This is Brian Ormond, find his art 7th & Mateo St, see his interview below!
Q: So, you’re from Cork Ireland?
Brian: Yes, born and bred. I never lived outside Ireland. I need to go back on a regular basis. It’s very much a part of me and I feel very connected to it. its too important for me to let go. Up until now I’ve spent a lot of my time in the states fighting with myself about going home but recently I’ve become more relaxed, I want to immerse myself in LA. i want to make the most of the time here. Right now I’m really enjoying it and what’s going on right now in LA.
Q: Is it your plan to immigrate and and make this your home as an artist?
Brian: In the past I have focused too much on the future. I have always been planning ahead… organizing things / events. We moved to NYC for two years and at the time I wasn’t making art. I needed something to occupy myself. I started with writing, sculpture and drawing. This was the first time I made any form of art. Those two years got longer and before I knew it they had become twelve years. I never forgot about Ireland. I never planned to be anywhere else. USA was always a transition to going back home. I never had intended to move to another country. I'm very very Irish and I'm very connected to my country. So no plans for immigration ever came into it!
Brian: Yes, born and bred. I never lived outside Ireland. I need to go back on a regular basis. It’s very much a part of me and I feel very connected to it. its too important for me to let go. Up until now I’ve spent a lot of my time in the states fighting with myself about going home but recently I’ve become more relaxed, I want to immerse myself in LA. i want to make the most of the time here. Right now I’m really enjoying it and what’s going on right now in LA.
Q: Is it your plan to immigrate and and make this your home as an artist?
Brian: In the past I have focused too much on the future. I have always been planning ahead… organizing things / events. We moved to NYC for two years and at the time I wasn’t making art. I needed something to occupy myself. I started with writing, sculpture and drawing. This was the first time I made any form of art. Those two years got longer and before I knew it they had become twelve years. I never forgot about Ireland. I never planned to be anywhere else. USA was always a transition to going back home. I never had intended to move to another country. I'm very very Irish and I'm very connected to my country. So no plans for immigration ever came into it!
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Q: What got you started doing the street art and how did you end up in LA??
When we were in New York and I started going to museums and galleries and then over time to studios and seeing art and "thinking" you know I could try this and once I started creating and making things, then I never wanted to stop. It felt strange if there was a day when I didn't make something. My practice developed mainly painting and sculpture using found objects. Two years ago our circumstances changed again and we moved further west to LA. Further from home but I came with a different attitude. An attitude that I would try something new and the obvious thing for me was to work on the street. I love being outdoors. I love all weathers. I need to hide a little from the strong sun. I have an outdoor studio in DTLA and I get to work on the street and be involved in the ever changing building facades! |
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Sometimes its not what you say its how you say it (2001 E 7th street)
Q: How did your latest effort come about?
Brian: A local architect approached me about a building he was developing and he offered me this massive wall. Its 23 and a half feet high but 134’ long. I spoke with Zook "@zook58" and we decided that even though we had not worked at that size scale before we give it a lash. We planned it for a week and the architect gave us free scope to do what we wanted. Everyone was very happy with the outcome. We are keen to do more. We bonded and worked well together. We consulted each other at most stages but also worked at different times of the day so we could focus on our own sections. It was tremendous fun!
Brian: A local architect approached me about a building he was developing and he offered me this massive wall. Its 23 and a half feet high but 134’ long. I spoke with Zook "@zook58" and we decided that even though we had not worked at that size scale before we give it a lash. We planned it for a week and the architect gave us free scope to do what we wanted. Everyone was very happy with the outcome. We are keen to do more. We bonded and worked well together. We consulted each other at most stages but also worked at different times of the day so we could focus on our own sections. It was tremendous fun!
Q: I like your photography, the photos on Instagram, those are all your photos?
Brian: Yes they sure are! For me I see art everywhere, like everywhere. I think it's about getting into art later in life, having no experience, it's also about not being from here, so I'm always looking. It's also my hearing which is not good, this is my take on it, my first sense is sight.... so i see the telegraph poles and one big one in front and there's the cables hanging the wrong way and there's a shadow and the contrast and something off balance and suddenly to me there's a picture, an image a photograph a painting installation it's everything. I find it very hard not to do something with that.
