OUR THING #1
A Creative Community
Thom Lessner has impeccable taste: In his work, the artist has immortalized the likes of Van Halen, Dio, ELO and Hall and Oates in portraits that both pay homage and mock some of rock music's lesser idols. He's exhibited internationally and done work for Poketo, Shepard Fairey and Monument snowboards, and also performs, and occasionally does aerobics, with Amanda Blank and Rose Luardo in the running-suit clad band Sweatheart.
space1026.com
myspace.com/sweatheartsweat
White Leather from So Cherri | buy this album (insound)
First off, state your name.
Thom Lessner
How long have you lived in Philadelphia?
I moved here from Columbus, Ohio, in June of 1999.
As an artist, what made you choose Philly?
I knew Clare Rojas and Andrew Jeffrey Wright, and liked them.
What is the most inherently Philly aspect of your art?
I do what I want?
Where was your first Philadelphia show?
It was at Gmart, the original Salior Jerry Palace.
Who supported you along the way?
Shelley Spector and Roberta Fallon
What is the relationship between your work and music?
It's finally morphing together, and that's what I always wanted. They were more separate before. Maybe it's everywhere, but Philly has a tone of people who make art and play music. I like that, which is weird, because I don't really love "art music." I think people in Philly mix the two well, somehow.
Space 1026 helped spawn a movement of Philly artists working in collectives. What's your take on that?
I'm a bad example [for Space 1026] in that I don't do much for the space other than pay rent and work there a lot. I love it there. I'm better or more focused on making work for myself or a job rather than "collectively" working with everyone. I feel support there, though, and I hope I'm supporting all the other artists there as well.
Do you have any advice for collectives that want to be like Space 1026 but are just getting started?
Care
What is the best under-the-radar music venue in Philly?
I like the guy who plays trumpet outside of the old Tower Records on Chestnut and Broad. He plays George Michael and Spandue Ballet ballads.
Best eats?
Bbq season
Philly: better with Allen Iverson or without?
It was a fair breakup. I miss him but everyone is better off.
Please kill off a Philly trend for us.
Stinking!