| Interview: Junkprints |
[Apr. 29th, 2008|02:41 pm] |
 I am digging on these creative and graphic garments from Chanel of Junkprints. Check out this interview with this super creative soul:
Shop name/URL:
junkprints
junkprints.etsy.com
junkprints.com
dookyblog.com (extra credit)
Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Chanel Kennberew and I've been living in Brooklyn for about 2.5 years. Before BK I lived in Toronto and had the opportunity to study Photography and Graphic Arts at Ontario Collage of Art & Design and Ryerson University. Before TO, I was in Denver, CO and I spent most of my 'formative' years in Pomona, California. I've been working since I was 13 years old, so you know I've had a billion jobs, (especially to get through school) from Hooters (just imagine a hooters girl with an afro, that was me) to vintage store buyer to newspaper photographer you name it I worked there...and usually 2 or more jobs at a time. It was crazies but I guess it shaped me. Now I make my living off being creative, making my junk and doing art direction for some big-o-companies and some itty-bitty companies.
What are your main inspirations?
I'm a salvager and duplicator who is super fascinated with propaganda and how we as people relate to our social environments. I start off by hoarding stuff (anything from vintage fabric packaging, news paper clippings, magazines, zippers etc.) in categories, do some research and then remix the topic. I'm inspired by the world around me and how people relate to one another.
Does your neighborhood influence your work?
Definitely, but I'm pretty nomadic and if I stay in one place too long I start to go crazy. I love to explore new places and gather new ideas and perspectives. It makes me a more understanding person and challenges me deal with social complexities in a three dimensional fashion.
What new technique or craft has caught your eye lately? Want to try anything new?
Well, not sure if this counts but I have two new skill interests. Number one, learning Flash, it's true, I'm a nerd, and have no trouble spending ridiculous amounts of time staring at a monitor. I'm in the process of teaching my self now ;) The second skill is basic carpentry, mostly cause I love power tools.
 What new item in your shop are you excited about?
The Colored Fountain tee and Immigrant beater are def in my top 10. It's funny because I designed those and basically sat on them for a long time before releasing them to the public, I guess i just had to make sure that I was stepping deliberately and gently at the same time. The main goal of my work is to bring people together, but sometimes pointing out occurrences of discrimination can do the opposite. I once worked for a lady (who happened to be white) who told me a about her childhood experience of moving from the north to the segregated south and thinking that the colored water fountain meant that the water was flavored and as she approached it, she was reprimanded by one of the locals. I thought her story was awesome and needed to be visually told.
What advice do you have for indie business owners/designers?
BE CONFIDENT about what you do and stick with it. I've learned in a really short amount of time that it is futile to wonder if what I make is 'good enough', The best I can do is 'own' my skill set, do the very best I can in all aspects (even the parts that seem mundane or painfully numerical) and practice excellent business etiquette. |
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