Every other 3rd Monday, beginning today, I'll be featuring an interview with an artist I love. The first artist on the roster is Amy Ellen Flatchestedmama Trefsger.
Amy-Ellen Flatchestedmama Trefsger is an artist who performs time-based and conceptual works.
On September 18, 2004, she made a Public Declaration of Commitment to Her Creative Self. The event paralleled a wedding to display her lifetime commitment to the continued exploration of ideas. From that day forward, she committed to being a practicing artist and legally merged her birth name with her artist moniker.
Flatchestedmama also likes sending and receiving snail mail and is a founding member of the all girl, adult double dutch team; OntheDouble (2003 - 2010).
For more information please visit her website HERE.
Questions asked by FF and answered by FCM:
Q: What is your emotional state at this very moment?
A: Stable.
Q: How do you describe your creative process to family members who may not be super privy to the art world?
A: I start with saying that it's conceptual, time-based performance art and if I get a blank stare, I just explain the current piece I'm working on.
Q: What is the first thing you want to eat most mornings?
A: Does coffee count? After coffee it's fried eggs on gluten free bread.
Q: When you were a child, did you ever have a recurring dream?
A: Yes! I had two. One was scary and it lasted for many years. A dreaded feeling would wash over me at the start of the dream and I felt as if I was getting sucked into it. The other only lasted only about six months and it was about Doogie Howser, I had a crush on him. This is a good segue into a recent series where I shared my dreams for one year. Here is a link to one where a more current crush showed up: http://youtu.be/fJ7O5iGiv0w
Q: If you were to choose one color to represent who you are as a person, what would that color be?
A: No question about it, BLUE!
Q: How do you motivate yourself to make stuff?
A: When the vision in my mind's eye gets really clear, then I usually start getting excited and start working. There's a lot of planning involved with making stuff since I think in video now, so I collect or make the props then wait for the time to do it. When everything comes together, I finally create (run somewhere and videotape something, usually by myself).
Q: How would you describe your personal scent?
A: Ripe.
Q: What are you reading right now?
A: I just finished Beyond Belief: My Secret Life in Scientology and My Harrowing Escape. It is written by the niece of the current head of Scientology and is a very good read.
Q: If you were to choose a name other than the one you currently have, what name would that be?
A: My pen name is Ellen Meadows. She can only write love poems. If I ever have another name change, I will go with that. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that Amy-Ellen Flatchestedmama Trefsger is my current, legal name. I legally adopted my artist moniker when I 'married my art' in 2004.
Q: Are you experiencing any physical discomfort at the moment?
A: My knee hurts. I danced to freely (with previous injuries to that knee and ankle) to the new Daft Punk album so I am icing and resting today.
Q: Can you recommend a song for the world to listen to?
A: Daft Punk's Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams) but please talk with your doctor before listening.
Images and videos of FCM's work below!
