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.

The post Q&A André Butzer & Jayme Burtis appeared first on Copenhagen Contemporary.