We recently connected with Clark Whittington and have shared our conversation below.

Clark, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born into art, music and barbering. Working with my hands was mostly what I knew how to do. I fully enjoyed bagging groceries and stocking shelves at Winn-Dixie in high school and doing print production work after college.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I finished art school in 1988. This was at a time when our senator was demonizing artists and working to defund the NEA due to the content of a few artists who received grant funding. So, being a conceptual artist in NC has been a challenge.

However, I kinda agreed with the senator. If you accept funding from someone (individual, org or say government) you do have to answer to them. This is why I’ve never applied for a grant and have chosen to produce art on my terms.

I am more comfortable sharing this subject when speaking with someone in person. Anyway, I’ve found that having patience with people (many who are not familiar with art) can help reboot any conditioning that has typically happened in regard to art in this country.  Aka, art is only for the rich, what use does it have, etc. I’ve found that most people are curious and want to be a part of the conversation. So, my approach is to show respect. With that said, some are jaded and without hope. I just do my best to share what I do to the ones who respond positively.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Live with art.

When we had an ArToMaT at Lollapaloosa years ago where 2 dudes showed interest in our machine. One who was at “cruising altitude” asked “what’s is it”? What do you do with it?” His friend picked up on that we were struggling to answer his questions. And said…”Dude, it is art. It just sits there”.

He was 100% correct. The role of art is to exist and let the viewer figure out the best way it can be useful in their lives.

However, with an ArToMaT piece…you can stick it under the leg of a wobbly cafe table if so needed. ;)

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.ArToMaT.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/artomat?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/originalartomat?

Image Credits
C.Whittington/ArToMaT