Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rumwolf . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rumwolf , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In 2023 I embarked on perhaps my most meaningful project to date. “The Big Free Picture”, an interdisciplinary multi-gallery installation and performance piece. I developed the project as an artist in residence at The Momentary, a contemporary performance and visual art space which is an extension or sister location to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It’s meaningful because it was my first work to be featured at a major art institution, but also because of the autobiographical nature of the piece. The Big Free Picture incorporated photography, video, sound and lighting design, song composition, cyanotype printing and durational performance. All combined together to create a fully immersive audio visual installation and exhibition. The focal point of which was a professional, Olan Mills style family photo of my brothers and I from 1990.

Rumwolf , 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’m a multidisciplinary installation and performance artist. My practice often focuses on the relationships between art, identity and emotion expressed through themes of humor, pop culture, and nostalgia. I often work with new technologies and contemporary installation techniques such as video and projection mapping, sound and lighting design and video art. I frequently combine these modern methods of arts with more traditional disciplines such as sculpture and painting. I also work frequently with antiquated video technologies such as utilizing VHS tapes and antiquated tube and CRT televisions in video sculptures and installations.

I began my artistic life as a songwriter and musician. In the early and mid 2000’s I spent several years making microbudget short and feature length narrative films as an aspiring filmmaker in the beginning of the digital film revolution. Over the years I supported my art habit by working a series of corporate and middle management jobs before I moved into a long career as a production manager and technical director in the live event production field. It was in this role that I began developing skills and techniques that I later carried into the installation art world. After several years directing large scale productions in corporate, concert and non-profit sectors, I moved into a career as a video designer, producer, writer and director working in theatrical, museum and performance art spaces. This led to my discovering the world of contemporary installation and performance art where I have been working professionally for the past 6 years. Most recently I was awarded an artist residency and my first major institutional solo exhibition at The Momentary, a contemporary art space and extension of Crystal Bridges of American Art in Bentonville Arkansas.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I’ve actually thought about this subject from time to time. I became increasingly curious about this very topic in the summer and fall of 2023. As part of my exhibit and residency from July 23 through October 2023 I engaged in a series of durational performances in which I spent hours at a time working in costume inside of my video installation in full view of museum attendees and guests. I interacted with an ever rotating and diverse audience on a sometimes daily basis while make cyanotype prints with one guest artist, or performing a live sound track with another group of guest artist. While doing this I would talk directly to the audience. I had a rare opportunity to go to “work” as an artist. This was made possible because I live very close to the institution and I could travel there and access my exhibit daily.
This long running series of interactions gave me a unique experience living “the art life”.
Meaning no real job to report too. No other obligations beyond my own performance and exhibition for months on end.
During this time I interacted and lectured to many “non-creatives”
There are many differences to highlight and certainly this subject is due for a much longer and more compelling essay. However I’ll focus on just one point of observation.
It seems to me that a key ingredient to being a “professional creative” is the ability to take outrageous ideas deadly serious. And I when I say outrageous ideas I really mean “things” or “thoughts” or “concepts” that might seem like wildly foolish or even childish endeavors that are funny to consider privately but would never warrant the actually time, care and physical labor or realizing in a tangible sense.
“Non creatives” (if such a thing exists; this is another topic worth exploring) often leave wild, hare brained, schemes tucked safely in their fantasy world. Why the idea isn’t even likely to make it from rain to page. Just a fleeting thought.
Meanwhile I might thinking nothing of the idea of dressing on a strange costume, standing under a photo of myself as a child, and monologuing to a live audience inside an active museum. To many, this idea would be silly to the point of petrifying. For an artist or a “creative” person, the wild idea can be and MUST be realized. If it’s a film, song, painting, performance or something not even describable….it doesn’t matter because it must be done. Make the calls. Get the cast together. Build some sets. Borrow a camera. Let’s put on a show!
This is how things “get made” by creatives. While a “non-creative” or perhaps better to say a “dormant creative” might spend their time watching something on TV or their phone that a “professional creative” spent a great deal of time figuring out how to make real.

It seems to me, having the drive and motivation to do seemingly silly
or “useless” things is the number 1 requirement to be a professional artist.

I think some of my friends or family who do not engage in obsessive creative pursuits struggle to understand why this innate desire to make something and show it to people is so strong. I guess I struggle to understand it myself, but I’m very grateful to have it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I find great happiness and comfort in the consistent questioning that comes with being an artist. As a professional and working artist I have been gifted the unique opportunity of time and resources to inspect the deeper questions that all of us have inside of us but so rarely talk about out loud. Of course I’m speaking of existentialism. The general
feeling of “what does it all mean?!” or “what is my purpose?” Or “why am I here ? To do what?”

To be clear, I don’t pretend to have an answer to these questions, in fact I think there isn’t an answer. Or if there is an answer it’s always changing. In a consistent state of flux. No, the rewarding bit comes from the time and effort I’m allowed to put into the questions. Making art puts you in a state of questioning. Questioning yourself, other people, your abilities. Questioning what other people, hypothetical strangers, think of you and your abilities. We all entertain these thoughts on a daily basis. Whether it’s at our office job, or the person who changes your oil, or the Amazon delivery driver. But few of us are allowed the incredible opportunity to think about these things as the subject OF our work. It’s wonderful to be taken seriously when you’re really spending a great deal of time thinking about very elementary, even childish ideals. For the “working stiff” there’s not a lot of time or understanding permitted for thoughts of existentialism. You’re too busy trying to survive. As an artist, when things are going well, I get to philosophize about “the meaning” of life all day. Not only is it accepted, it’s actually expected of me. It’s a huge part of the job.

But also, on a more simplistic and self serving level, it’s very rewarding just to watch people interact with your work and find great joy in it. When I see an audience member or museum guest smiling and looking wide eyed with wonder at something I made, it validates me and the work I’ve done in such a special way. It reminds you, as an artist, that what you’re doing isn’t silly or stupid or useless. It means something sometimes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rumwolfvideo.com
• Instagram: @rum_wolf