Walking into what local artist Steve Smith calls the "Flavor City Studios" at 45 Harrison Street, you realize this place is the real deal. The place smells like art.
Artwork covers the walls. Canvasses are stacked at least 20 deep waiting for the art lover's eyes.
Steve is very involved in several Oak Park art organizations. He's a director of Oak Park Arts District and also serves on the board of directors at the Oak Park Art League. Previously, he attended the American Academy of Art and was also a full-time student at the in Skokie. Some works from that time are on displayed at Flavor City.
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When I visited, he was working on a large dragonfly, a 3-D sculpture piece for the Highland Park Art Center for a program coordinated with the Oak Park Arts District. The painted sculptures will be on display in Highland Park and auctioned off at a later date, proceeds benefitting both artist and charity.
Who are you?
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I'm Steve Smith, a spiritual entity on this planet, an artist and a humanitarian.
Where are you from?
Originally Skokie, I came to Oak Park about 8 years ago.
What art organizations were you involved in Skokie?
Skokie Art Guild, in the late 70's I ran the Skokie Art Fair for a couple of years, and then through the course of events I sort of retired from painting and got a "real job" framing artworks at a gallery in Morton Grove, from there I got involved in the printing industry.
Were you still painting?
No, most of the jobs I had were creative based, I started working for Salzman Printers in Maywood and that brought me into the Oak Park area. I picked Oak Park because it is an artist community and I wanted to get back into painting.
Even if you don't paint for 25 years you're still an artist, you still have that desire to create. I came to Oak Park, started to paint every day after work, trying to "get the bugs out." After 25 years I was rusty, mentally and physically.
At this point Steve brings out a small painting from this time, a painting of one of the bluffs from the Starved Rock area. A painting that he calls "an exercise that looks great."
At this point I met Keith Taylor, who had just become the president of the Oak Park Art League. I was looking for art organizations to get involved with. Just when I was getting involved, I broke my ankle and could not walk and was in pain for four months. When I recuperated I started painting again, got involved with the Oak Park Art League and also Artrageous and started meeting other artists.
What kind of artwork are you doing now?
I would classify it as trying to convey or evoke a feeling of hope, a spiritual uplifting.
Is it always a positive statement?
Yes, I don't disagree with negative artwork, but it's my personal belief that I want to be positive and look forward, look for the hope. I'm tired of dark.
I went through one night of painting nothing but dark, I was angry. I just got it all out of my system. There's probably a need for that, but I'm trying to get rid of that dark side. I want to bring hope and peace to the world and I can't do that if I'm painting just dark.
A lot of my art, if it isn't inspirational, then it's pure paint application and design, from there people can read into it what they see. Everyone has a different interpretation. Some paintings I don't like to title because it restricts the mind to what it can see.
Your signature is a Native American signature.
I'm very influenced by the southwest, the colors and the artists that came from there. My signature is a primitive bear claw, in Native American cultures a bear is a protector of life and a first responder to trouble.
How long have you had your studio on Harrison street?
Four years, I share this space with Mike Bockner, who is also an artist.
Who are your main influences?
The most truthful answer is anyone who has ever painted or created a piece of art. It could be a child or an accomplished artist. As far as artists go, Goya, Delacroix, Hans, Turner, all those painters around the 1840's that were a lead into modernist painting, like Manet and Courbet.
Those were my first inspirations, especially Goya. From there it was the Impressionists, Monet especially. Van Gogh is a major influence, it always comes back to Van Gogh. His passion makes me want to paint, that's what stirs me, that led to abstract expressionism, Marsden Hartley, Mattisse, O'Keefe, John Marin, and from there Richard Diebenkorn.
What is going on today in the art world?
I don't know..basically corporate art, everything is based on the sale, it really is who you know and who can sell your art, as opposed to who is appreciating what you are trying to do, establishing an art lineage. Things are getting better as far as art sales go.
Tell me about your demonstration at Third Friday Gallery.
Every third Friday they have a themed show for their artists, this Friday at 7 p.m. is the opening for their "Zen" show. At 7 p.m. I will lead a meditation. Everything Zen related.
Where are you showing your work?
Right now, different openings at the Oak Park Art League, Trattoria 225, Third Friday Gallery, Flavor City Studio. Flavor City's website (Steve Smith and Mike Bockner) is www.flavorcitystudios.com
What are your goals?
To improve what I'm doing, bring art back to art, where it means something to people. To be the best painter that I can be and I want you to be the best painter too.
Please visit Steve at Flavor City Studios 45 Harrison in Oak Park, Illinois. Every third Friday Harrison Street artists open their studios and galleries. They are very welcoming. It's a great way to spend a Friday night with some great people.
