Q&A André Butzer & Jayme Burtis
For the Duo Show at SundayS Gallery Dec. 11 – 2020 . “Painters of the San Gabriel Mountains”
Jayme Burtis, Untitled, 2020
Q: Tell me about your background?
Jayme: I was raised by a pack of wolves (bikers, gangsters and territorial surf thugs) on the streets of Venice / CA from the 70s through the 90s.
André: I GREW UP IN STUTTGART, SOUTHWEST GERMANY, NEAR A US-MILITARY BASE.
Q: How did you two meet?
Jayme: As Brothers, Fathers and Mountain Men.
A: WE MET IN ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA IN 2018. WE HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED THERE WITH A MOUNTAIN RANGE CALLED »SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS« SINCE THEN.
Q: Jayme, I know you like to Skateboard. André, how’s your skateboarding, what’s your favorite trick?
Jayme: Skateboarding represented a form of freedom as a kid. No tricks for me, just good reliable transportation.
André: I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO SKATEBOARD. I AM TOO SHY.
Q: What was the first artwork you made?
André: MY FIRST PAINTING IN OIL I MADE IN 1994. IN HAMBURG, IN A HOSPITAL WHERE I HAD TO WORK AS A CIVIL SERVANT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE BUNDESWEHR.
Jayme: I can remember when I was about 10 years old I did a mural at school with paint brushes. It was a brick wall with falling bricks to reveal a beach with waves and palm trees.
Jayme Burtis in his studio, Altadena, California, 2020
Q: André, I am interested to know if you are also into graffiti?
André: I HAVE NEVER TRIED IT. I ALWAYS LOOKED AT IT WHEREVER I SAW IT AND I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHAT IT IS.
Q: Have you done works together? If so, where and can I see them?
André: WE DID A COLLABORATIVE WORK ONCE ON A PIECE OF PAPER. IT’S GREAT, IT WILL BE IN OUR SHOW IN COPENHAGEN. BUT I CONSIDER ALL OUR WORKS AS »TOGETHER«. BECAUSE, WHAT IS IT, »WORK«? THE WORK, TO ME, IS WAY BEYOND A WORK OF ART. WE SHARE, LEARN AND INSPIRE HOW TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO IN FAVOR OF »THE WORK«.
Jayme: Yes, the process and results are equal, so it made sense to do this together.
Q: Instagram … Good, bad, waste of time or totally necessary today as an artist or gallerist?
André: I LIKE MY OWN BLOG THERE. NOW IT ´S DELETED.
Jayme: For me, I approach Instagram with only a view of celebrating the past, present and future. Beyond this, it can be tricky.
Q: The world and speed of social media … Living as an artist within this arena, how do you see yourself? Does it affect your work and way of living?
Jayme: It doesn’t at all. The work is truth and there is no truth in social media.
André: IT DOESN’T. IF YOU SERVE »THE WORK«, THERE IS NO AFFECTION AND THERE WILL NEVER BE, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE READY TO RESIST ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
Q: There seems to be a trend toward Instagram and informational overload. What’s your take on this? How do you respond to it? Where do you think this will end up?
Jayme: It’s all based in how you respond to life. I can only say for me that I celebrate and rejoice what unfolds each day. So that is how it affects me.
André: WE CAN ONLY RESIST AND FOLLOW »THE WORK« INSTEAD AND WE CAN CHERISH THE LAND THAT WE WERE GIVEN AND WALK UPON IT, AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL.
What influences you?
André: THE MAIN INFLUENCE IS THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS.
Jayme: 100 % THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS and the circle of true Brothers I am surrounded by!!!
Q: Can you let us in on some of your future projects?
Jayme: Really looking forward to our show with you and sharing the PSGM experience.
André: WE THINK IT’S GOOD TO MAKE SHOWS AND BRING THE WORK TO THE PEOPLE.
