This fall, we’re delighted to present Found Fashion. Taught by the painter/dancer/filmmaker/sculptor Adam Baranello, the weekly drop-off program will teach kids how to employ traditional (and not-so-traditional) materials and techniques to create wearable works of art. We recently spoke with Adam about his favorite artistic medium, getting over “artist’s block,” and how his work ended up on Channing Daughters wine bottle.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? We know you’re heavily involved with dance (your wife Gail even teaches “Let’s Dance”) at the Museum, but can you tell us a little bit more about your art?
I have made a career out of being a multidisciplinary artist that ties together music, movement and visual art. Each form can stand alone, but if looked at as a whole, it becomes even more layered and nuanced. The feature length art films that I make are a good way to see how it all makes sense together. The fashion element of what I do, is my clothing line, which is wearable art. It has the appearance of a street wear brand of t-shirts and hoodies, but each garment is painted and printed on by me only.
What’s your advice to a kid who thinks they’re not “good” at art?
You can’t be good at anything unless you try. If you try, you learn. When you learn, you realize that “good” art is art that is authentic. For kids, I love to see them start doing whatever feels good putting down on a piece of paper using a crayon or paint brush or pen. With just a little guidance, they can make such great pieces of art. I think that kids have a better idea of what art is all about than adults, to be honest.
What can kids expect to learn during “Found Fashion”?
In Found Fashion, we are going to playing with the idea of wearable art. Kids can expect to be given the chance to make pieces that they can wear out of things they may never have thought about using as clothing before. They may also get excited to learn about the techniques I use in creating my t-shirt and hoodie designs, and even more excited when they create their own designs in a similar way.
Do you have a favorite medium?
There is trick answer to this tough question because I hate to choose between mediums, but I do love making films the most. The films have all the other elements of what I do in them, so I couldn’t make my films without the other forms. Cinema is such a complete multidisciplinary thing that I just love how it creates a whole world that can be different or weird or strange. Since the beginning, I have always used one form to support another. For example I started my clothing line as a way to pay for making my music. I use my music to feed the curriculum of the dance company. Because my paintings have a value to them that is higher than a t-shirt, it has allowed me to create feature-length films.
Do you ever struggle with “artist’s block”? If so, how do you deal with it?
For me, one of the things that I am grateful for is that I do create art through different mediums, so there is this great thing that happens where they feed each other. I don’t wait for inspiration to hit, I just kind of always want to create. What usually happens is if I start working on a painting, I might get an idea for a song. If I’m working on a song, it might make me think of a concept for a movie. If I feel stuck on something, I will jump over to another form, and it can unlock so much.
How did your work end up on a wine bottle?
I have known Christopher Tracy, the winemaker at Channing Daughters for some time now, and he messaged me about an idea to have artists that they know and love create a collection of wine labels for a new wine…”The Heart Collection.” The idea would be 12 artists creating their own interpretation of a heart theme, and each case contains 12 different art labels. I love the way my label came out and how it is another way for my art to be a part of something in the community that I live in and love.
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