We’re excited about the upcoming Vans House Parties in Brooklyn, featuring Against Me with opening acts Cherry Glazerr and Taking Meds with an art installation by Steak Mtn. We had a chance to chat with artist Christopher Norris aka Steak Mtn whose works are enigmatic, loose, and raw. We had a chance to find out what he has planned for folks coming to VHP and how he started working with Against Me.
Photographs courtesy of the artist.
Introduce yourself.
Steak Mtn. Definitely my real name. Look me up. It’s the real thing. Thank you. I am a graphic artist. Thank you, again.
How would you describe your work and overall style?
The work is mercenarial, and from that, the style is sporadic, unfocused… or, I guess, you could say “loose”. Loose is very popular.
For the upcoming Vans House Parties in Brooklyn, we’re really excited to see what you’ll be creating for folks. What can you tell us about it, and what should folks expect?
A really, really, really slow video painting, a free newsprint poster, and 5 black and white images, produced en masse, staple-patterned to a wall in the venue.
What was the process like?
The process was clunky and piecemeal... but I figured it out in the end. Good or bad, I always seem to.
What are you most looking forward to at the night of VHP?
I won’t be there. Live music is depressing trash.
You’ll be working on an art installation for Against Me!. How did you start working with them? Do you remember when they came across your work?
In 2005, Var Thelin from No Idea Records, knowing I was not a fan of the band, thought it would be funny if I designed a 7” for them. It was, in fact, so hilarious that here we are 13 years later.
What materials do you normally work with?
Laptop.
Who are some of your major influences?
Walerian Borowczyk and Bob Clampett.
What do you listen to when you’re writing, creating new work, or just mulling around the studio?
Silence. No music. Ever.
What’s your process like when starting on a novel, new piece of art or concept for a client? How does your idea take shape – do you keep notes, doodle them down, or just hit the floor running?
At first I think “I shouldn’t have said yes to this”, and then hit the ground running - but - if I don’t have a seed idea in the first two days (and am not desperate for cash), I quit the project.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
I don’t make art just to make art. It’s cool that people do, or try to, or in the eye-rolling extreme, convince themselves they just have to create or they’ll “go crazy”, which is whatever, sounds lazy, but, yeah, not my burden. Money is the true motivator. The only one. I usually won’t agree to anything unless it is involved. Glory is overrated. “Exposure” is a lie. Cash is the only divining rod.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making stuff?
When not abusing the Steak Mtn. brand - I have a dayjob. I’m a normal person.
Is there a medium that you’ve yet to work with that you’re planning to in the future?
Not really, no. Oh… maybe someone should give me money to make a horror movie. So, yeah, a horror movie. That’s the next medium to be enslaved.
What is some good advice you’d like to share with folks, advice that maybe helped you in some way in your career?
Don’t say ‘no’ to anything. Do it all. Be available. Be willing to collaborate. Make work. Build. Don’t worry about what anything is, what it means, where it gets you. Shut up and do it. Do it to keep your powder dry. Don’t steal >>> borrow… or… whatever, steal it all. Who cares. It’ll help you find your style. Just make sure you lie about the stealing. People are weird about stealing. Hide behind zeitgeist. Stay up on trends. Try trends out. Avoid trends. Don’t make political work. It’s boring. Or, do make political work but know that it dates your legacy and is just cheap therapy, don’t argue with me, it’s not art... or it is art, and, again, who cares. Plus, also again, it’s boring. Don’t doubt yourself because doubt is boring. Don’t be boring. Be aggressive, cocky… but don’t be a dick. The upper hand is kingdom. Understand that talent is not as important as connections. It’s even better if those connections are talented connections. Quality is subjective. Understand that next to no one has had or has a sustainable career as an artist. Get a dayjob. Be alright with the struggle. You will struggle. Understand your value even if you understand that value to be mediocre. If you’re a milquetoast hack and/or are a straight sucker?Do your part. Keep at it. Let it ride all the way to the dark goodnight. Mediocrity is the essential facet in helping “The Great” be viewed as so. Be the “don’t be this” example needed. But, most importantly, be curious, consume, get free, even if it isn’t “your thing” - film, history, theatre, dance, art, fashion, design, etc. Preternatural perspective is better than short-sighted preference. An exploded view is key and will only help you in the long run...
...and then, once, or if, you make your bones in whatever discipline(s) you’ve chosen... forget what you learned, be difficult to work with, understand that everything is disposable, and don’t be sad when people stop hiring you. It’s definitely your fault and it’s probably time to grow up.
What has been the most challenging thing about what you do?
Staying interested and/ or remaining professional when you know anything/everything made, ever, is grist for the mill (see the “money” answer). Doomriding the whip.
What’s been the biggest reward?
I can say that despite my best efforts to subvert success, I’ve been pretty lucky… def don’t think I’ve hit a “biggest reward” part of whatever this thing is though.
What do you have coming up the rest of the year that you can share with us?
Watching as many movies as I have time for?
