Dwayne Butcher: Artist Interview with Mel Spillman 7/10/06

DB: You are known for your unique, expressive work regarding celebrity and fashion. However, the themes and medium of your work have changed recently. What has changed and how did this change occur?

MS: In my older works, I started to focus on intricate patterns that I placed behind the figure. The patterns became less heated than the sexually charged images of women I painted for years. I found that this departure in subject matter signified a time to move on and the figure merely disappeared.

DB: What exhibit or piece that you have seen has most influenced your work and why?

MS: As a visual artist, it would seem logical that I am most moved by visual art. The truth is, I am mostly influenced by music and lyrics. In terms of visual interests, I love the colors of James Rosenquist, the wit of Cindy Sherman, the despair of Diane Arbus, the scale of Seurat, the nastiness of Jeff Koons, the elegance of Julia Jacquette, the prolificity of Alice Neel, the arrogance of Pollock, the sexuality of Peregrine Honig, the juiciness of Warhol, and the fact that the Lascaux cave paintings were created with water and plant based mediums and they are still there.

DB: You are an up and coming art star in Memphis, What do you think about the current state of the Memphis art scene?

MS: whatEVER, and the current art scene is very exciting. I was born and raised here and I can not recall a more positive time to be a working and exhibiting artist in Memphis. There are so many diverse venues to show your work and the audience is increasingly accepting of contemporary concepts.

DB: Explain your work in five words or less.

MS: mmmm-mmmm-good

DB: What is your favorite - movie? book? color? smell? food?

MS: movie-The Wizard of Oz
book- Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade
color- pink
smell- vanilla or honeysuckle or cotton candy
food- chips and salsa