Of all the spaces I am the most taken aback by, aside from creatives in their homes, is creatives in their work spaces. To see a craftsman craft in a studio that is also curated well, is not only inspiring but humbling, honestly. We work hard at cityhome. We make things, and love houses and the people who make them. We respect the artists and the plumbers and the gardens. And to be immersed in Harrington Art Studio is to have a taste of what it looks like to be a creative who runs a business and lives in the world. I like grounded people. And honest folks. An afternoon working with Ryan on a show for the UNDERGROUND, with a couple of friends and a whole lot of love was enough to ask Ryan his why, and like a damn hero he reminded me and us all what it might actually be about, if we are lucky. “For My Own Enjoyment”.

We recently had the chance to work together on the framing of Ben Wiemeyer’s last show, Being. We had fun. It was my first time in your space, but you have been doing this for a couple decades yeah? How did this all come about, your entry into the world of art in this way? Yeah man, that was a really cool project. I always enjoy working with Ben and he has been a real advocate for me and what I’ve been doing here at HAS. 

It’s hard for me to believe I have been doing custom framing for almost 30 yrs now. I got started on this path because a close friend of mine worked at a gallery doing framing and they needed some help and I thought it sounded cool to be surrounded by art and build things so I gave it a shot. Initially I learned the production side of it but eventually got into the design and customer service end of things. After a long run of working for someone else I found myself in a place where I needed a change so I decided to go out on my own and start what is now HAS (Harrington Art Studio).

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My mom is a creative person. I remember her painting, weaving baskets  and doing other crafts when I was young. I really developed my individual taste and passion for it as a teen when I got into skateboarding and punk rock music. The board graphics, album covers and DIY show posters  inspired me to make things. As I got a bit older I started looking at it as something I wanted to be part of how I made a living. I had some good friends that had attended art school and they were always making things, t-shirts, stickers and paintings and I guess I just  wanted to be part of that. I eventually started ASTRAY ART LLC as a side hustle and began doing small commissions and participating in some festivals to sell my art. 

And maybe a bit about the ‘why’? If it is different from the how. The “why” I guess I would say is just for my own enjoyment. The act of creating something and building things just really appeals to me. I feel like it’s a big part of the way I communicate. It’s so cool to see how different artists express themselves and create narratives or certain aesthetics. My interest in art as a fan and collector is so varied that I feel it comes through in my own work. Somedays I want to paint large scale abstracts blasted with color and others I am inspired to draw cartoons, or make geometric patterns or then build architectural based sculptures. It keeps it interesting and it makes the potential feel endless. At this point I’ve been doing it for so long; without art I don’t know what else I would do…

We chatted recently about overwhelm and the world and community. Can art save us? Yeah I feel like there is a real plague of uncertainty and negativity that has become inherent to so many people’s everyday lives with what’s going on in the world right now. It’s hard not to get caught up in it. Unfortunately social media has become everyone’s soapbox to scream from instead of a platform to inspire and lift up. I think that’s a big source of the problem with feeling overwhelmed its designed to make you feel this sense of urgency that can sometimes make you feel helpless. I don’t know if art can save us all but it certainly helps me. It really is a special thing, art has a profound impact on society whether you realize it or not. We are surrounded by it on the daily and it has the power to evoke all kinds of  moods and emotions.

And favorite projects? Man I have gotten to work on so many cool things since starting my shop, it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I really am proud of the space and community we have built. Hosting art shows and fabricating custom pieces for other artists’ projects is really gratifying. I consider so many of the people I do work for my friends and I really appreciate it when people trust me with their artwork or value my opinion on a design.

Your studio/shop/office/gallery is just the kind of space we like, multifaceted. Say more about what you get up to in that gem of a creative arena you have going over there.  I am really fortunate to have such a great space to work. I have been there for a little over 5 years now. Initially I spent a lot of time working on the space itself to make it into what it is today. I built out the front room to be a gallery and consultation space, made an office and art storage space, set up the warehouse as a wood shop and made a studio for myself upstairs. In addition to custom framing, I spend time working on my own artwork and last year we hosted a bunch of shows for other artists. I am continuously looking for new ways to use the space for myself and for the creative community.

I read recently that quality made objects do not fear time. What’s this say about us, and the art we all make? I like that and I agree. I think it says a lot about how special handmade objects are. I feel like there are a lot of mass produced objects/products out there that could be accompanied by an expiration or date. Using quality materials and putting an emphasis on craftsmanship is something I try my best to do.  If I am going to ask someone to pay me for work that I created, I want to feel good about what I made and want the client to feel good about what they are receiving.

With handmade objects I feel like the maker lives on through the piece.

Any advice to folks just stepping onto their creative paths? There is no better time to do it than right now. Try to focus on what you love and don’t be afraid to experiment. Resist the need for affirmation from critics and surround yourself with people who inspire you. Try to have fun because if you lose that then creation can become a job just like anything else. 

Happy making everyone.