When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives.
See also: A Sneak Peek at Letterpress Central: The Paper Studio's New Workshop Space
Cindy Iverson moved to Arizona from the cornfield land of Illinois for a sense of adventure and to get out of the cold. The state has not disappointed on either front.
She is the founder of Letterpress Central-- a creative letterpress space in Chandler Arizona. She has a passion for heavy metal --100 year old cast iron printing presses and metal foundry type.
She does letterpress printing, makes handmade paper, binds books, creates mixed media artwork and teaches letterpress printing. Iverson's mixed media collages have been exhibited both nationally and internationally.
Cindy completed her MFA in book and paper arts at Columbia College Chicago and is a past member of the eye lounge gallery in Phoenix. She says Letterpress Central will be hosting a national letterpress printer's conference in the summer of 2013.
I came to Phoenix . . . in a blue Oldsmobile in which the interior started melting and seeping white goo because it 115 degrees and the car had never been driven outside of the Midwest.
I make art because . . . I like to meet in person the images I have floating around in my head, plus I get cranky when I don't make art.
I'm most productive when . . . I'm in the 11th hour of a deadline--it's like a creative haboob and then there is much to clean up afterwards with ink, type and furniture! It makes Gary, my husband absolutely crazy; he is much more balanced.
My inspiration wall is full of . . . vintage books and lots of windows so I can see outside. Written words, a phrase or even a single word can be creative launch pad for me and of course nature does it best when it comes to art and design.
I've learned the most from . . . lots of experimenting, making prototypes and getting my hands dirty in creating the work. When I first started teaching art, it would drive me crazy to see adult students so reluctant to try things where they might fail. Some of the most interesting aha moments happen after a failure.
Good work should always . . . draw you in and evoke a thought, feeling or emotion.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more . . . places like Creative Reuse. Creative Reuse is a place where businesses can donate obsolete items instead of throwing them out--from vintage office supplies to a bakery that donating all their frosting pails or a manufacturer donating mysterious plastic forms.
There was a Creative Reuse that frequented while in grad school in Chicago and you could get a grocery bag of seemingly unnecessary odd-lot objects for $2. It was great for creative inspiration and for making mixed media work. Plus all sorts of interesting characters shopped or worked there.
The Creatives, so far ... (And while you're here, check out 100 Tastemakers on Chow Bella.)
100:Lara Plecas 99. Isaac Caruso 98. Brandon Gore 97. Kelsey Dake 96. Hector Ruiz 95. Caroline Battle 94: Jennifer Campbell 93. Jeff Chabot 92. Tiffiney Yazzie 91. Daniel Germani 90. Irma Sanchez 89. Daniel m. Davis 88. Kirstin Van Cleef 87. Emmett Potter 86. Sarah Hurwitz 85. Christine Cassano 84. Fred Tieken 83. Lindsay Kinkade 82. Ruben Galicia 81. Robert Uribe 80. Heidi Abrahamson 79. Josephine Davis 78. Travis Ladue 77. Taz Loomans 76. Mikey Jackson 75. Alex Empty 74. Joe Ray 73. Carol Roque 72. Daniel Funkhouser 71. Carla Chavarria 70. Hugo Medina 69. Cavin Costello 68. Claire Carter 67. Lindsay Tingstrom 66. Catherine Ruane 65. Christopher Crosby 64. Aaron Johnson 63. Brenda Eden 62. Colton Brock 61. Ernesto Moncada 60. Benjamin Phillips 59. Brad Armstrong 58. Angela Hardison 57. Tyler Quinn 56. Andrew James Benson 55. Charles Anthony Darr 54: Tiffe Fermaint 53. Eric Cox 52. Victor Vasquez 51. John Randall Nelson 50. Lauren Lee 49. Kyle Jordre 48. Julie C. Kent 47. Sean Deckert 46. Niba DelCastillo 45. Joseph Benesh 44. Ashley Harder 43. Dan Vermillion 42. Daniel Shepherd 41. James B. Hunt 40. Lori Fenn 39. Seth Gideon Fainkujen 38. Wayne Rainey 37. Christian Filardo 36. Melissa Cody 35. Jason Rudolph Peña
