February 21, 2025 • 26 mins
Unlock the secrets of a life dedicated to art and spirituality with our special guest, Tom Wachunas, a recently retired art history teacher and a vibrant force in the Stark County art scene. As a creator and critic with decades of experience, Tom shares his journey from a young fourth grader experimenting with mixed media to a respected artist with a powerful voice on his blog, ArtWach.
You'll be inspired by Tom's reflections on how art and spirituality intertwine, lending depth and meaning to his work, including his current exhibition "Spiritual Tableaux." His journey is a testament to resilience and passion, offering valuable insights for both budding and seasoned artists alike.
Join us as Tom takes us through his transformative years, from his days as a self-defined “hippie” art student to a period of artistic hiatus, and ultimately, his triumphant return to creating. The episode offers a rich tapestry of stories, including a heartfelt realization about a song lyric meant for a former lover that now speaks volumes to him personally. We explore how Tom's art makes powerful use of found objects, giving them new life and context that evoke emotional and spiritual narratives. Don't miss the chance to learn about Tom's dynamic career and find out how you can connect with him and his work on various platforms.
Links:
Tom's album on Spotify: Spare Changes
Catch the doodles on YouTube
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Portfolio website: Brewtifully.com
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Facebook: /brewtifully
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LinkedIn: Tracy Dawn Brewer
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hello everyone, welcome back to a new episode of
Brutally Made, and I am superexcited to have our February
exhibiting artist with us todayon the program.
Tom Wachunas.
Tom, thank you so much forjoining me today.
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Thanks for asking.
Oh, yes, I am so much forjoining me today.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You're welcome.
Thanks for asking.
Oh, yes, I am so honored forone.
I have to say that youapproached and asked if you
could have an exhibit at thegallery at the shop and it is
beautiful and I love it and Ireally feel honored to be able
to show the community your work.
It stops people in their tracksand I've had so many people
from all over Northeast Ohio askabout it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Great, well, I'm just that's.
I'm tickled to hear that that's.
Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Sure.
So I would love for you to do aquick introduction about
yourself and tell everybody whatyou do.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Okay, tom Wachun is here.
This past May 2024, I didretire after 17 years of being
adjunct faculty in the arthistory department at Penn State
University, the Stark campus.
Yes, I'm an active artist stilland I'm also a writer.
(01:27):
I love writing about and arecommenting on it, sometimes as a
critic, sometimes as just acolleague artist getting
enthused about another show orother artists' work, and I'm
still very much involved inwriting about art and making.
(01:51):
And now that I'm retired, well,yeah, I have devoted a lot more
time to reading and to justthinking and viewing as many art
shows as I can locally, I mean,most of my concerns are in the
general Stark County, cantonMassillon corridor and that's
(02:17):
what I've been primarilyinvolved in.
And I really felt like I missedshowing my work, my work, and
so you know it was a, it wasjust a a wonderful, um, a
wonderful response on your partwhen I yes, I, I outright asked
you hey, you got any slots open?
Let me show my work.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
No, I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, um.
So yeah, I'm very much still um.
You know that's very much in mylife making, looking at and
writing about art.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yes, and I ran across your writing in the Stark
Facebook, the Stark ArtistGroup's Facebook page.
That's where I first kind ofwas introduced to your work and
then found out that your blogArt Watch, a little play on your
name was available, out thatyour blog Art Watch, a little
play on your name was available,and then started reading some
(03:08):
of the critiques and thevisitations that you've had at
multiple shows and galleries andthat's kind of how I found you,
yeah the blog is now in its16th year, which is hard for me
to believe.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I mean, I started it after I'd been at Kent for about
a year, something like that.
I mean I started it after I'dbeen at Kent for about a year,
something like that, and it'sstill going.
I don't write as many, I don'tpost as many entries as I, as I
did up until a few years ago,but that's but it's still.
It's still very active and Istill have every intention of of
(03:40):
sustaining the blog.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So good, good.
So how long have you been anartist?
Because I feel like you've beenan artist in many forms.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, well, you're right about that.
Many forms, many media, youknow to be really serious and
this is no exaggeration.
I just I think I've been anartist since about fourth grade,
you know, making my pictures onmy terms and just expressing
(04:13):
some original, well,two-dimensional painting on
paper, cardboard, canvas.
After I went to started college, I started stretching canvases
(04:33):
and I was a painter all the waythrough college and beyond, so,
but it got serious as early asfourth grade.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, I can relate to that.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I was dissatisfied with coloring books and art
classes in grade school and Ijust started messing with it on
my own at home, on my terms.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So that's great, and I love when you're talking about
medium because we werepleasantly presented a beautiful
kind of like review of over twodecades of work that you had
created and to see the differentsubstrates and things that you
have used over time to createyour pieces.
