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: Open Source Project: Tempe's Latest Creative, Collaborative Space
Ryan Gentry is a Tempe-based artist and the arts curator of Cartel Coffee. Gentry is a painter and an illustrator who opened the now-defunct Open Source Project in Tempe. "My life is dedicated to all those that I love and the passions that I have for art and music," he says.
I came to Phoenix with ... I was born in Tempe Arizona, and have lived here for most of my life.
I create art because ... without it, honestly, I do not think that I would be able to cope with our current human situation. It is strictly for my own sanity. It is a way that I can express myself and give something back to the communities I exist in.
I buy art to support my friends that are in the same struggle that I am. I pride myself on the local artist collection that I have purchased over the years. All in which are people that I have encountered and have enjoyed time with at some point.
I am most productive when ... the feeling is right and the space is clear. Art for me is an intuitive process and helps me better understand myself and how I operate within our universe.
I gather inspiration from ... other people that are reaching for new planes of existence within themselves. People that do not accept the boundaries that are provided and wish to tear them down all together.
I have learned the most from ... my own self destruction and mistakes. Then came from watching, listening and asking questions.
Good work should always ... speak for itself.. As for my Good Work ( being my own harsh critic) it doesn't seem to actually exist. There is only the desire to do something better than you have done before.
The Phoenix creative scene could use ... more cooperative efforts to break down any form of cliques and create more relationships that are concerned about the scene as a whole. Less egos and more helping hands to make something unique. We all should be feeding off of each other in my opinion, we should all be focused on how to contribute and give freely.
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