I asked Jordan if he would like to
do an interview a few months ago
and he replied, “Why don’t we try something more conversational
via email?” This sounded like a great idea and also a way to
try something new with Reservocation’s format. After two months
of back and forth we have the following.
Jarrett: What’s getting you excited (or not) about your
personal work and why?
Jordan: Two things off the top of my head: one, I think that
in the last year I have really come to an understanding of what I
want to accomplish with my work and this excites me. I have wanted
to be more personal but at the same time more open in conceptual interpretation.
That’s the part I wrestle with most — creating work that
is “me” but work that is also open to the viewer and relates
to their experiences somehow. I have found that if I feel uncomfortable
about a piece of work it is usually a good thing. I have learned that
it means I’m taking a risk. I think to move forward and grow
I have to deal with the conflicting feeling that maybe I’m letting
the viewer have too much information. In the end however, it usually
forms a more interesting experience — addressing these feelings
and take a risk.
Two, I’m also somewhat excited that design and it’s formal,
critical, and commercial aspects have made their way into my personal
work. I don’t think until the last year I really thought of
making work that addressed how important the concept of design can
play in art. When I step back and look at some of my work over the
years, I see I was always sort of talking about this but I never addressed
it or ever made specific work that dealt with the idea of what it
means to be a successful or an unsuccessful visual communicator. I
have been exploring what it means to “design” and what
it means to be a “designer,” thru my artwork.
Jordan: What keeps you doing reservocation and where do
you hope to see it going in the years to come?
Jarrett: I really enjoy the discovery aspect of giving interviews
for one thing. I’ve found that I approach my commercial and
personal work differently since I first started Reservocation. It’s
helped me to work more intuitively as a side effect. For another thing,
I’ve met some great people that have definitely opened me up
to new ideas and concepts.
Where do I hope to see Reservocation going in the years to come? I
hope to see it form into a more solid construct featuring other writers
and editors. Moving to print is a logical next step, but I think Reservocation
needs to mature a little more and really explore what we can accomplish
online — part of that is going to happen when more writers are
contributing. Right now, I want to really make it a streamlined vehicle
for content distribution and ideas. Everything in it’s right
place, so to speak.
I guess, echoing what you said about creating work that is more “you”
applies to what I’m striving for as well. Bring out who you
are in your art, whatever form that takes, even in applied arts like
design, architecture, etc…
Jarrett: You mentioned that design and it’s formal, critical,
and commercial aspects have made their way in your personal work.
In what way?
Jordan: I think, past the formal aspects is where the interest
is. It’s an emotional osmosis, wearing both hats as a designer
and artist. As an example, everyone that is a designer, has gone thru
the process of creating something on demand, felt great and confident
about the work and then gone thru the process and emotions that come
with getting those ideas and creations shot down. Then having to re-work
work, having to be “creative” at the drop of a hat, questioning
yourself, having to relate to clients, being confident one day and
continued on next page
01 | 02 | 03
  |
Print-Friendly Version