(05:14):
You know you really do a lot ofmixed media.
I love that you brought upcardboard.
Do you have a favorite medium?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
You know that's a tough one to ask.
In the last just couple ofyears I've kind of flip-flopped,
kind of I returned to working,you know, incorporating
cardboard, corrugated board, butsomewhere in there too.
And again, within the last five, maybe 10 years, I got
(05:46):
fascinated with fabric clothing,the material.
That's foldable and I canwrinkle it, I can stretch it, I
can crumple it up, but generallythen stiffen it, you know, make
it hard.
It looks soft and folded andmalleable, but to the touch it's
(06:07):
more like, you know, stone.
So I wanted a sculptural kindof treatment going on and then
paint on top of that, maybe, orcollage on top of that.
But so there, lately there'sbeen this you know, I'm kind of
dealing with both, depending onthe idea or the particular
concept I'm embracing on on aparticular work, but, um, so
(06:31):
just a kind of democraticdistribution of of these
materials.
And then of course there's thefound object thing, adhering,
adhering things I didn't make,uh, incorporating that, uh
within the textures of thefabric and or the torn cardboard
or something, something of thatnature.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So yeah, I was just going to bring up the commentary
that you infuse to the piecesthat you find or repurpose
electronics and just it'samazing the story that they tell
that you've developed usingthat piece as the base object,
but giving it a whole newcontext or try to, you know, use
(07:11):
it as a symbol of someunderlying emotional slash,
spiritual messaging that I wantit to impart.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So take it out of its ordinary setting and I always
did love that word, I don't knowwhen as a culture we started
using that vocabulary butrepurposed.
I kind of like that what's thepurpose of clothing, what's the
purpose of packing material orcardboard?
And we're going to change itspurpose or open it up, repurpose
(07:57):
it for something completelydifferent.
But that material never forgetsits original purpose or its
original use or function.
And I depend on that for theviewer to try and make a
connection, like not forgettingwhat it was why is it here now?
What's it for now?
And then the two can be kind ofmelded together, which, you
(08:21):
know, I'm open to thepossibility that the viewer will
kind of make their ownconclusions.
I'm not trying to bang you onthe head with only one meaning
or one message.
I want to invite a kind ofopen-minded approach, you know,
engagement on the part of theviewer.
(08:42):
So I'm very fascinated withfound objects of different kinds
if they're appropriate to whatmy emotional or spiritual state
is when I'm making the work.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, and I was just going to ask about your
inspiration, because sometimesfor me when someone says I never
thought of that, that's almostlike one of the biggest
compliments I could get.
So is there a place or a sourceof inspiration that you seem to
always?
You know, start from Well thatis.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You know, that's such a loaded question to me and I
and it's true, I mean sometimeswhen artists direct that and
when I read about other artiststalking about their inspiration.
You know, I do encounter this alot.
You probably have to like Idon't look for inspiration.
(09:34):
Inspiration finds me.
It sounds a little bit like acliche and a kind of cutesy, but
you know what?
Bit like a cliche and a kind ofcutesy.
But you know what?
There's a lot of truth in thatand for me Inspiration is pretty
consistently grounded in mysense of relationship with God.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And then the many, many layers and applications
that that can have.
And as time goes on, the olderI get, I'm finding more and more
grounding in biblical contentand more grounding in biblical
(10:20):
content.
Whether old, you know stories,or the narrative that we call
the Old Testament, or theGospels, and the appearance of
Christ and the establishment ofhis community.
You know his purpose, what wecall the New Testament.
Okay, it's all of the samereason and purpose and meaning
to me, whether you're openingthe first words of the Bible in
(10:43):
the beginning God made, or inthe beginning the earth was.
Okay, fine, all the way to theend, it's all fair game.
As far as I'm, where I want tofocus or where I'm being drawn,
that will vary in season toseason, but that's the
groundwork.
And then, many times, on privateprayer and meditation, yes, a
(11:09):
visual image, an image or athing will come to mind.
It's just that's what I mean by.
It comes to me.
How can I share thateffectively in a visual work, a
picture, an object or both?
You know what I call my mixedmedia assemblage.
(11:29):
You know that kind of thing andtake it from there.
So, um, you know, long periodsof time can happen between one
piece and another.
Uh, I don't pressure myself tobe in the studio six hours a day
and if I'm not like, I'm notbeing a serious artist, no, so
there can be periods of timewhen I'm just more about
(11:50):
reflection and reading and andand gratitude for that.
