Ryan and Empty have a long (and oddly parallel) history in the local tattoo scene. Years ago, the two worked at the same tattoo shop in Phoenix, but missed each other by a few months. They also both left Phoenix for a short time on opposite sides of the country and eventually found their way back.
"I think that the way that we work together is more than just style ... we push one another and the way that we pull from one another," says Ryan. "The fact that we can be incredibly neurotic artists who can work together without the desire to stab anybody -- that, in itself, is an amazing thing."
"We live in downtown," says Empty. "This is our hood. We want people to know what we do and show them kind of a cross section of what we're capable of because we want to be a part of the community ... these types of opportunities are really what I want to do. For me, to be able to walk [my daughters] down to a public space that has art that represents the community, and to take them to something I helped do, or to raise them in an environment with art and community ... that's cool, man."
Interdependent will open at the eye lounge, 419 E. Roosevelt St., along with work by local artist Ingrid Wells and Molly Mendoza from July 15 to August 13. For more information, check out the show's invitation.
Kholood Eid |
Interdependent artists Alex Empty and Taylor Ryan. |