25: Tara Logsdon

25: Tara Logsdon
Tara Logsdon grew up in Arizona. She escaped to Seattle for a short time, where she owned gallery ent>tourage and discovered her love for digital animation. She returned to Phoenix in 2001 and worked as a graphic designer, photo stylist, display coordinator, curator, and as an event planner in the downtown Phoenix area. After working at many different companies she finally found a home at bluemedia where she is currently the office "momager." ("Eat your heart out Kris Jenner," she says.)

In 2002, she rescued her first bear from a yard sale and a surgeon was born. She's currently building a bear army (the EKL Bearmy); she rescues teddy bears from valley thrift stores and performs "rehabilitative surgery." After a full recovery, each bear is given a unique prescription that must be followed until it has adapted to its new environment. Once they have acclimated into the world, the bears become soldiers in the war against mass production.

Read more about Logsdon and her bear obsessions after the jump ...

1. List five things on your Inspiration Wall (real or imagined).
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
- My grandparents' wedding photo
- Frank Stella's agbatanas
- Kerseone riding a donkey
- Googly eyes

2. What was your last big project?
My last big project was developing the different branches of the bearmy. I have introduced the 101st bearborn and am now in the process of developing the bearmy's DC&S (data collection & storage) Agency.
These bears engage in covert activities of surveillance and storage of mission data and provide intelligence gathered for security purposes. Kind of like "nanny cams" with an edge.

3. What's your next big project?
I am working with Wade Blackmon on a 10-foot-6-inch armed bear made from re-claimed material for a show entitled "Hindu Hug Orgy". It is in homage to the Hindu god Ganesh and his ability to clear and overcome obstacles.

4. Why do you do what you do?
I am strongly opposed to mass production and consumption. I feel like we live in such a disposable culture without any remorse. When I go into a thrift store and I see all these bears who once belonged to someone who loved them now face down, left for dead, WREAKING of that awful cinnamon air freshener smell, I just want to rescue them.

It seems like the value of things disappear when you have the opportunity to instantly replace them. I love flipping it and making something that has been discarded into something cherished. It makes me feel like I am making things right.

5. What's something you want Phoenix to know about you?
Animal Chin lives in my attic.

(And, if you're game, what's something you really don't want Phoenix to know about you?)
I am a compulsive bear hoarder (but some of you already knew that).

The Creatives, so far:

97. Jane Reddin
96. Adam Dumper
95. Mayme Kratz
94. Daniel Tantalean
93. Yuri Artibise
92. Lisa Starry
91. Paul Hoeprich
90. Betsy Schneider
89. Mary Shindell
88: Gabriel Utasi
87: Tiffany Egbert
86. Angela Cazel Jahn
85. Dayvid LeMmon
84. Beatrice Moore
83. Michelle J. Martinez
82. Carrie Bloomston
81. Paul Porter
80. Rachel Bess
79. Karolina Sussland
78. Aaron Abbott
77. Mary Lucking
76. Erin Sotak
75. Greg Esser
74. Matthew Mosher
73. Mark Klett
72. Tony Carrillo
71. Paul Morris
70. Joe Pagac
69. Alison King
68. JJ Horner
67. Kim Porter
66. Marco Rosichelli
65. Heather Hales
64. Amy Lamp
63. Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker
62. Lindy Drew
61. Robbie Pfeffer
60. Neil Borowicz
59. Lynn Fisher
58. Tanner Woodford
57. David Tinapple
56. Casebeer
55. Tom Leveen
54. Patti Parsons
53. Tedd McDonah
52. Mike Maas
51. Chris Todd
50. Monica Aissa Martinez
49. Stefan Shepherd
48. Jenny Poon
47. Matt Moore
46. Andrea Hanley
45. Julie Hampton
44. Ted Decker
43. Saskia Jorda
42. Michael Bergfalk
41. Scott Baxter
40. Carrie Marill
39. Kobina Banning
38. Suzanne Falk
37. Jon Haddock
36. Kade Twist
35. Cindy Dach
34. John Wagner
33. Roy Wasson Valle
32. Sue Chenoweth
31. Patricia Colleen Murphy
30. David Quan
29. Lesli Yazzie
28. Nathan Feller
27. Cassandra Coblentz
26. Matt Dickson