But something happens and Idon't understand necessarily how
or when or why it happens.
When it does, but it does, Ihave to follow up by making a
work of art.
So the show we have up atBeautifully Now is a range at.
(12:10):
Beautifully Now is a range.
It does cover a number ofseasons and that do span about
20, I don't know 20, 25 years,something like that.
Yeah, Representative of thedifferent seasons and focuses
that I went through in that timeblock.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Yeah, but there's a consistency through all of those
years.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Well, I'm hoping that that's yeah, and I'm definitely
, and to me that's a good thing,I mean a good sign that there
is a consistency of content orimplied content, some more
specific and clear references toscripture, the Bible, some a
little more subtle or symbolic,but all of the same source, all
(13:00):
of the same root.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So all of these years , what's been your biggest
challenge being an artist?
Speaker 2 (13:08):
You know and that's a great question too and very
loaded I just, I want, I want tostay trusting of my own
intuition um to have faith thatthat my vision is going to be
(13:29):
somehow engaging or meaningfulto another viewer.
Um, it's not like I'm settingout to say and do only one thing
by making this one piece, butat the same time I want to feel
that I'm faithful to the nature,the essence of my message and
(13:51):
that it will be somehowmeaningful or engaging for the
viewer.
To have confidence in that andnot give up hope or faith in the
fact that I really do believethat.
You know, god can communicatethrough art.
He can.
(14:12):
Oh absolutely, and that's notthe case for every work of art
ever made, and that's not thecase for for every work of art
ever made, and it's not the casefor every artist, necessarily.
I understand that.
I'm just um.
I want to stay um, very um,connected and and and related to
my relationship with god inmaking my art Now this is not to
(14:38):
say that every piece I make hassomething to do with my
relationship with God.
No, sometimes I makecommentaries on worldly things,
but from the attitude of someonewho loves God and knows that
it's a mutual relationship.
It's not just an abstractbelief.
So when I do veer off into someterritories some might call
(15:03):
political, some might call funit's still driven by knowing who
and what I am in relationshipto.
What in the world am I lookingat?
So I hope that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
It does make sense, yeah, and I think that also the
communication that someoneexpects to hear from a spiritual
feeling and being that'sinterpreted many ways, yeah, so
I think that that can be infusedeven in your political message
or your fund message or I'mdoing air quotes those different
(15:38):
pieces still could carry.
You know that base, thatgeneral, you know inspiration
and feeling and where your workdrives from.
So I agree there's a lot to besaid of having that as your
(16:00):
source, your core, and thenhaving your message shared in
different ways.
But I wish that I had yourslideshow so I could show all
the pictures that you shared,because you started from your
very beginning until some recent, very recent work and it was
just fascinating to see.
And it was just fascinating tosee.
And then during your openingreception I had a mutual friend
(16:20):
share that you were also amusician.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
And so I played your music that I found on Apple
Music.
You knocked my socks off.
Total surprise, unexpected.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, and it was beautiful.
Eyes, unexpected, yeah, and itwas beautiful and it was just
stunning to hear that, on top ofseeing the visual work and then
knowing your written work, Imean you're just so diversified
in all of your talent and wereally are very lucky to have
you here in stark county sharingthat you're very kind.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I think that there's the your seasons of you
know, if your hands are in thepaint and in the fabric, that's
great.
But then we're blessed withhearing your views on other
people's work and your, you know, sharing of galleries and work
around town and Northeast Ohio,and then, yeah, I'll definitely
(17:14):
share the link to that musicbecause you can hear Spare
Changes.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
That's the name of the album.
Yeah, it's also, I think, oneof the songs, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That goes way back to 75.
Unbelievable 1975,.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I know that's incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know there's a and those were in my.
Those songs were from my hippielong hair art student days.
I did the album right aftergraduating, getting my master's
at Ohio State and you know there.
But when you, when I walkedinto the gallery and you had
been playing that, I came in ona song and I hadn't heard the
(17:54):
line in years.
There's a line in one of thesongs and it seems, you know, it
was so sweet of you to decidelet's have that as some
atmosphere background.
But there's a line in one ofthe songs that just knocked me
down and it said how to hear itin this place with that work on
the walls, and I'm singing thesong to a lost okay lover, a
(18:20):
lost girlfriend, like we'reparting ways.
But the line was I know God'sson is the only one who can help
you now to see, and I thoughtin the song I wrote that for the
attention of some young womanRight Now.
It's ironic, you know.
Wow, it's like it was a linewritten to myself.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
And, by the way, I think people might know this,
but the work that you have onthis that we put up in the
gallery, and when I say work ofthe last 20, 25 years, yeah,
it's all work done in Ohio, ok,after.
