Sitting inside one of
--- Trent Call has been one of the busiest and most recognizable artists in the
entire state. Publishing zines and books, contributing to giant art projects,
making brilliantly designed yet simplistic paintings, characters you see
everywhere from billboards to stickers, spraypainted works, media covers for
albums and publications, and much more that I couldn't even begin to catalog. I
got a chance to walk the halls of Captain
Captain Studios taking pictures
Trent Call
http://www.swinj.com/
Gavin: Hey Trent! First off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Gavin: What first got you interested in art, and what were some of your
early inspirations?
Gavin: You got your BFA from the
Gavin: You don't limit yourself to any one specific type of art, or
medium for that matter. Do you find it difficult switching between, or do you
think of more as a challenge?
Gavin: What were some of your first exhibitions like?
Gavin: You take part in a lot of group exhibitions but very few solo
ones. Do you prefer it, or just dislike the idea of a solo show?
Gavin: One of the biggest ones you were a part of was the 337 Project.
How did you get involved with that, and what was your time like working on it?
Trent: Adam Price got ahold of me via Leia Bell I think, or Lewis
Francis. I met Adam and Dessi at the studio and told me of their idea and how
they were just out in NYC, and walked though 11 Spring St. I said kids would be
down big time for it, it would be the biggest deal of the year. The time
working on it was a blast, I always thought of it as taking a break from the
studio... Drinking beer, hang out, watch it happen, meet new people.. a big ol'
positive collaborative spirit... Everyone came together on it!!
Gavin: What did you think of the final destruction and the projects that
have spawned off the idea?
Trent: Final destruction was awesome! The conclusion to the project... I
made a little stop motion
of it. What Adam has done sense, is what none of us artists ever do or
don't do.. He took the project and ran, hooking up grants, starting new smaller
projects, with funding! He is making it happen.
Gavin: What brought on the idea of doing Swinj?
Trent: It was my friend Nick Bottman's idea.. He came to high school one
day with the first cover. (Then spelled with the proper spelling, 'Swinge').
Nick moved up to Portland that summer and I continued the project and put it
together... The idea of putting out a publication making your own zine... just
blew my mind at the time, still does. Here you can
click through all the pages of past issues.
Gavin: What was it like for you putting that first issue together, and
what was the public reaction to it when you put it out?
Trent: Well, the only people who really saw the first few issues were my
friends, it wasn't all that public. I think I sold like two copies at the Heavy
Metal Shop... so that's as public as it got. The first issue was the learning
issue, cut and paste. Learn how to lay out the pages, print out on the xerox
machine, learning how to get copy hookups.
Gavin: You have ten books published so far. Can we expect the next issue
anytime soon, or have you put that idea to rest?
Trent: Zines/books, many may not fit the book category. I do currently
have three new zines in the works, all at this time moving a bit slow. A
collaboration issue, a comic, and another Drawsquare. I hope to never put it to
rest.
Gavin: Where did the idea for the Swinj-O-Matic come from, and what kind
of shops can people find those at?
Trent: The idea of having a machine the vends art/stickers or whatever
as been with me for some time. I bought them on a whim, just try it out.
Something new. I found some machines online and bought two. a bit later two
more. The biggest challenge on the vending machines is keeping them fresh with
new stuff. You can find them at Frosty Darling, Nobrow Coffee, Blue Plate
Dinner, and SLUG Magazine, (but don't tell Ken that).
Gavin: How did the idea for Captain Captain Studios come about?
Trent: Our last studio, Poor Yorick was shut down, a lot of us did not
want to leave the neighborhood. A fellow artist and friend owned this building,
and he turned it into studios for us. Captain Captain, is a studio of artists,
each artist in their own realm and specification and style, but united together
helping one another out. a gigantic force that we have yet to release. We kill
it. Working every day, and helping each other out. Learning from each other.
Playing ping pong.
Gavin: For those who may not know, who are some of the artists who share
the space inside?
Trent: Lance Clayton, Trent Alvey, Patrick Munger / LOS, Gailon Justus,
Ben Wiemeyer, Sri Whipple, Tom Mulder R.I.P, myself, Steve Larson, Cein Watson,
James Randle, Chase Leslie, Tessa Lindsey and Berkley Frei.
Gavin: Are there any major plans in the works for the studio itself or
just keeping to business as usual?
Trent: For the most part, business as usual. Just gonna keep it
movin'... make it happen. And in the spring a for sure Open Studio.
Gavin: A little state-wide, what are your thoughts on our local art
scene, both good and bad?
Trent: Folks that run the shops and galleries make the scene turn.
People that attend and support those shops make it flow. We have a lot of
killer artists here, an undiscovered gem. Arts all good, no bad.
Gavin: Anything you believe could be done to make it bigger or better?
Trent: Try harder, work harder. Make it before you talk about it.
Believe in the city. Let artists take over Main St.
Gavin: What are your thoughts on Gallery Stroll and how its evolved over
the years?
Trent: Its a grand ol' social evening, with art on the walls. I think
the biggest evolution is that Broadway has opened up like wild fire. Taking
over Artspace's heat. Lots of new awesome artists, and artist run shops.
Gavin: How about your take on the Utah Arts Festival and how its
changed?
Trent: I love it, fabulous people watching, sun, sweat, beer, and paint.
It's a spectacle. and I'll have a booth this year!
Gavin: Who are some local artists whose work has caught your eye
recently?
Trent: Sunny Belliston and
Edward Mikenna.
Gavin: What can we expect from you the rest of the year?
Trent: Lots of paintings, t-shirts, and zines, I believe I'll be having
a show with Dan Christopherson at the Kayo soon.
Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to promote or plug?
Trent: Rico Burrito Cafe, Vile Blue Shades, and LOS!