Welcome monOrchid’s new Art Program Director, Justin Germain
Mr. Germain is an Arizona native, hailing from Sierra Vista on the border south of Tucson, and moved to the valley 13 years ago to pursue his education in Art History. He now holds a Master of Arts in Art History and a Master of Public Administration, two fields that developed not only his aesthetic sense but also a love for community engagement and exploring the crossover between art and society. Justin comes to the monOrchid with over 10 years in gallery management and curatorial experience with organizations in the Phoenix area.
“I have always been disturbed by the comments that Phoenix has no cultural activity and I strive to explore and share the rich and diverse culture that the valley offers to its residents and visitors. I am thrilled to work with monOrchid because the space embodies the ideals of promoting our local flavor, developing awareness and interest in the arts, and serving as a magnet for urban redevelopment.”
“My taste and aesthetic are broad; as a curator I am open to exploring any style, any form, and issue, and any ism. I take much of my inspiration from Alfred Barr, the first director of the Museum of Modern Art, NY, who was the subject of my M.A. thesis. Barr described artists as the sensitive antenna of society whose products are the result of the surroundings they inhabit. We, as art professionals—curators, critics, gallerists—serve as disc jockeys for the radio station of culture to entertain, educate, and provide insight to the public. This is why I chose to curate and write for all visitors, I prefer to describe and explain art in plain language so that it is accessible to anyone.”
“I look forward to working and collaborating in a creative environment focused on generating a buzz for downtown. I think we are going to develop some amazing programs and opportunities and hopefully, inspire other arts businesses to follow along!”
They could not have picked a better person for this job!!!! We are so proud of you keep up the great work.
Love Dad & Cynthia
I suppose it deendps what inspired you in the first place. For me, photography was a way to capture what I did not have the talent to draw, or at least draw quickly. So I would take pictures, then try to draw those pictures in multiple modes, suhc as the Van Gogh mode (and if you don’t know what I mean, maybe you should go to an art museum for inspiration). Also, I’ve found that (literally) not having my equipment for a few months while starting to feel that lack of inspiration is giving me tremendous inspiration, as I just got it back this evening, and can’t wait to go take pictures tomorrow! So, take a deep breath, put down the camera, pick out your favorite pictures and try to draw them, or go to museums and try to capture the feeling you get from a drawing or painting in your camera, or possibly you just need to ask a friend to hold on to your equipment indefinitely. When you find your hands itching for a camera, it’s time for you to go get it back.
I know exactly how you feel. I feel the same way when I pieckd up the guitar 3 years ago and then constantly lose inspiration after a few weeks. If you can drive, why not drive to different areas maybe 1 hour away and take pictures of other types of scenery. Get a new camera? Hey it works sometimes. Maybe you could even make a slideshow of photos and play music along to the photos. You could even take photos of your friends posing or just have fun in general. My friend likes to photograph different people and then compare them and see whats different about each person.Why not just go plain crazy?