But I had lived in New YorkCity for 14 years and in Miami,
but I don't have any of thatwork.
(19:09):
City for 14 years and right inmiami, but I don't have any of
that work.
And and then when I came backto ohio at the end of 1991, I
wouldn't, I didn't make anotherwork of art for like eight or
nine years I can't believe thatyou?
um, eight or nine years hadpassed now.
I was writing about art andgetting published in a few
different magazines, whatever,whatever, but I wasn't making
(19:29):
any.
So all that stuff represents memaking art, but not until about
the year 2000, something likethat, after a hiatus.
I hadn't made art for eight ornine years after coming back to
Ohio from New York.
There are many reasons for that.
That's a whole nother story.
But so yeah that this I was.
(19:51):
I'm just so happy that youhelped me hang that and select
that that group of pieces,because it does tell a pretty
consistent story of my life inOhio as an artist and but after
all my art making of yearsbefore.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
And it's called Spiritual Tableau.
We have the show name.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, so if anyone is interested in having you show
in their gallery or contactingyou, is there?
A way somebody can do that Tom.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah, they can, you know.
The other thing is, if you myblog, it's called ArtWatch.
It's one word, but it's watchwithout the T, so it's
A-R-T-W-A-C-H.
Yes, so it'swwwartwatchblogspotcom.
(20:47):
That's the site.
Okay, the platform for mywriting, so you can leave
comments there, but I don't mindtelling people my email too, if
they want to make furtherinquiries or comments.
I'm Tom Wachunas and the emailis twachunas one word
t-w-a-c-h-u-N-A-S at yahoocomand I don't mind releasing that
(21:14):
to anyone who's interested orwants to maintain or start some
new contacts.
Plus, I have a Facebook pageand basically I use Facebook to
announce whenever I put up a newblog post and I'll run some
photos or in that blog post canbe.
(21:35):
You know more often aboutsomebody else's work or some
other show, but when I make anew work or new series of works,
I've often done posts thatinform people of that, and
that's via Facebook.
So if anybody wants to messageme on Facebook, they can do that
too.
That's open to allpossibilities.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's great, and I'll make sure all of these
links are also in the show notes.
They're easily accessible.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Yeah, and let me thank you again, within earshot
of anybody tuning in to thispodcast.
Yes, you are a real meaningfuland industrious and ambitious
addition.
I think, communicating with theenergy and the variety, I mean
it's really important whatyou're doing, not that you're
(22:22):
showing my work, that's not whatmakes you important.
I'm just really appreciative tobe in the context of what
(22:46):
you're doing and how you'redoing it at Brutifly Gallery.
I mean, it's not just an artgallery at all.
It's much more.
It's a work center, but it'salso a communication center in a
very spirited way of stayingconnected to the public, another
avenue for people to goexperience.
(23:08):
You know what art is.
You know and the people who aremaking it and the joy it can
bring in the making and showing.
So and you're really good atthat and I you're an agent.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
That means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No, you're an important cultural agent and
it's just a pleasure.
I'm glad I followed my heart inasking you like can I be part
of this wall, part of that, whatyou're doing and getting people
?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
to be a little braver to say I would love someone to
see my work.
And that's exactly what I'm soglad that you did, because I
don't know if they feel offendedif I'm like I want to show your
(24:00):
work and it's like what are youasking me to do?
If you felt comfortable enoughto approach me and ask me, that
makes me so happy.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Well, part of me was it felt awkward.
I wondered if, if like, am Ibeing too forward or or or or
too egotistical by by just goingto somebody knocking on the
door and say, hey, can you showmy work?
It's like, well, I do missshowing work because the only
other time, locally, I don'ttravel a lot and I don't enter a
(24:32):
lot of shows.
I simply don't have the time,energy or wherewithal to handle
that kind of logistics.
So when there's, you know,juried art shows in Stark County
there's a couple every yearI'll enter those and you always
cross your fingers.
It's like right they may not getin.
You know that kind of thing,but otherwise you know it's
(24:54):
having a solo show on uh.
It became important to me and Imissed.
I mean, the last one I had wasuh at patina downtown canton.
Yeah, and I'm reallyappreciative of that, but that's
been like a couple years I atleast two and a half years or
something.
I just missed, um, lettingpeople know I'm still active and
(25:15):
and you know I want my art tobe appreciated, you know.
But, um, and so I had to getover my nervousness when I know
I, you know, am I being too boldby going to you?
No time Can I put my stuff onthat wall.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
No, not at all, and I'm glad because maybe someone
listening is going to hear thisand know that they're much.
