We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ben Venom. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ben below.
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I grew up in the 1990’s Atlanta, Georgia punk rock scene and was introduced early on to the concept of D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself). This mentality has followed me through my teenage years and into adulthood. Basically, don’t ever let anything hinder you from seeing your ideas through to the end. When I began sewing I had no idea what I was doing…simply a concept I wanted to create.
There was a small faction of kids interested in punk rock that were at odds with most of the school. We were all interested in art, skateboarding, and non-mainstream music. Basically, not what was routinely on MTV. This taught me that there was a whole different culture out there and you had to look a little harder than simply turning on your TV or radio. Bands would play in basements, kitchens, and warehouses all over Atlanta and in the suburbs. There would be merch in the form of 7” or 12” vinyl, hand screenprinted shirts, and patches to purchase at these shows. Everything was done by the individual….nothing was commercially made.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Working with repurposed materials to create textile-based pieces, I contrast the often menacing and aggressive counterculture components of skateboarding, punk/metal music, and the occult with the comforts of domesticity. This collision of traditional quilting techniques with elements tied to the fringes of society re-envisions the story of the material through a softer lens.
The reclaimed fabrics used in my work contain a multitude of personal histories and everyone’s unexplained stain, tear, or rip is included. These salvaged pieces are sewn into a larger narrative and become a part of a collective history within the work. The fragility of the materials and their assaulting imagery are brought together in the form of a functional piece of art.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Always follow your dumb ideas! Basically, don’t ever let anything hinder you from seeing your ideas through to the end. I am a self-taught quilter and when I began sewing I had no idea what I was doing. I bought a book (Quilting Basics 101), made a lot of mistakes, and asked questions from the employees at the fabric store. There are always different, better, quicker ways to do things. That’s why I always ask questions. Over time I figured out which fabric to use and which needles to buy, etc. I am definitely still learning new tricks and techniques to this day. I have never let my lack of knowledge hinder me from seeing an idea to completion. Art for me is about research and learning on a continual basis. I believe mistakes are a large part of the process and I embrace them as part of the handmade nature of my work. Mistakes are a direct link to the artist’s hand being visible to the audience.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Quilting Basics 101
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.benvenom.com
- Instagram: @benvenom
- Facebook: BenVenom
- Twitter: @mrbenvenom
Image Credits
All photos by Randy Dodson
