www.myartspace.com/blog The Myartspace Blog & Art Space Talk series]