You know, that's what I want.
I want that so much.
The year is already booked forthis year and I have five
already for next year.
It's blowing my mind, tom.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Well, this is good.
This is good.
I just love it.
You know you're a really goodlink to the art community, but
also to the public, and I don'tmind shouting that out to
whoever's listening.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Well, thank you.
Thank you so much and thank youfor taking the time to talk to
me and sharing all of this witheveryone today.
I'm so glad they got to meetyou virtually through the
episode and I will make sureeverybody has all the links so
they can reach out if they wouldlike.
So have a wonderful day.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
You do the same kiddo Stay warm.
Be careful in this cold, icyweather.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I know you too.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Bye.
Hello everyone, welcome back to a new episode of
Brutally Made, and I am superexcited to have our February
exhibiting artist with us todayon the program.
Tom Wachunas.
Tom, thank you so much forjoining me today.
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Thanks for asking.
Oh, yes, I am so much forjoining me today.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You're welcome.
Thanks for asking.
Oh, yes, I am so honored forone.
I have to say that youapproached and asked if you
could have an exhibit at thegallery at the shop and it is
beautiful and I love it and Ireally feel honored to be able
to show the community your work.
It stops people in their tracksand I've had so many people
from all over Northeast Ohio askabout it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Great, well, I'm just that's.
I'm tickled to hear that that's.
Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Sure.
So I would love for you to do aquick introduction about
yourself and tell everybody whatyou do.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Okay, tom Wachun is here.
This past May 2024, I didretire after 17 years of being
adjunct faculty in the arthistory department at Penn State
University, the Stark campus.
Yes, I'm an active artist stilland I'm also a writer.
(01:27):
I love writing about and arecommenting on it, sometimes as a
critic, sometimes as just acolleague artist getting
enthused about another show orother artists' work, and I'm
still very much involved inwriting about art and making.
(01:51):
And now that I'm retired, well,yeah, I have devoted a lot more
time to reading and to justthinking and viewing as many art
shows as I can locally, I mean,most of my concerns are in the
general Stark County, cantonMassillon corridor and that's
(02:17):
what I've been primarilyinvolved in.
And I really felt like I missedshowing my work, my work, and
so you know it was a, it wasjust a a wonderful, um, a
wonderful response on your partwhen I yes, I, I outright asked
you hey, you got any slots open?
Let me show my work.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
No, I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, um.
So yeah, I'm very much still um.
You know that's very much in mylife making, looking at and
writing about art.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yes, and I ran across your writing in the Stark
Facebook, the Stark ArtistGroup's Facebook page.
That's where I first kind ofwas introduced to your work and
then found out that your blogArt Watch, a little play on your
name was available, out thatyour blog Art Watch, a little
play on your name was available,and then started reading some
(03:08):
of the critiques and thevisitations that you've had at
multiple shows and galleries andthat's kind of how I found you,
yeah the blog is now in its16th year, which is hard for me
to believe.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I mean, I started it after I'd been at Kent for about
a year, something like that.
I mean I started it after I'dbeen at Kent for about a year,
something like that, and it'sstill going.
I don't write as many, I don'tpost as many entries as I, as I
did up until a few years ago,but that's but it's still.
It's still very active and Istill have every intention of of
(03:40):
sustaining the blog.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
So good, good.
So how long have you been anartist?
Because I feel like you've beenan artist in many forms.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, well, you're right about that.
Many forms, many media, youknow to be really serious and
this is no exaggeration.
I just I think I've been anartist since about fourth grade,
you know, making my pictures onmy terms and just expressing
(04:13):
some original, well,two-dimensional painting on
paper, cardboard, canvas.
After I went to started college, I started stretching canvases
(04:33):
and I was a painter all the waythrough college and beyond, so,
but it got serious as early asfourth grade.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, I can relate to that.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
I was dissatisfied with coloring books and art
classes in grade school and Ijust started messing with it on
my own at home, on my terms.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So that's great, and I love when you're talking about
medium because we werepleasantly presented a beautiful
kind of like review of over twodecades of work that you had
created and to see the differentsubstrates and things that you
have used over time to createyour pieces.
(05:14):
You know you really do a lot ofmixed media.
I love that you brought upcardboard.
Do you have a favorite medium?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
You know that's a tough one to ask.
In the last just couple ofyears I've kind of flip-flopped,
kind of I returned to working,you know, incorporating
cardboard, corrugated board, butsomewhere in there too.
And again, within the last five, maybe 10 years, I got
(05:46):
fascinated with fabric clothing,the material.
That's foldable and I canwrinkle it, I can stretch it, I
can crumple it up, but generallythen stiffen it, you know, make
it hard.
