This week’s Feel Good Friday interview is with fellow Charlotte Geek & artist, Jeff Mackin. Mackin was born in New York in 1968, but has lived in North Carolina for more than twenty years. After finishing his Associates Degree in Fine Arts at Gaston College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Jeff worked as a potter in Seagrove, North Carolina. He currently works in acrylic paint. Jeff is a member of the Gaston County Arts Guild, and lives and works in Gastonia, North Carolina. He currently has an exhibit, “Happy Accidents,” on display at the Gaston County Museum.
1. When did you first get in to painting?
I first got into painting while I was doing pottery. The outlay in materials and equipment was cheaper, and I found it more conducive to exorcising the little demons that bedevilled me both then, and now 🙂
2. Back when you were a potter, what were some of your favorite kinds of pieces to work on?
Mugs and bowls, the former because they were practical and made good gifts, the latter because the interior surface provided a space to experiment with different glazes and textures.
3. Tell us a little about your inspiration for your current exhibit, “Happy Accidents.” How long is that exhibit running?
The exhibit started in April and runs through June. I owe the title to a former teacher, who coined the phrase. The fancy name is aleatoric paredolia, which roughly means “trying to strike a balance between conscious intent and allowing the subconscious to work its magic in order to create a painting in which the viewer is able to pick out meaningful patterns”… Whew…
4. What new projects are you working on?
Well, the latest project was to try and broaden my color palette, which was an abject failure… So recently I’ve gone back to smaller surfaces and earlier techniques. Sometimes you have to retreat in order to go forward…
5. In case of an Alien Invasion, what tips do you have when dealing with our outer space invaders?
Well that depends on a lot of factors like degree of hostility, difference in tech level, whether or not we are being enslaved, or harvested for food, that sort of thing… I think in pretty much all cases though, we’re talking about a Walking Dead situation… you keep running and keep shooting until they get you!
Jeff’s exhibit, “Happy Accidents,” is on display in the bullpen at the Gaston County Museum from April 9 – June 8, 2013. For more information visit http://www.gastoncountymuseum.org/Bullpen.asp.
