Nick Madden shares some insight about the moods his work evokes, how teaching kids has influenced his approach, and surviving a stare down with President Barack Obama.
I create work based on the notion that materials discarded by most of society deserve a new life. Chunks of wood, rusty nails, used pencils, cardboard, broken furniture, and scrap metal all have a way of mixing and mingling with paint, paper, plaster, and clay in my work to create large collages of messy beauty. The images I create convey a mood rather than make a statement. The idea that art can and should be imperfect, rough around the edges, emotional, both happy and a bit sad plays a large role in my work. When creating art, I prefer to play the part of a weird mystic who is compelled to bang strange materials together, not over-thinking anything, trying to make sense of the world around me.
Nick Maddens first solo show is currently on display at the Portal Gallery in Atlanta.
Audio: Click the player above to listen to Hall’s conversation with Nick Madden, or download the MP3.
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