Darin Wacs is Back with 'More Cute'

Created specifically with Local's magnet wall in mind, this series of plasma cut, autobody-painted, metal sculptures are analogous to magnets on a refrigerator door – well, a giant refrigerator.

Working directly on and with the metal, from drawing and outlining each playful shape, then plasma-cutting each figure, the forms produce their unique characteristics, accentuated by the perfectly smooth enamel paint colliding against the jagged and rough plasma cut edges.

Asked about the project's name, Darin replied, "The name of this project comes from a conversation I had with a friend who was a designer at Sanrio. One day her boss looked at her work and replied MORE CUTE!  And, who doesn't want 'more cute'?"

 This is Darin's second site-specific project for Local.

See Darin’s first Local installation from 2017 here

| darinwacs.com | instagram @wacswork | twitter @darinwacs |

Local Art Residency: Q+A with artist Meaghan Bates

Thank you for being a part of the Local community from our early beginnings four years ago! It brings us joy to be able to share your work, especially now as our country and world at large is going through some painful times. That said, you used just these conditions to develop this installation. Please tell us about the work and what was the moment you knew you needed to start developing it.

I was invited by a dear friend into a small artist's group that was made to keep us productive  and provide artistic support during quarantine. That really shifted everything for me. It made me start using all the time in the house in a productive way. It kept me off facebook and away from the news. It gave me a way to start processing the fear and sadness into something creative. I want to share the hope that I found in my studio. I funneled the alternating fear and joy into these pieces. As the Black Lives Matter movement finally took off, I started on the large pieces. I began to think about my struggles with identity as a biracial person and have some healthy perspective on many of the things I've experienced. I spent a lot of time thinking about Black Joy and Black Sorrow and how they exist in the same space. 

 We installed the work last night and this morning at a very early hour with the sun just coming up, I found myself staring at the contrasting imagery and was moved. How were you able to pour yourself into these and capture so much emotion?

Time. That was one of the gifts of quarantine- time. My days were reduced and clarified and it gave me a lot of mental space. I practice yoga almost every day, and now that it's all virtual, I was practicing in my art studio. So I'd spend my time in my poses staring at these pieces and really trying to assess their validity. If they can hold my interest through a really tough pose, I know they're going in the right direction!

You mentioned that cutting up the work and reassembling was a major transition for your work. Can you speak to this a bit?

Yes, this is new to my work since quarantine. I think seeing the world fall apart gave me permission to take my work and just cut them; do something that seems violent to them. But I did it with the goal of rebuilding new pieces from the cut-ups, much like what we've gone through over the past months: we watched things fall apart and we are putting it back together in a new way.  I came to my own understanding about what was at stake in our world. The work had to reflect the intensity of what was happening or it wouldn't hold up against the new reality.

 We continue the Artist Residency at Local, even in these difficult times - as we understand how art is a critical element in helping to understand and heal our communities. What do you hope could be an outcome of displaying this work?

I hope that people will be able to see that this difficult time is also full of beauty. The fear and sadness and uncertainty can go hand-in hand with moments of joy and tenderness and compassion.

What has living in Montclair meant for your work? 

Living here has allowed me to let go of the pressure of living in the city. It's incredibly expensive to have a studio in the city and I found myself working so much to pay for a studio that I could barely use it! Montclair has given me a lot more space, both physically in the studio and mentally to create with less pressure.

 What is your favorite coffee or tea beverage?

Matcha Latte or a Breve Cortado

Learn more about Meaghan here

Local Art Residency: Q+A with Photographer Leslie Granda-Hill

Thank you for sharing your impactful imagery here with us at Local. The feedback has been overwhelming. Tell us what India means to you that sparked your desire to visit on several occasions and capture daily life in the second most populated country in the world?

Thank you for exhibiting my images in such a wonderful space! I appreciate the chance to show work in my community.

