The Little Interview with Christian Breitkreutz

It is a pleasure having Christian Breitkreutz apart of The Little Interviw series. Here is his

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What is last thing you discovered about yourself?

 

That the older I get the more and more impatient I become with other folks. I’ve always been a little short with people, but I’ve started to notice a growing interest to not be around them. I don’t know why though exactly… It’s not that I think I’m better or anything like that. I guess you could say I just enjoy being by myself or with some close friends rather than big crowds and parties.

 

Tell us about your art/ design background? 

 

As far back as I can remember I’ve always had the urge to make shit. It’s something that has just always been inside of me. Art class was my favorite class in grammar school and when I went to high school we didn’t have an “art” class per se, we had The Principles of Design and Color, which I took. That class pretty much introduced me to graphic design, but we did everything in the absence of a computer. The class was taught by this old, nasty woman so needless to say, it was all done by hand, like in the old days.

 

After going through that program I decided to take graphic design as my major in college. Other than that, I’ve never really had any formal art training. I’ve learned though, to take what I was taught in design school and apply it to my art. I have a better sense of space and color I think than I would hadn’t I gone to design school. Each day for me is a learning experience and I feel that I progress the more I do it. I just hope that keeps up.

 

 

Name of a few of your favorite publications?

 

There are a few that I like to pick up at the newsstand but the only one that ever seems to be consistently good is, National Geographic.

 

I like to check out Juxtapoz, but lately that has been pretty much garbage for me.

 

Slap was awesome when it was still in print, now it’s all online, which sucks because my computer isn’t setup in front of my toilet.

 

For the most part magazines are a disappointment, they get you hooked and then turn around and decide to suck. Like I said before, National Geographic is it for me.

 

If you could collaborate with one person who would it be?

 

While there are a lot of cool artists out there that definitely stoke me out and I admire, I’d rather work alone. To me art is my thing, not yours, not theirs, not anyone’s but mine and I’d like to keep it that way.

 

Where do you live and does your environment affect your work?

 

Currently, I live in the City of Champions, Pittsburgh, PA. I’d say any environment would affect any artist’s work. I walk these city streets and there’s a hell of a lot of ugliness to look at and I think that certainly shows up in my work. Anymore when I step outside I feel like I want to throw up, so when I go to make something that’s what appears.

 

 

If you could live in one other place in the world where would it be?

 

Somewhere that health insurance is free and the people aren’t greedy fucks who try to rip you off every time you turn around.

 

 

 

Do you dream and if so do you have recurring themes?

 

All the time!  Dreaming is actually one of my favorite things to do. Good or bad. Wet or nightmarish. It’s always an adventure.

 

When I was little I can still remember a dream I constantly had at least one night a week where an overgrown dog would chase me down my street. I always managed to get away from that bastard though.

 

A new one I’ve been having is where I’m driving in Pittsburgh except that it’s full of water and the roads go underneath and bridges end abruptly and I drive off them into the water. It might sound sweet but it’s really awful. I wake up panicked and sweaty.

 

I have a lot of dreams that my teeth are being ripped out of my skull or they crumble or whatever. It’s another shitty one. Someone told me it meant death, but I looked it up and it actually means a whole ton of bad shit. I don’t really buy into any of it though. I hate all that dream interpretation crap.

 

Sometimes, and it’s very rare, I’ll have the infamous flying experience. That’s always a treat.

 

 

Currently reading/ Watching anything?

 

I just finished Ham On Rye (Bukowski) and I’m feverishly watching the Pittsburgh Penguins crush the playoffs. Can they win it this year? I’m voting yes.

 

Name some of your favorite contemporary artists?

 

Too many! Let’s see… Ed Templeton is definitely at the top of the list. Matt Leines and Andrew Schoultz are great.  Camille Rose Garcia is unbelievable. Thomas Campbell, Kathleen Lolley, the list is forever long.

 

Actually my most, favorite artists are my friends and all the people I know that are currently producing. Seeing that kind of shit is so much more inspiring and motivating for me than seeing something by someone who I know nothing about.

 

 

Name the last 5 songs you listened to on your I pod?

 

The Fool On The Hill – The Beatles

Boogie Chillen – John Lee Hooker

Shake My Hand Blues – Bukka White

Smith and Jones Forever – Silver Jews

I Wanna Live – The Ramones

 

 

What could you not live without?

 

Either pizza or my best girl, Hallie. They’re both always there for me and fill me with warmth and comfort. I’d probably have to go with Hallie though cause I don’t have to share her with my friends.

 

5 words that describe yourself?

 

Still

Not

Giving

A

Fuck.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Katlin]

one of my fave interviews so far! made my day while i was home sick... love his humor!!