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.
Chris Pruitt is quick to admit she had a "very sheltered" childhood in West Texas: "Maybe that is what has helped me keep my sense of wonder about the world."
The local artist has a background in photography and says that when she fell love with Photoshop and graphic design, she pursued web design and internet marketing, which she does when she's not making artwork.
Pruitt describers her current work as ephemeral, performance, or installation based. "Now, I am more interested in active participation than being the photographer / observer," she says. "In fact, conscious participation is the driving force behind my latest work which will incorporate photography as a means to document performance."
I came to Phoenix with ... all of my worldly possessions in a black pickup truck with no a/c and my mountain bike.
I make art because ... I have to. I've learned that, in a way, it's my spiritual practice.
I'm most productive when ... I'm learning something new that's confronting me intellectually and I can explore it through an artistic practice. Deadlines help too.
My inspiration wall is full of ... Um, to-do lists. I don't really have an inspiration wall, but I am charged by powerful conversations, new sensations, ideas, and great books.
I've learned the most from ... my kids.
Good work should always ... Well, I don't believe in absolutes. Good work sometimes pisses people off, sometimes provokes a visceral response or can sometimes be a pathway to introspection or elation. I've experienced transcendent feelings around some works and I believe those feelings were the biproduct of a kind of chemistry between myself, my experiences and the piece. To actively create that chemistry for a person interacting with my work would give me a sense of success and gratitude.
See also: Participate in Christina Pruitt's "Swept" This Weekend at Eye Lounge
The Phoenix creative scene could use more ... group critiques. My real selfish personal wish though, would be a kids-of-artists tribe. A regular get-together of artists and their families so all the creative kiddos will have each other as they grow up. Maybe this would help all of us artists avoid therapy costs for our children. Ha.
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 34. Cindy Iverson 33. Ryan Gentry 32. Sebastien Millon 31. Andrea Beesley
