Gathering, by
Erik Otto.
15% of the gross sale of this print goes to
Architecture for Humanity.
Erik Otto is an illustrator, painter, and graphic designer living in San Francisco. Erik is interested in the past, but excited for the future. When he is not creating, he is either riding his bike or relaxing with his girlfriend, while thinking about the next thing he plans to make. When Erik is creating, he throws himself into the process, working quickly, and making the most of whatever he has at hand at the time.
Working as an artist is always challenging, but Erik gets by doing a little bit of everything. He is a graphic designer for
VESL Studios and co-runs an art-driven product line,
New Leaf Collection. Erik finds inspiration everywhere, but the underlying theme in his work is about a quest to be connected to a deeper source, as well as the struggle to maintain that connection in such a disconnected world.
The making of the print.
About the print:This piece is called
Gathering. It is inspired by the idea of a collective consciousness reaching for the same source.
This is a special edition - there are only 25 prints, and each is printed on an up-cycled record sleeve that Erik used as the canvas for his print. Each print in the edition is made by hand with a combination of house paint, spray paint and screenprinting. Due to the handmade nature of Erik’s process, there are slight variations among the prints, making each one one-of-a-kind.
What has inspired you recently?The rise and fall of our economy. Re-usability. Human potential.
Certain graphic elements run throughout your work - houses, triangulated mountain shapes, currents...What do those elements mean to you, and how do they tie in to what you mentioned as the underlying theme of your work - "the quest to be connected to a deeper source, as well as the struggle to maintain that connection in such a disconnected world"? My work is a narrative told by the recurring characters/elements I use often in my artwork. The house is a physical embodiment of our spiritual being. Inspired by the notion that being home is "knowing" - knowing your mind, knowing your heart - that if we know ourselves, we are always "home", anywhere. It is often depicted in chaotic landscapes and is found seeking safety from a storm and/or rising water levels, which refer to our current social and economic climate. The iceberg shapes represent a failing world.
Why did you choose to pair Architecture for Humanity with your print?After living on 6th Street in San Francisco for over a year - which is one of the most run down streets in the downtown area and is infested with drug addiction - I have a new level of compassion for those without a home. Every day I would meet people who hit rock bottom, but for whatever reason could not get out. It's crazy how we live in the richest nation in the world, yet so many of those people lacked basic human needs and wound up turning to drugs as their only way to cope with their loneliness and depression. I am no longer in that environment but I find myself looking back at it as an example of a larger problem that lies under the surface all over the world.
How have you seen art transform the world around you?I see art, if done correctly, as a way to break boundaries and create community where there is none. It can be used as an instrumental vehicle to provoke thought, inspire change, and get people to see themselves in a different light. I often get emails about how my artwork has empowered others in one way or another. I am a firm believer that one person can make a difference. Every thing we put out there creates a ripple effect, and whether you are trying to build or destroy, we are all influencing one another.
Tell me a little bit about your New Leaf Collection - described as "artsy t-shirts and collectible goods inspired by the idea of giving back". What does that mean for the company? How do ideas of social responsibility/giving back factor into your own personal work?New Leaf Collection is a product line I started five years ago as a means of creating an additional and more affordable platform to what I do. In the beginning it was mostly shirts that I would sell at my art openings, but more recently we have moved into lifestyle products (think bags, pillows, notebooks, etc.). We donate 10% of each product sale to the charity it was inspired by. I feel that if I am going to start a company, it has to be a company that has good ethics. Using recycled materials, coming up with more eco-friendly solutions, and creating awareness of bigger issues is the end goal for New Leaf. As you may know, this route is no easy feat and you just have to take it step by step and never lose sight of the big picture.
If you could pick one artist to mentor you, who would it be?Most definitely
Robert Rauschenberg. He was the first American artist to be known for creating artwork out of everyday materials and coined the term "assemblage". His artwork influenced the birth of
Pop Art and I would say is a big influence to the
Lowbrow movement of today. He was one of the first people to make art that the average person could relate to. Up until then, art was only appreciated by a small "elite" few. In his later years, he almost entirely financed his own organization,
ROCI, which was created as a way to promote world peace and understanding through the production of art.
Who are some artists that other people should know about?The ones that inspire me most...
Tom Sachs,
Barry Mcgee,
Thomas Campbell,
Dave Ellis,
Pae White,
Herakut,
Barron Storey,
Anthony Lister,
Jeff Soto,
Blaine Fontana,
Andy Goldsworthy, and
Ryan McGinness.
What are you excited about in 2010?Traveling and a brighter future for
New Leaf Collection.
