JONATHAN CHERRY: What did you want to be growing up?
RORY HAMOVIT: For the longest time as a child I wanted to be an animator. I would wake up every morning and watch Fantasia, the tape always in the VCR. I had all these ideas for movies and filled up dozens of sketchpads with doodle storyboards. That was also about as profession-minded I ever got because I went right from that to the freeform artist by age 10 I’d say. I just wanted trouble from right out of the gate.
JC: Who or what is inspiring you at the moment?
RH: I love space photography, like straight-from-the-hubble raw imagery of distant galaxies. The images from the European Space Agency’s asteroid rover are still some of my favorite images from the past decade. They’re so unbearably bare, just this unbelievable landscape. I have one as my phone lock screen and computer background. Also the book Looking At Pictures by Robert Walser.
JC: What are you up to right now?
RH: I recently got back to the US after living in Iceland and Portugal for a few months going artist residencies. I’m currently back in San Francisco working as an art handler and installer but I’m looking at relocating to somewhere more affordable in the very near future. Hopefully somewhere where I can afford a few square footage of studio space to work properly. Also working on a few collaborative print projects, several with the small press I help run called Inpatient Press.
JC: Have you had mentors along the way?
RH: I attended Bard College where the whole photo department is worthy of mentor status but it was my high school photography teacher who deserves the most credit. Shout out to you, Mr. Oxton. Neil Young has always been my mentor-at-large but I think it’s pretty one sided since I’m not sure he’s aware.
JC: Where are you based right now and how is it shaping you?
RH: I’ve been living in San Francisco primarily for the past two years. From a photographer standpoint almost everything is in your favor: great weather, fantastic scenery abundant and a noticeably better quality of light. The west coast sun has certainly leaked into my earlier, gloomier work and it’s been a better home-base seeing as so much of my recent work has focused on the landscape of the American West but the overpricing has left me mostly feeling overworked and underproductive. But I’m making the most of it.
JC: One piece of advice to photography graduates?
RH: My school of thought on this is be your biggest fan and make some weird work in this free fall stage of your life. Like keep a dream journal and use that as some whacky inspiration. I’m not saying that’s what I do but doesn’t that seem like fun?
JC: If all else fails - what is your plan B?
RH: Running for political office. Start small in local elections, like town selectman, build momentum and within 15 years either governor or state senator at the very least. If you think about it, it’s the ultimate performance piece anyway.
JC: Is it important to you to be a part of a creative community?
RH: Absolutely, no matter how individualistic (or smug) you are. Feedback is essential and opportunities only arise when you reach out and find those kindred spirits. You can be your greatest champion but you have to remember the work you make isn’t going to be just for you. Remember we’re all Tom Petty and we need out Heartbreakers because you don’t want to live like a refugee, even if you feel like you’re free fallin’. So roll another joint and take that last dance with Mary Jane. (Sorry).
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