It looks soft and folded andmalleable, but to the touch it's
(06:07):
more like, you know, stone.
So I wanted a sculptural kindof treatment going on and then
paint on top of that, maybe, orcollage on top of that.
But so there, lately there'sbeen this you know, I'm kind of
dealing with both, depending onthe idea or the particular
concept I'm embracing on on aparticular work, but, um, so
(06:31):
just a kind of democraticdistribution of of these
materials.
And then of course there's thefound object thing, adhering,
adhering things I didn't make,uh, incorporating that, uh
within the textures of thefabric and or the torn cardboard
or something, something of thatnature.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
So yeah, I was just going to bring up the commentary
that you infuse to the piecesthat you find or repurpose
electronics and just it'samazing the story that they tell
that you've developed usingthat piece as the base object,
but giving it a whole newcontext or try to, you know, use
(07:11):
it as a symbol of someunderlying emotional slash,
spiritual messaging that I wantit to impart.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So take it out of its ordinary setting and I always
did love that word, I don't knowwhen as a culture we started
using that vocabulary butrepurposed.
I kind of like that what's thepurpose of clothing, what's the
purpose of packing material orcardboard?
And we're going to change itspurpose or open it up, repurpose
(07:57):
it for something completelydifferent.
But that material never forgetsits original purpose or its
original use or function.
And I depend on that for theviewer to try and make a
connection, like not forgettingwhat it was why is it here now?
What's it for now?
And then the two can be kind ofmelded together, which, you
(08:21):
know, I'm open to thepossibility that the viewer will
kind of make their ownconclusions.
I'm not trying to bang you onthe head with only one meaning
or one message.
I want to invite a kind ofopen-minded approach, you know,
engagement on the part of theviewer.
(08:42):
So I'm very fascinated withfound objects of different kinds
if they're appropriate to whatmy emotional or spiritual state
is when I'm making the work.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, and I was just going to ask about your
inspiration, because sometimesfor me when someone says I never
thought of that, that's almostlike one of the biggest
compliments I could get.
So is there a place or a sourceof inspiration that you seem to
always?
You know, start from Well thatis.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You know, that's such a loaded question to me and I
and it's true, I mean sometimeswhen artists direct that and
when I read about other artiststalking about their inspiration.
You know, I do encounter this alot.
You probably have to like Idon't look for inspiration.
(09:34):
Inspiration finds me.
It sounds a little bit like acliche and a kind of cutesy, but
you know what?
Bit like a cliche and a kind ofcutesy.
But you know what?
There's a lot of truth in thatand for me Inspiration is pretty
consistently grounded in mysense of relationship with God.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And then the many, many layers and applications
that that can have.
And as time goes on, the olderI get, I'm finding more and more
grounding in biblical contentand more grounding in biblical
(10:20):
content.
Whether old, you know stories,or the narrative that we call
the Old Testament, or theGospels, and the appearance of
Christ and the establishment ofhis community.
You know his purpose, what wecall the New Testament.
Okay, it's all of the samereason and purpose and meaning
to me, whether you're openingthe first words of the Bible in
(10:43):
the beginning God made, or inthe beginning the earth was.
Okay, fine, all the way to theend, it's all fair game.
As far as I'm, where I want tofocus or where I'm being drawn,
that will vary in season toseason, but that's the
groundwork.
And then, many times, on privateprayer and meditation, yes, a
(11:09):
visual image, an image or athing will come to mind.
It's just that's what I mean by.
It comes to me.
How can I share thateffectively in a visual work, a
picture, an object or both?
You know what I call my mixedmedia assemblage.
(11:29):
You know that kind of thing andtake it from there.
So, um, you know, long periodsof time can happen between one
piece and another.
Uh, I don't pressure myself tobe in the studio six hours a day
and if I'm not like, I'm notbeing a serious artist, no, so
there can be periods of timewhen I'm just more about
(11:50):
reflection and reading and andand gratitude for that.
But something happens and Idon't understand necessarily how
or when or why it happens.
When it does, but it does, Ihave to follow up by making a
work of art.
So the show we have up atBeautifully Now is a range at.
(12:10):
Beautifully Now is a range.
It does cover a number ofseasons and that do span about
20, I don't know 20, 25 years,something like that.
Yeah, Representative of thedifferent seasons and focuses
that I went through in that timeblock.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Yeah, but there's a consistency through all of those
years.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Well, I'm hoping that that's yeah, and I'm definitely
, and to me that's a good thing,I mean a good sign that there
is a consistency of content orimplied content, some more
specific and clear references toscripture, the Bible, some a
little more subtle or symbolic,but all of the same source, all
(13:00):
of the same root.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So all of these years , what's been your biggest
challenge being an artist?
