Alison Fuderer is an artist with a studio in the Brooklyn Arts & Design Center. Her day job is at Mitchell’s Gallery, but she will soon start at PRI productions as a scene painter.
WHAT MEDIUM DOES
SHE USE?
Acrylics.
WHERE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER WORK
At Starbuck’s in San Marco, Fuel Coffeehouse and the now-defunct Artists’ Corner. Beginning Thursday, she will take part in a month-long political art show at the Art Bar.
ONGOING
Her work can be also be seen at the Edward Ball Building as part of the 100 Windows of Jacksonville downtown arts project. Occasionally, she can be spotted at the Voodoo Lounge when the establishment spotlights live painting by local artists.
BEST BETS
Taste of Five Points, part of the Riverside Arts Festival, will feature some of her work this weekend. On Saturday is the Incredibly Fast Chaos Fair: a turbulent evening of art, music and film at Brooklyn Arts & Design Center across from the Florida Theatre. Upcoming is a solo show, Yo veo con mis ojos (I see with my eyes), on Sept. 19 at the gallery at 9th and Main Street. The opening reception is scheduled for 8 p.m. and it will show for two weeks.
WHY A SPANISH TITLE?
“I taught my kindergarten class Spanish. A lot of them have their eyes covered in some way. It’s about how much they’ve already seen at their age and how much more advanced they are to the world’s social issues than I was at that age.”
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN AN ARTIST?
“I started painting in high
school. I’ve been drawing, sketching and doing comic stuff my whole life.”
HOW DID TEACHING HELP HER PAINT?
“Teaching kindergarten was the most inspiration I’ve had as an artist. I find myself painting at least twice as much, if not more, than when I was in art school. Before, my painting was about trying to be an artist.”
WHY TEACH KINDERGARTEN?
“I’ve always loved children.
The prerequisite is to be creative and teach them that learning is fun.”
WHY PAINT FROM A CHILD’S PERSPECTIVE?
“I like the freeness of it, breaking the rules and experimenting with colors that don’t go together. I don’t sketch what I’m going to do. I just start on the canvas. There is no right or wrong composition. Plus, I get to use paint pens and glittery paint, which would never be allowed in art school.”
EDUCATION
Fuderer began painting at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. She continued through FCCJ’s art program and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida one year ago.
WHO WAS HER
MAIN INFLUENCE?
“Egon Schiele. He does very expressive, big hands. I adopted that and his bold, shaky, black outlines.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
IS THERE A CENTRAL THEME TO YOUR WORK?
“Each one has a different idea. I tie in my childhood with the kids I taught. Some are inspirational, some are sad and some are just silly.”
WHAT CHALLENGES DOES SHE FACE?
“Balancing it all. I’ve got lots of energy, but you have this full-time job and you have to have another full-time job to pay bills. Then, you have to be your own business manager and learn how to advertise yourself, where to show and come up with rules on how to sell things.”
ANY HOBBIES?
When she’s not painting, Fuderer enjoys running, camping or eating sushi and visiting art shows with her friends. An avid fan of traveling, she hopes to move to Barcelona next year. She resides with her college roommate in Riverside.
— by Monica Tsai