Edgar Soberon, and the role of art

Meet Edgar Soberon, our featured artist for today's Drive-by interview sessions.

What do you think is the function of art in our society?

Art plays an important role in our society and hopefully always will. It is the record that remains of a particular culture at a particular time in history. I think of the great civilizations that have vanished over millennia and often the most important things we have left today of these great people and places is their art. Cultures around the world have always cherished and preserved these things as a way of assuring their own survival. A sculpture, a painting, a pottery shard communicates across cultures and time in the most direct manner. Communication at a one to one level is the universal component and function that all great art shares beyond its cultural and aesthetic value.

Other than art practice what other work do you do?

I have taught drawing, painting and printmaking for many years. It is through teaching where I have learnt the most and by now it has become a part of my daily activity, an extension of my studio practice. I see teaching as privilege and firmly believe that artists, who are willing to share their knowledge with others selflessly, perform an important role in our society.

My focus is often on the foundational skills and I try to encourage students, regardless of their age, skill or knowledge to always focus on the basic principles. Art making allows us the means to better see, feel and understand the world around us; teaching is my way of sharing, and also questioning what I have learnt over the years.

Is there something you are currently working on, or are excited about starting?

Though painting takes up most of my time in the studio, the last few years I have been working on print projects that reflect the work I do in the studio. The print I have submitted for this exhibition is a good example, “ Skull with Garland” It is a limited edition lithograph I completed recently. The process is what I enjoy most perhaps due to the layers of line, color and tonal plates that must be brought together to conform the final result. In addition, there is also an element of surprise in printmaking. One can starts with a very clear idea but soon the process will more than likely become a collaborator informing the final result, one has to be open to this. I always find it fascinating that the slightest change in color, paper or plate will yield a completely different effect.

What I have attempted to do through printmaking, is to bridge the gap between drawing and painting making use the subtle wash effects and color plates to further enhance the graphic quality of the line drawing which is always more objective an defined.

Printmaking over the years has enriched and informed everything I have done in the studio. It is also a collaborative effort with a printer and that part I also enjoy as a contrast to studio work, which inevitably one always does in isolation.

Words to live by…a favorite quote or motto?

A friend recently sent this one and I thought they were great words of encouragement, especially for young people about to embark on any artistic path or endeavor: “At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.” --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You can check out Edgar's work on exhibit now thru Oct 29th in our Still Life exhibition featuring 39 works from across the country.

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