Speaker 2 (13:08):
You know and that's a great question too and very
loaded I just, I want, I want tostay trusting of my own
intuition um to have faith thatthat my vision is going to be
(13:29):
somehow engaging or meaningfulto another viewer.
Um, it's not like I'm settingout to say and do only one thing
by making this one piece, butat the same time I want to feel
that I'm faithful to the nature,the essence of my message and
(13:51):
that it will be somehowmeaningful or engaging for the
viewer.
To have confidence in that andnot give up hope or faith in the
fact that I really do believethat.
You know, god can communicatethrough art.
He can.
(14:12):
Oh absolutely, and that's notthe case for every work of art
ever made, and that's not thecase for for every work of art
ever made, and it's not the casefor every artist, necessarily.
I understand that.
I'm just um.
I want to stay um, very um,connected and and and related to
my relationship with god inmaking my art Now this is not to
(14:38):
say that every piece I make hassomething to do with my
relationship with God.
No, sometimes I makecommentaries on worldly things,
but from the attitude of someonewho loves God and knows that
it's a mutual relationship.
It's not just an abstractbelief.
So when I do veer off into someterritories some might call
(15:03):
political, some might call funit's still driven by knowing who
and what I am in relationshipto.
What in the world am I lookingat?
So I hope that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
It does make sense, yeah, and I think that also the
communication that someoneexpects to hear from a spiritual
feeling and being that'sinterpreted many ways, yeah, so
I think that that can be infusedeven in your political message
or your fund message or I'mdoing air quotes those different
(15:38):
pieces still could carry.
You know that base, thatgeneral, you know inspiration
and feeling and where your workdrives from.
So I agree there's a lot to besaid of having that as your
(16:00):
source, your core, and thenhaving your message shared in
different ways.
But I wish that I had yourslideshow so I could show all
the pictures that you shared,because you started from your
very beginning until some recent, very recent work and it was
just fascinating to see.
And it was just fascinating tosee.
And then during your openingreception I had a mutual friend
(16:20):
share that you were also amusician.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
And so I played your music that I found on Apple
Music.
You knocked my socks off.
Total surprise, unexpected.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, and it was beautiful.
Eyes, unexpected, yeah, and itwas beautiful and it was just
stunning to hear that, on top ofseeing the visual work and then
knowing your written work, Imean you're just so diversified
in all of your talent and wereally are very lucky to have
you here in stark county sharingthat you're very kind.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I think that there's the your seasons of you
know, if your hands are in thepaint and in the fabric, that's
great.
But then we're blessed withhearing your views on other
people's work and your, you know, sharing of galleries and work
around town and Northeast Ohio,and then, yeah, I'll definitely
(17:14):
share the link to that musicbecause you can hear Spare
Changes.
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
That's the name of the album.
Yeah, it's also, I think, oneof the songs, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That goes way back to 75.
Unbelievable 1975,.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I know that's incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know there's a and those were in my.
Those songs were from my hippielong hair art student days.
I did the album right aftergraduating, getting my master's
at Ohio State and you know there.
But when you, when I walkedinto the gallery and you had
been playing that, I came in ona song and I hadn't heard the
(17:54):
line in years.
There's a line in one of thesongs and it seems, you know, it
was so sweet of you to decidelet's have that as some
atmosphere background.
But there's a line in one ofthe songs that just knocked me
down and it said how to hear itin this place with that work on
the walls, and I'm singing thesong to a lost okay lover, a
(18:20):
lost girlfriend, like we'reparting ways.
But the line was I know God'sson is the only one who can help
you now to see, and I thoughtin the song I wrote that for the
attention of some young womanRight Now.
It's ironic, you know.
Wow, it's like it was a linewritten to myself.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
And, by the way, I think people might know this,
but the work that you have onthis that we put up in the
gallery, and when I say work ofthe last 20, 25 years, yeah,
it's all work done in Ohio, ok,after.
But I had lived in New YorkCity for 14 years and in Miami,
but I don't have any of thatwork.
(19:09):
City for 14 years and right inmiami, but I don't have any of
that work.
And and then when I came backto ohio at the end of 1991, I
wouldn't, I didn't make anotherwork of art for like eight or
nine years I can't believe thatyou?
um, eight or nine years hadpassed now.
I was writing about art andgetting published in a few
different magazines, whatever,whatever, but I wasn't making
(19:29):
any.
So all that stuff represents memaking art, but not until about
the year 2000, something likethat, after a hiatus.
