Tucson artist Lauri Kaye says her brain would look like jumble soup if you were to cut it open.Β
Luckily, she doesn't have to resort to surgery to show us.Β
Instead she created a portrait story, using her unique line-drawing style (think 60's pop art), about what's been inspiring her most lately: the people and places of Tucson.Β
She describes her work as "incredibly imperfect." And she uses it as a means to donate money to local and international charities.
Go see for the work for yourself. "Tucson Portrait Stories" is on display in the windows of the historical Roy Place Building (the A Store downtown) at 44 N. Stone Ave. now through Dec. 31. An artist reception will be held there from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 29.
Subjects include Gates Pass, El Tour de Tucson, a Tohono O'odham woman, a group of ladies at a bus stop and The Loft Cinema, to name a few.Β
Gates Pass is the subject of Lauri Kaye's line drawing.Β
Kaye loves to draw and interview people that "normally wouldn't have the opportunity to have a voice, whether it's a server or a musician on the street." She then gifts a print to her subjects whenever she can.Β
When Lauri Kaye gave a print of this piece to the server in the drawing, she was "ecstatic," Kaye said. "It brought so much joy to me to gift somebody."
One subject was a server at Oink Cafe.Β
"I took a photograph and came back about six months later to interview her and when I was done a few months after that I brought her the piece and she was so ecstatic," Kaye recalled. "It brought so much joy to me to gift somebody."
We sat down with Kaye for a quick Q&A sesh. Read on to learn about her process and what inspires her about Tucson.
What do you think makes Tucson so unique?
I think it's the authenticity and the grit of the city. The friendliness and openness of the community is absolutely astounding coming from New York City.
Lauri Kayeβs βAlbertoβs Portrait Story,β ink on paper, was on display at Unplugged, a wine bar.
How did the Tucson portrait series start? What made you say 'I want to tell stories about Tucson with my art?'
From the first show I did last October there were a couple pieces that really spoke to me and I wanted to have a focus...The people and the landscape and the culture of Tucson lent itself since I was already constantly inspired every day. I was constantly sitting and drawing and photographing people, places and events of Tucson.
So my plan is to have 50 finished pieces that I can publish. I'm soliciting ideas that are interesting and iconic and off the beaten path from native Tucson.Β
Somebody suggested I do low riders in South Tucson so I went to an event and spoke with a lot of people that are a part of Unidas Low Rider Club. The greatest thing is it gets me to learn more about this awesome city.
What's your favorite Tucson place?
DeGrazia's Mission in the Sun is Lauri Kaye's favorite Tucson place.
De Grazia's Mission and Chapel. When I first moved here I lived at an apartment complex across the street. I'd go there often and meditate.Β
What's your process when it comes to creating a piece?
Once I choose what the subject of the portrait is going to be I research the subject by interviewing β or if it's not a person, doing as much research as I can. I do commission work as well and I have a questionnaire with 50 questions to get to know the subject better. So, I'll have a list of things and it comes out as a stream of consciousness. It's incredibly imperfect. Sometimes the lettering won't fit so I put the rest of the word somewhere else in the picture. I don't worry about mistakes.
I use an architecture pen to do all of the drawings and then I scan it. If I use color I do it digitally in Photoshop. I also take pictures of different colors and textures and use photography as well.
How do people react when you approach them?
Everybody so far has been great. I'm very introverted so it takes a lot for me to push myself out of my comfort zone. Part of what I'm doing is initiating these conversations and I tell them what I'm doing and ask if it's ok if I photograph them and if they have a few minutes to talk with me. There's only been one person who said no. But everybody, once they sit down, I see they are really excited to open up and share a bit about their history.Β
Lauri Kaye's rendition of Wig-O-Rama.
This guy Joe on Fourth Avenue was sitting under a bus stop with his guitar and stereo and he looked like such an interesting character and I was observing him across the street and I eventually went up to him and asked if I could take photographs. And after we talked I had volumes of information about his dream about playing in a venue in Tucson and local artists.
Which is your favorite piece and why?
Muses at the Bus Stop. They were so animated that it was such a good time together. And it was so simple. They chose to sit at the bus stop. They weren't going anywhereΒ but they needed a place to gather. They were drinking and smoking cigarettes. They were just so happy to be together and I feel I got that across in the piece. So whenever I see it it just makes me laugh and smile like the day I saw them sitting there.
Muses at the Bus Stop is Kaye's favorite piece because seeing it makes her smile just like the day she saw these ladies.
We notice you put a caption underneath each piece. A lot of artists don't do that. Why do you?
My mom used to always ask me to explain my work to her when I was really young and I found it extremely difficult and I see that people are really curious and they want to know what it means and what are some of the thoughts because I often throw in so much information that it can look like a big thing of jumble soup. I guess that's what my brain must really look like if you were to cut it open. It's my attempt to help my mom out and explain some of the madness going on inside my brain.
What artist inspires you most?
Street artists inspire the most...To see people filling their passion and willing to put themselves out there in the public. It warms my heart to see people doing what they're meant to be doing.
This Q&A was edited and condensed for clarity.