Over time Instagram for me became an art form. Then I started using text. Words that I would generally not use in everyday language or communication. I was able to use words in different formats with the photographs to make it even more abstract. Of course people read into it and go, oh that's what he's saying. Generally its not that at all. I really try to keep them unrelated / abstract. I prefer the approach that it's up to the viewer to take whatever he / she want to take from image and text. The bottom line with my images is that its the photograph that's the important element. The text is secondary. Its complimentary but only as much as one wants it to be
Q: When and why did you started taking photos?
Brian: I have always dabbled with photography, but nothing serious. I've always stopped to take in images. To be honest it was only when I stumbled on Instagram that I start to delve into it more. My first images were quickly deleted and I pushed myself more. Now I never force things I enjoy finding situations always devoid of humans. Just the human history that was left behind. Not just trash its more the hidden story the untold story. The guess work and assumptions that now go along with the picture because it has become an image.
Q: What cameras do you use?
Brian: I'm using an iPhone for the quick instant things that pop up and I need to get them quick. I mostly use the Halide app. For shoots I use a Fujifilm x100s with a fix lens and I also carry a Fujifilm xt20 with various lenses. Once a month or so I take a road trip to somewhere where I have not been before and explore the area mostly with a bike so I get to take things in more and its easy to stop and go. For me its not about getting the miles in there's so much to see everywhere. Even down the street or in the next neighborhood!
In the last 6 months I’ve met a great bunch of wonderful people. I've collaborated with some recently. It was fantastic fun working with different people different approaches styles and attitudes. I feel that my street work is very basic and very somewhat simple. Simple not in a negative way but its the font the layout but it is for these reasons that it stands out. It's different, and as far as I know no one else is doing the form of writing I'm doing. I intend to push it and explore some ideas I have and see it goes. Right now I think it stands out and people take note of it cos its different. I'm not saying its great its just different. I don't think it's a honeymoon period, the block hasn't happened, I don't feel any close to that I have loads to share. I believe it will keep coming.
Brian: Yes they sure are! For me I see art everywhere, like everywhere. I think it's about getting into art later in life, having no experience, it's also about not being from here, so I'm always looking. It's also my hearing which is not good, this is my take on it, my first sense is sight.... so i see the telegraph poles and one big one in front and there's the cables hanging the wrong way and there's a shadow and the contrast and something off balance and suddenly to me there's a picture, an image a photograph a painting installation it's everything. I find it very hard not to do something with that.
Over time Instagram for me became an art form. Then I started using text. Words that I would generally not use in everyday language or communication. I was able to use words in different formats with the photographs to make it even more abstract. Of course people read into it and go, oh that's what he's saying. Generally its not that at all. I really try to keep them unrelated / abstract. I prefer the approach that it's up to the viewer to take whatever he / she want to take from image and text. The bottom line with my images is that its the photograph that's the important element. The text is secondary. Its complimentary but only as much as one wants it to be
Q: When and why did you started taking photos?
Brian: I have always dabbled with photography, but nothing serious. I've always stopped to take in images. To be honest it was only when I stumbled on Instagram that I start to delve into it more. My first images were quickly deleted and I pushed myself more. Now I never force things I enjoy finding situations always devoid of humans. Just the human history that was left behind. Not just trash its more the hidden story the untold story. The guess work and assumptions that now go along with the picture because it has become an image.
Q: What cameras do you use?
Brian: I'm using an iPhone for the quick instant things that pop up and I need to get them quick. I mostly use the Halide app. For shoots I use a Fujifilm x100s with a fix lens and I also carry a Fujifilm xt20 with various lenses. Once a month or so I take a road trip to somewhere where I have not been before and explore the area mostly with a bike so I get to take things in more and its easy to stop and go. For me its not about getting the miles in there's so much to see everywhere. Even down the street or in the next neighborhood!