I hadn't made art for eight ornine years after coming back to
Ohio from New York.
There are many reasons for that.
That's a whole nother story.
But so yeah that this I was.
(19:51):
I'm just so happy that youhelped me hang that and select
that that group of pieces,because it does tell a pretty
consistent story of my life inOhio as an artist and but after
all my art making of yearsbefore.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
And it's called Spiritual Tableau.
We have the show name.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, so if anyone is interested in having you show
in their gallery or contactingyou, is there?
A way somebody can do that Tom.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah, they can, you know.
The other thing is, if you myblog, it's called ArtWatch.
It's one word, but it's watchwithout the T, so it's
A-R-T-W-A-C-H.
Yes, so it'swwwartwatchblogspotcom.
(20:47):
That's the site.
Okay, the platform for mywriting, so you can leave
comments there, but I don't mindtelling people my email too, if
they want to make furtherinquiries or comments.
I'm Tom Wachunas and the emailis twachunas one word
t-w-a-c-h-u-N-A-S at yahoocomand I don't mind releasing that
(21:14):
to anyone who's interested orwants to maintain or start some
new contacts.
Plus, I have a Facebook pageand basically I use Facebook to
announce whenever I put up a newblog post and I'll run some
photos or in that blog post canbe.
(21:35):
You know more often aboutsomebody else's work or some
other show, but when I make anew work or new series of works,
I've often done posts thatinform people of that, and
that's via Facebook.
So if anybody wants to messageme on Facebook, they can do that
too.
That's open to allpossibilities.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's great, and I'll make sure all of these
links are also in the show notes.
They're easily accessible.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Yeah, and let me thank you again, within earshot
of anybody tuning in to thispodcast.
Yes, you are a real meaningfuland industrious and ambitious
addition.
I think, communicating with theenergy and the variety, I mean
it's really important whatyou're doing, not that you're
(22:22):
showing my work, that's not whatmakes you important.
I'm just really appreciative tobe in the context of what
(22:46):
you're doing and how you'redoing it at Brutifly Gallery.
I mean, it's not just an artgallery at all.
It's much more.
It's a work center, but it'salso a communication center in a
very spirited way of stayingconnected to the public, another
avenue for people to goexperience.
(23:08):
You know what art is.
You know and the people who aremaking it and the joy it can
bring in the making and showing.
So and you're really good atthat and I you're an agent.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
That means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No, you're an important cultural agent and
it's just a pleasure.
I'm glad I followed my heart inasking you like can I be part
of this wall, part of that, whatyou're doing and getting people
?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
to be a little braver to say I would love someone to
see my work.
And that's exactly what I'm soglad that you did, because I
don't know if they feel offendedif I'm like I want to show your
(24:00):
work and it's like what are youasking me to do?
If you felt comfortable enoughto approach me and ask me, that
makes me so happy.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Well, part of me was it felt awkward.
I wondered if, if like, am Ibeing too forward or or or or
too egotistical by by just goingto somebody knocking on the
door and say, hey, can you showmy work?
It's like, well, I do missshowing work because the only
other time, locally, I don'ttravel a lot and I don't enter a
(24:32):
lot of shows.
I simply don't have the time,energy or wherewithal to handle
that kind of logistics.
So when there's, you know,juried art shows in Stark County
there's a couple every yearI'll enter those and you always
cross your fingers.
It's like right they may not getin.
You know that kind of thing,but otherwise you know it's
(24:54):
having a solo show on uh.
It became important to me and Imissed.
I mean, the last one I had wasuh at patina downtown canton.
Yeah, and I'm reallyappreciative of that, but that's
been like a couple years I atleast two and a half years or
something.
I just missed, um, lettingpeople know I'm still active and
(25:15):
and you know I want my art tobe appreciated, you know.
But, um, and so I had to getover my nervousness when I know
I, you know, am I being too boldby going to you?
No time Can I put my stuff onthat wall.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
No, not at all, and I'm glad because maybe someone
listening is going to hear thisand know that they're much.
You know, that's what I want.
I want that so much.
The year is already booked forthis year and I have five
already for next year.
It's blowing my mind, tom.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Well, this is good.
This is good.
I just love it.
You know you're a really goodlink to the art community, but
also to the public, and I don'tmind shouting that out to
whoever's listening.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Well, thank you.
Thank you so much and thank youfor taking the time to talk to
me and sharing all of this witheveryone today.
I'm so glad they got to meetyou virtually through the
episode and I will make sureeverybody has all the links so
they can reach out if they wouldlike.
So have a wonderful day.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
You do the same kiddo Stay warm.
Be careful in this cold, icyweather.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I know you too.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Bye.
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