Just South of Genius: The Andrew Spear Interview
Andrew Spear is a large character in almost every sense of the word. He is taller most people I know, and his booming voice can be heard over speaker systems and across cities. He has an exceptionally large head, which undoubtedly houses a large brain and an equally grand personality. It’s no wonder then that Andrew’s most recent project is a mural that spans over 65 feet by 188 feet on the side of an entire building in the heart of downtown Orlando. Completed in just less than two weeks, the mural stands as a totem to the artists’ amazing capabilities.
Spear is an artist, a musician, an entrepreneur, and a New Englander with a heavy accent. Yet he still finds time to DJ the Worst Music Parties (held semi-regularly about twice a year or when he freaking chooses too), to paint club and business murals, and to answer interview questions for friends that accost him at 3am on a Friday morning on Orange Ave.
Here is just a small sampling of Spear’s amazing work. Click on any thumbnail to view the full image in a new window…
View more artwork and get info to Andrew’s upcoming exhibits, art gigs, DJ gigs, when the next Worst Music Party will be, and pretty much anything else he wants you to know at www.spearlife.com and myspace.com/spearlife.
And when your done checking out his work online, go check out his work in person and get it printed on a t-shirt! The opening is Thursday night (3/19/09, TONIGHT!!), from 6pm-9pm at Mother Falcon! Shirts will be available for one month only.
SFC: What makes you so awesome?
AS: making a living working for yourself !!! it’s a full time job. 24 hours a day 7 days a week .
but if you love what you do, and dont have to answer to anyone other than yourself, whats more awesome than that !?!?!
SFC: In my introduction, do I refer to you as a musician/DJ, business man, or artist? Do you put particular weight on any one of your talents?
AS: thats why i call my website spearlife, i didnt know how to really categorize myself. i wanted to be recognized for the whole thing.
art / illustration is my first love, but then music is the most important thing in my life, outside of my family.
as far as weight on my own talents, im my own worst critic. i still havent done a damn thing yet…. see what i mean !?!?!
SFC: You’re painting this mondo mural right now in downtown. Where exactly is it, what’s it for and when’s it slated to be finished?
AS: the Dynatech Building downtown (Magnolia and Jefferson) the north wall. 65 ft high x 188 ft. long !!!!! IT’S FUCKING MASSIVE !!!
just for the record i would like to say, IT’S NOT MY DESIGN !!! the artist that did the original piece was Martha Mahoney. Her piece was like 16 x 20 inches. Dynatech called and asked if we
(my mural/ faux finish co., METRO FINISHES) could replicate it on the wall.
it’s also the SECOND TIME that i’ve done it. Originally we had done it last year, but they had water damage and had to have us REDO IT !!!! …..but we charged them again, so i didnt mind. we finished it in 2 weeks, and i still cant feel my wrist from painting that fast….. word ?!!?
SFC: Tell me why a Trojan should hire a Bruin:
AS: …… world peace ??
SFC: You’ve done some cover work for The Orlando Weekly, and some art for Solilaquists. Anything else that has slipped under the radar?
AS: ohh yeah, i’ve done covers for Tampa, St. Petersburg, Boston and Sarasota weeklys.
Record covers for Bastard Jazz & Funk Wax. i just did and ad campaign for Grande Absinthe, and the Dew Tour Program Guide. Im all over the place….. or trying to be at least.
SFC: It seems like every other Andrew Spear is an artist, what’s with that? Is it in the name?
AS: Yeah right, ??? We’re starting a cult.
I’ve been in contact with some of them, and we’re talking about the myspace/ facebook page dedicated to Andrew Spear’s around the globe….im not kidding.
SFC: Musically, you play a very wide assortment when you perform. What’s your favorite kind of playlist?
AS: I LOVE ALL MUSIC !!!! Truly, i do. Sometimes it’s a little much. i could sit and download music for days. Not to say that i dont still support local record stores and artists, which i still do.
The best dj’s are the ones that are music fans first, PERIOD. You can tell by their sets usually. It’s funny too, cause there are soooo many dj’s that dont know shit about music other than Breaks, or Drum & Bass, or whatever. As far as a dance party play list, disco is my first love, cause DISCO WILL NEVER DIE !!!!! ….. (im listening to Brainstorm as we speak….see !?!?!)
SFC: What are your Musical influence?
AS: The Beatles, Van Halen, the Beastie Boys, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Zapp & Roger and Armand Van Helden, are the commercial core.
SFC: Artistic influences?
AS: My dad– James Spear, Paul Gaugin, Philip Burke & Ralph Steadman. But honestly, im not that into visual art. Im more into music as my artistic influences, for real. When i was a 4 years old my dad used to put on Beatles records and i would draw their lyrics. The Beatles music are the same as visual paintings anyway, as is most great music.
SFC: I noticed you (or some other Andrew Spear, but for the sake of my interview, we’ll say its you) have a profile on whodatedwho.com. If you were randomly selected to be on one of those celebrity-dating shows, describe your dream date. What does she look like and what do you do?
SFC: Many people don’t know it, but your artwork can be found all over town. What’s your proudest accomplishment?
AS: i think the first time i was in a magazine was thrilling. ICON MAGAZINE ( they are defunct now) while i was living in N.Y.C., 1997. I was so excited, i couldnt believe that they published my work
(the story was about lame ass vocal frontmen, i did a portrait of Adam Durowitz of the Counting Crows crying in the rain.)
Looking back it’s really no big deal, but you need those accomplishments to set higher goals.
if you see something and say “i can do that”, then shut up and do it already. It’s worth it when you actually do it !!!
SFC: Rumor has it you never finished your tenure at Ringling School of Art. Do you think things would be different for you if you did?
AS: Art school for the most part is a fucking joke, and i know first hand. Of all the people that i went to school with, maybe a handful are doing it, (an art related career).
Ringling was filled with Hobbiests. Most of the students there didnt know what they wanted, but their parents wanted them out of the house.
So they sent them to one of the most expensive art schools in the country. I saw it first hand…..i mean, there was a fucking fraternity there….. AT AN ART SCHOOL !!?!?!?!?!
SFC: Ever think of going back up North? why?
AS: Yeah, every year after the winter is done here….. and cause i miss my family.
SFC: Tell us about the Worst Music Party. What’s the point.
AS: W.M.P. is the best party and i’ll tell you why, cause NOBODY IS AS COOL AS THEY THINK THEY ARE !!!!
If you are listening to stupidly horrible music, everyone is laughing, and everyone knows all the words, it makes you dance badly, it makes you more comfortable cause everyone else is doing it.
like, you know when you go to a club and the fuckin break dancers take up the whole floor and no one has the confidence to dance cause they cant do the head spin or whatever ??….. that sucks. it ruins for all of the people, other than the break dancers. Or in miami, the fuckin “Dress 2 Impress” bullshit with the rope, and the carpet and shit…… yeah, this is my rebellion against that shit. And the next one is the 13th one, on Friday the 13th of March at the Hideaway Bar……. it’s important that the venue sucks too for the whole package. Come see for yourself.
SFC: You secretly love everything you play at a WMP, don’t you?
AS: Yes, i do. and so will you….. and everyone else that’s there.
Answer Quickly:
Adidas or Pumas: adidas always
Water or Watah: watah of course
Missionary or Reverse Cowgirl: All of it
Favorite 3am drunk food: 7 eleven microwavable cheese burgers….i know, but you asked.
Do you watch Frasier? never in my life
Toppings for the best burger: mustard
Just how big around is your head? is that before or after i do my hair !?!?!?