In the last 6 months I’ve met a great bunch of wonderful people. I've collaborated with some recently. It was fantastic fun working with different people different approaches styles and attitudes. I feel that my street work is very basic and very somewhat simple. Simple not in a negative way but its the font the layout but it is for these reasons that it stands out. It's different, and as far as I know no one else is doing the form of writing I'm doing. I intend to push it and explore some ideas I have and see it goes. Right now I think it stands out and people take note of it cos its different. I'm not saying its great its just different. I don't think it's a honeymoon period, the block hasn't happened, I don't feel any close to that I have loads to share. I believe it will keep coming.
(Mateo St. & East Atlantic Ct.)
Q: Tell me about how you ended up meeting and collaborating with some different artists in the Arts District.
Brian: One afternoon while working in the alleyway Angela @angelakatsaros came by and documented my work. She did not say who she was or what she did. She just was delighted to meet an artist at work. We did not say much to each other I was busy in my world in fact my young son was there too and he was spraying for the first time. So I was trying to create and child mind at the same time. It was a few weeks later we spoke and shared stories and since then Angela has been very supportive. She introduced me to Duel RIS @7lineartstudio and we got a crew together and did a whole wall on Mateo. The owner gave me permission to do what we want on the condition we knew it would be wiped when the building opened for business in a month or so. It was cool working with different styles and with people with different times they could work. We were all very happy at the end as the work became cohesive as a piece. Alas it has been hit a few times and although we have striven to fix it, it's difficult to keep it intact. Anglea introduced me to @Zook58 as she reckoned we would get on well. I had been in the alleyway for 6 months updating my pieces every 8-12 days or so. Zook and I did 2 pieces that were supporting each other but not linked. Zook introduced me to Honor One @honor719 and Sellout @Se10ut and they came and added pieces to the alleyway. Now there were 4 together and I feel it has really worked.
Brian: One afternoon while working in the alleyway Angela @angelakatsaros came by and documented my work. She did not say who she was or what she did. She just was delighted to meet an artist at work. We did not say much to each other I was busy in my world in fact my young son was there too and he was spraying for the first time. So I was trying to create and child mind at the same time. It was a few weeks later we spoke and shared stories and since then Angela has been very supportive. She introduced me to Duel RIS @7lineartstudio and we got a crew together and did a whole wall on Mateo. The owner gave me permission to do what we want on the condition we knew it would be wiped when the building opened for business in a month or so. It was cool working with different styles and with people with different times they could work. We were all very happy at the end as the work became cohesive as a piece. Alas it has been hit a few times and although we have striven to fix it, it's difficult to keep it intact. Anglea introduced me to @Zook58 as she reckoned we would get on well. I had been in the alleyway for 6 months updating my pieces every 8-12 days or so. Zook and I did 2 pieces that were supporting each other but not linked. Zook introduced me to Honor One @honor719 and Sellout @Se10ut and they came and added pieces to the alleyway. Now there were 4 together and I feel it has really worked.
Think Wall (Mateo St. & East Atlantic Ct.)
Brian: Through Instagram Ive met alot of people so many great encounters. Different cultures different locations. I love taking a half day walk about with someone Ive never met but we both admire each others work. We walk down the same street and we see different things at the same time. This makes me so happy so excited. There's so much to see. Everywhere
One of the best experiences to date was with @ladygrinningsoul . Anna is from Siberia I saw some of her images on IG and realized she must be visiting LA. I picked her up in my car and we drove to DTLA. I had only been there once before. This was 2 years ago. We spent a fabulous 4 hours walking about. Exploring laughing sharing stories. In the end the car park I parked in is where Zook and I just did our large piece. We also snuck into a derelict building which is the pink building on Mateo I've spent the last 8 months working on! Small world yes - fabulous incredible world 100%!
One of the best experiences to date was with @ladygrinningsoul . Anna is from Siberia I saw some of her images on IG and realized she must be visiting LA. I picked her up in my car and we drove to DTLA. I had only been there once before. This was 2 years ago. We spent a fabulous 4 hours walking about. Exploring laughing sharing stories. In the end the car park I parked in is where Zook and I just did our large piece. We also snuck into a derelict building which is the pink building on Mateo I've spent the last 8 months working on! Small world yes - fabulous incredible world 100%!