At Sad Mag HQ we take an interest in all art forms, or at least we try; personally, I can’t sit through a musical unless it was penned by Joss Whedon. But when we heard about a velvet art show, we were curious: velvet art? What is that, anyway? We inquired with Peter Short, one of hte curators of The ILL’N Velvet Show, about this rare and beautiful (one might say unicorn-esque) art form.
Sad Mag: Why velvet?
Peter Short: Velvet is so soft and smooth. It feels good against your mustache. It’s sexy yet sophisticated. Many people who hang velvet paintings also climb mountains and drink only the finest scotch. These are just a few reasons.
SM: What made you decide to do a whole show with velvet art?
PS: I think its safe for us all to admit just how bomb velvet paintings are. It’s true that the factory production of velvet paintings that existed in the 1970s was a bit of a bummer. Everyone was left with a cheesy impression of what velvet paintings could be but its just an unfortunate misconception. It was only a brief moment in the long history of paining on velvet. The medium has endless possibilities. We wanted to offer art lovers a different kind of gallery experience. The show is a celebration of the ILL’N Club’s second successful year in operation so we wanted to do something fun and unexpected.
SM: Is velvet art making a comeback?
PS: There has always been a desire and interest in velvet paintings. It never really went away. The problem is that the average art lover has to depend on the thrift or antique market for their supply of works on velvet. Quality paintings are only getting more scarce and desirable. Even ‘bad’ velvet paintings can have an outsider quality to them which is very sought after for some collectors. It’s sustained popularity has even necessitated a velvet museum called Velveteria which is now relocating to LA from Portland due to its growing popularity. They are seriously carrying the flame as well as the collectors of this great art form. Collectors whom we can only assume are mostly spies and secret agents. They like to come home after a hard day and puff on their pipes while getting the evening news from Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team.
SM: When was it in style, anyway?
PS: We’re not even sure, really. Archeology can only tell us so much but we know that it popped up soon after velvet was invented in Kashmir. It was once treated quite seriously and the paintings mostly dealt with religious iconography. Sacred images painted on what was then a seriously luxurious material. There are velvet paintings that are hanging in the Vatican to this day. Who knows. Maybe all the popes smoked the dope.
The ILL’N Velvet Show: Closing Party
7:00PM, April 21st, 2012
Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy)
$5 at the door
Free moustaches to the first 100 guests.
(If you can’t wait til April 21st to see the show, you can arrange a private preview. )
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