Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 41. Brandon Boetto.
Brandon Boetto’s in transition.
The Old Town Scottsdale-based concrete artist is in the midst of building a new office and showroom space for Slabhaus, his custom concrete company that specializes in sinks, tables, and furniture among other home décor items. While Boetto hasn’t revealed many hard details about the fresh setup, he does estimate that the new spot will be finished up in about a month. For now, that means working at coffee shops to handle business logistics in the morning and then heading to the workshop to continue projects — like the two conference tables he’s currently working on for local architecture firms.
“From there, each and every moment of my day is filled with the sounds of saws, concrete mixers, loud music and lots of dust,” Boetto says. “I’ll eat dinner somewhere in that mix and then head back to the shop to continue working into the night.”
See also: Jaclyn Roessel of Phoenix’s Heard Museum: 100 Creatives
Although the 32-year-old and 2012 Big Brain Award finalist is office-less at the moment, it’s not stopping him from setting up major upcoming projects.
“I have two big projects in downtown Phoenix that will house some custom concrete furniture and bar tops,” Boetto says. “These include a new public market that will be opening around November as well as a brand new music venue.”
Once he gets settled in his new Slabhaus spot, we imagine Phoenicians will be spotting more and more of Boetto’s concrete designs. And we’re all for it.
I’m a third generation native of Arizona. I’ve come to love this state with every ounce of my soul. From the beautiful sunsets to the amazing weather (for 8 months out of the year), this state has a lot to offer. You just have to be willing to get out there and go look for it.
I make art because I love seeing the emotion that is caused by a piece of art. Whether it’s negative or positive the fact that a piece of metal, concrete, paint, film can cause us to think in an entirely different light is pretty amazing. I also really love collaborating with fellow artists, it’s almost like we can transport into a different world when we are deep in discussion and bouncing ideas back and forth.
I’m most productive when I work alone late at night. I will put on some Tycho or Onraand try to calm all the crazy ideas I have spinning around in my head. It tends to help me focus.
My inspiration wall is full of ads. I’ve always found great advertising to be incredibly thought provoking. I keep captivating ads and great graphic design inspiration around my shop at all times to consistently challenge my way of thinking. It helps me see the world from a different angle.When it comes to my own craft though, I try my hardest not to research all of the amazing pieces of concrete that people around the world are making in fear of subconsciously copying someone else’s style.
I’ve learned most from doing. All the ideas in the world won’t make you a great artist. Being willing to get your hands dirty and really work to actually bring those ideas to life is what makes you a great artist. Part of that process is acknowledging that regardless of whether you fail or succeed you will learn something new from every single piece of art that you create.
Good work should always evoke emotion. Your clients should smile, jump up and down, scream, cry, faint, or whatever it may be after seeing your work. If someone has a blank stare than you’ve failed at your job. The best work you can create will share a piece of yourself mixed with your clients’ expectations.
The entire creative scene needs less talkers and more doers. I know too many people who complain about Phoenix and do nothing to help change it.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