I’ve always loved going to diverse places and photographing the story of the human condition.  Experiencing places that are so different from how I live here in New Jersey is something I have a passion for. Seeing other people’s photographs of the colorful imagery in India was inspirational for me. I just had to go! I’ve felt this way about taking pictures in many areas of the world- Africa, Cambodia, Mexico, to name a few. India stands out for me. The combination of light and color along with the spirit of the people has me hooked.  I can’t wait to go back.

I investigated some interesting facts about India and was surprised to learn that it is the only country never to have invaded another land. What did you learn about the people that can validate this statistic?

The people seem to be more respectful about the human condition than other cultures I’ve visited.  I know the country has many problems. The existing class structure creates vast inequities amongst themselves.  This can be so conducive for upheaval. I was there in 2016 when there was a huge financial crisis. The currency was changed overnight and the entire county was greatly affected. Fortunately I had credit cards to use, but many of the people in the villages never had a bank account and were in a difficult situation. The people of India have a respect for their neighbor and have a strong family bond. Generations of families live together. They live their lives on the streets creating a strong sense of community. I hope this doesn’t change. The internet makes our world smaller but the only way to truly understand other cultures is to experience it in person.

Have you developed any relationships in the country? How has these relationships created a new thread of thinking about life? 

I have worked with a local guide while traveling and that is an invaluable resource for learning to navigate a wildly different culture. Together we are able to navigate congested cities and go to remote villages that would otherwise be unlikely. I am respectful of the fact that I am a foreigner from the other side of the world, yet I found the people to be welcoming and warmly curious about me. Relationships with the subjects of my pictures is quite important to me.  I’ve photographed a family in Mexico for ten years.  I’ve documented the children growing from toddlers into young adults.  It’s similar to watching your own children grow up. Developing ongoing relationships with the people I’ve met has been essential for me. I’ve become aware of other thoughts and beliefs in a way not possible if not for seeing how other people live their lives. Feeling their kindness, happiness and struggles firsthand is very rewarding. Whenever possible I send photos back to people that may never have prints of themselves.

What do you hope to accomplish, if anything, by sharing these images?

Accomplishments from an exhibit is a very tenuous thing.  It’s nice to receive recognition, yet somehow it is dwarfed by the internal satisfaction from completing a theme I’ve worked on.  The people who speak to me about my images helps validate my own thoughts, and also becomes an ongoing source of new perspectives and inspiration about my own work.  I really love when other people look at my images and see them differently than what I see.  Good photography is never one dimensional, and talking with other people about my photographs is an important part of the evolutionary process. I hope the viewer learns something and more importantly, feels something about images.

How did you get started in photography?

I have loved capturing images as long as I can remember.  I think it was my way to become involved.  Growing up in a small town, my exposure to the world scene was pictures and television.  TV felt to fleeting for me.  Photography has a permanence that provides deeper meaning for me.  I started to take workshops to better refine my understanding of the tools for self-expression.  I took courses at ICP, the various workshops, and attended many lectures from the masters. All of these things have helped me find my own way. And of course, there is nothing more important than taking a lot of pictures. I have worked on several projects that have enriched my life immeasurably- my “Coming Home” series about wounded veterans from many wars, in particular, was life changing. I learned so much about a big part of our society and was able to photograph some true heroes.

Photography is a quite a journey. What has your practice taught you over time?

Photography has taught me so many things.  From an aesthetic perspective, photography is a medium for self-expression. My love for the documentary genre has made me better understand the cultures around the world. My world has become both bigger and smaller simultaneously. We are all so different, and all so much the same.  Each culture has its own unique blend of special qualities and also the problems. Understanding how each culture works out continuing strife has given me a bittersweet understanding of my own environment.  Getting to know individuals from vastly different backgrounds, I can embrace the spirit that unites us all.

What's next for you in this space?

I will continue to return to India and continue to photograph different locations.  I’d like to document both the similarities and differences within the national culture.  I expect the conditions in each region will define the differences- the sea towns will differ from the interior areas- so a sequel will certainly be a possibility. But I am also considering presenting my images from Cuba. That is similarly a country with rich visual interest as well as welcoming people.

What is your favorite coffee or tea beverage?

I like English Breakfast Tea

Learn more about Leslie here