Monthly Archives: January 2011

I first found Sean & his friend’s work when I became a member of Cargo. The name stuck out to me and I had to get to know what was going on behind the scenes of this wild artwork.  Sean seems to be the last of a dying breed. A self motivated individual that has initiative and energy.  Get to know him. This is the Sean Curtis Patrick interview. -Matt

Name : Sean Curtis Patrick
Age: 26
Location: Austin, TX

How many people are apart of the artwork that is posted on the site?
Well, there are a few behind the scenes I guess, but mainly just D. and I.
Jacob, Forest, Ryan, Trevor… They have all had something somewhat related to the venture. Its been called a “cult” before, but thats just silly. One person said that D. was my “Chris Gaines”, I said I didn’t get that reference. Later I looked it up online and called this person a bad word.

How did you become interested in the arts and how long have you been doing video work?
I guess I started fairly early. At age 7, I developed my first roll of film and printed my first photos. After that, it was kind of over. I knew what I liked in life. I have been obsessed with making things ever since. Whether they be large paintings, film work or music. The film work started in college I guess through liking music videos and old 16mm science films.

What made you decide to do video work versus other forms?
I guess video and film are only a small part of what I do. When I was at university, I studied film and media. I lived in England for a bit and developed an actual skill set and ascetic, which previously had just been nonsense. But that was a long time ago, I guess. I also worked in the commercial video world for awhile making car adverts and other slick bullshit. It was really stressful. You have moments though where you have to slap yourself and come back to reality. “Am I really in Portugal hanging out of a fast moving BMW on a track? Yes. Don’t Die” I got kicked out of countries and had equipment explode. A crazy time to say the least. It taught me how to lie well though, and, I guess it also taught me how to dress better.

How did you come up with the name “The Attempted Theft of Millions”? I like that name.
Great, Thanks! The name came from piece I made about 4 years ago now. I was disillusioned with what I was doing for a living. I realized that my work and music label were failing. Around that time I realized that the surplus of my art had never been seen outside my anxious friends and cat, Martenot. I day dreamed about trying to have a large show and selling all the pieces for very cheap, thus facilitating a fresh start. The Attempted Theft of Millions came from that, because even in my dream it was an abject failure. I guess its meant to be a bit snarky, like “buy into this lie we are living”. I think if you google it too, it’s us and news stories of failed bank robbers, which is funny. (cue laughter) I think every large show I ever have will be under that title. It remains apt.

I really enjoy the Cat video. Can you tell us what went into making that video?
The film was made shortly after I arrived in Texas. I had been through a really bizarre set of months. I was, I guess, in a new life and felt severed from my old one. My cat was really the only semblance of that previous existence (well, other things were too, but thats not interesting). I think of myself as a documentarian.  Im the guy at the party taking pictures.  I guess it stems from this inability I have to remember lots of details and also, more morbidly, we are all going to die and there isn’t going to be lots of you left over for people that cared.  I think of this as a little love note to my pal, Martenot.  We started over, moved 1500 miles and it wasn’t too hard on us.  Technically speaking, The film was also an homage to Stan Brakhage’s “Cats Cradle”, which was one of the first experimental films I ever saw that really spoke to me.  I damn near cried at it.  I have to eternally thank my friend Forest for that.

Which piece is your favorite at the moment?
A favorite piece of mine? Well, I have many I guess. I don’t shy away from saying that I love my work and think its important. Most accuse you of sounding like an asshole for being enthusiastic about what you make. I think thats a load of rubbish. People should like what they make and hype it hard to make themselves heard, or its going to sit in your closet and get ruined by your pets scratching it. My favorite piece at the moment is one that hasn’t been publicly shown yet, but its called “Father, Skyjacking, 1972″. Its a pretty large piece. 4 feet squared. Its mainly a collage. Its about my father and one of the pieces he made when he was my age now. It involves targets and airplanes. I think its really stunning. I would love to see it in a gallery. I think more than any other piece I have made. I sent it to him and he didn’t like it.

Do you have any aspirations to work with anyone on a joint project?
Yeah, there are a lot of people I would love to work with. I have a great group right now, but there are some heavy hitters I would love to get a chance to just talk to, let alone work with. Julian House, of Intro / Ghost Box fame is probably one of my favorite living artists. Stanley Donwood, Ashley Wood, Dan Streeting, lots of musicians, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Radiohead… Lots of the people I would like to work with though are dead, which is an obvious shame. I’d like to work with Fred Thomas and Ryan Howard more.

Are there any events on the horizon?
Well, yes, I guess so. I seem really jaded most of the time but its more of just being frustrated with how the art and music world work. These days so much of the art you see is dictated by how many people they know and how many favors are being pulled. I used to think it was actually about what you made. My generations penchant for ironic 80′s glasses and pizza worship kind of ruined that. Oh well. But, yes, I am busy. I have gotten some interesting commissions as of late. Recently finished an album cover for a really great synth band out of California, which I don’t feel comfortable saying just yet. I have been asked to make an short film for the Ann Arbor Film Festival which will be shown on PBS. Oh! also, I was commissioned to create a soundtrack to a black and white 3D film called Train of Shadows. Its by a Mensa worthy young film maker Jacob Mendel. Honestly, if anyone I ever know becomes really well known as an artist, It will be him. Incredible. I hear its going to have its premiere at a TED Conference. Thousands of people in 3D glasses… Wild. Speaking of film work, im working on a script for a narrative short film about a drug runner, backpacks and motorcycles. We filmed a short of it last summer. Maybe we will make that into a feature or something.. Oh also a music video for the band Our Brother the Native. Im sure theres more.. Lots of plans, Lots of confusion, never a dull moment. Love to all.

shouts?
hi to my Mum, Dad and girlfriend Allie.

See more of Sean Patrick’s artwork Here