Trevor Brown is one of hundreds of photographers that have taken up residence on Google Plus. I circled him early on and am glad that over time I have had the pleasure of getting to know him better through his photos. The other day he popped up in my G+ stream and I asked him if he would consider being featured in our rag. He was a little hesitant at first until I let him know that we have just started our online venture and that photographers will be featured regularly. Once he was able to see some of the other artists we had brought to the site and the quality of our venue he was on board and ready to do an interview. Good thing I caught him when I did, because he was running around taking care of all the last-minute details before leaving on a 10 day journey to Ghana.
1. How did you get started in photography?
I have always been a photographer; I just haven’t always had a camera.
2. What is your primary focus when you are shooting?
Composition and color. My work is known for excellent composition and transcending its medium with its tactile qualities that make the work feel like paintings.
3. What can you tell me about this shot?
Speckled Fire is one of my signature images. It speaks to my love of saturated colors and oxidation and also a common theme of my work of finding beauty in the ordinary. This piece was part of my collection reviewed by The New York Times and was also one of the key images amongst the work I debuted in Chelsea earlier this year. Viewers at www.trevorbrownonline.com are usually astounded trying to figure out what it is, but normally let their minds wander and see many different things.
4. What are your thoughts on G+?
I think any social platform is as good as the users reason for using it. I felt and still feel generally that most social networks are nothing but Internet crack, but as I stated in a recent Australian publication Artwrite,“It’s how you leverage them to your benefit that is important.” I use G+ to augment my other social assets in the promotion of my artwork. I feel as an artist I need to do what ever low-cost or no cost activities to get my work out there, and social networks provide that means.
Notwithstanding it is a lot of work to update them and keep the content fresh and original. Unlike some people I don’t use an aggregator to post to all my social assets I custom post to each one of them. This takes more time, but I feel its important as people have touch points with your brand across different communications . You aren’t having the same conversation, that gets boring really quick. Ergo I develop different kinds of audiences who follow me and interact with me in a holistic way.
5. What else do you have going on?
It has been a very busy year for me staring with my being featured at The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts for five months, and then debuting at the Simmons Brother’s (Russell, Rev Run & Danny) Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea, followed by my international debut in Bologna Italy. This was only the first three months of the year.Then later this year I was published in the Australian publication Artwrite, and grew a wonderful new set of patrons through artwork sales. I also just had an exhibition open in Chicago featuring my work, my Chi-town debut. 2011 has been a year of firsts. Hotel 718, a Brooklyn hotel that purchased over 100k in artwork from local artist, purchased two of my pieces. I am very excited by this very high-profile purchase.
Between getting that work out, submitting to more shows, and processing orders from new patrons I also try to mentor young artist who have questions about being a working artist. I recently assisted a 19 year old fine art photographer who wanted help learning about trade marking and marketing her work on the Internet. My video about Integrity vs.Opportunity she said really affirmed her doubts. I think it is important as artists that we share information and try to give back to our own community. I feel the only people we are competing with are ourselves, not each other.
Other little blips amongst my social media assets are the continued growth of my Likes on my Facebook Fan Page, being Circled on Google+, and Followed on Tumblr which is very exciting to me. I may grow in dribs and drabs but I have very low recidivism, meaning if you like my work you are loyal and stay around for the journey.
Lastly I am headed to Ghana on a trip sponsored by the same museum I presented at earlier this year, MoCODA. It’s a ten day trip to explore the arts and culture of Ghana in two different cities. It is not my first time traveling to a developing country but it is my first time traveling to Africa. As an artist who leans towards urban abstract I am very curious what the colors of Ghana will bring to my lens. When I was in India in 2008 for a month, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the country and developed a unique set of work, I am hoping I will have the same magic in Africa; I will exclusively be sharing the work I shoot while I am there on Tumblr.
Contact Information for Trevor Brown:
790 Washington Avenue 3D
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718 622 6725
trevor@trevorbrownonline.com
Trevor Brown Google Plus Profile
Thanks to James Fierce for including me, they only other thing I would want to include is a link to Hotel 718 http://www.facebook.com/Hotel718. They will be having an opening celebration.
You are welcome it was my pleasure.