IdN Magazine: War and Peace Issue.
Interview/Feature
In this War & Peace issue, the theme is just clear. We will look at the work of six artists from different fields who have used their talents to spread the anti-war message by various means- through comics, movies, illustration, fashion, etc.
IdN: Would you please tell us something about your earliest influences, how you came to an appreciation of illustration and how you moved into illustration as a profession?
Sfaustina: I would say my earliest influences were during my bus rides to and from school. I was eight years old; my elementary school was located in Oakland, California. I remember waiting for a bus and noticing bubble type letters written on the bus bench. I also remember riding in the car with my mom driving under a freeway overpass and reading John 23 and thinking who is John? In retrospect graffiti introduced me to typography and illustration without a doubt, the Letters and the way they got there fascinated me. At that age I had no idea what I was looking at I just thought it looked fresh. My sketchbooks during high school were filled with illustrations of half naked girls and tags. I guess it took me a while to begin to appreciate illustration because it was something I always did but did not think about the actual process. It was not until about five years back did I begin to really appreciate the art of illustration. I always thought it was dope but it wasn't until I started buying old school illustration books and studying the old timers. During the Paul Rand era illustration was utilized in an incredibly smart way. I think it would be healthier for society to encounter illustration in everyday living. I use illustration in my art and in Bloodwars online graffiti magazine much more frequently than I do as a graphic designer. I rarely have the opportunity to incorporate illustration and graphic design in my day job but when it does work, I am trilled.
IdN: How would you describe your work in words to first-time viewers?
Sfaustina: That's a hard one.
In terms of my art I would say: Raw. My work is stream of consciousness style, random, layered, a world of bazaar storytelling- movement. Graphic Design I strive for clean, simple, and experimental execution but it does not always come out that way. Bloodwars Online Magazine is current, international and underground.
IdN: Do you think that street art or graffiti would be the most appropriate media through which to express feelings about war and peace?
Sfaustina: I wouldn't say that because I think it is vital for the one creating the piece to really understand what war and peace are. I think if someone gave paper, scissors and some glue to kids in Iraq, Sudan, or the ghettos in Washington D.C they would be able to provide a powerful authentic image. But then again it is all about what type of war and peace are we talking about? The internal war and peace each one of us goes through within ourselves during our life? We all have the potential to express war and peace if we want to actually go to that place within. In terms of the graffiti culture if a writer is in it for the long haul they will go to war with another writer or crew it is just part of the life. Anything any one does in life can result in some type of declaration of war or peace be it in the work place, home, or on the streets.
IdN: Is there any designer whose work you consider to be a perfect example of design on a war and peace theme?
Sfaustina: I cannot provide a perfect example but I do think Rodchenko, John Willett Heartfield, Hannah Hoch, and the Daddaist have created collage work that is powerful because they were in the mists of it all. During the Russian Revolution, World War I & II it seemed like the artists and designers where in the beginning obligated as an artist to take a stand for the people or the government. Whichever side they fell on.
IdN: What is your own philosophy about creating art around this theme?
Sfaustina: Whatever state of mind I am in; art, design, and graffiti are my outlets. Art permits me to have my own war against the system, I mean I could go out and try to physically destroy the system but that would most likely land me in jail (well it did land me in jail) or I can make a piece of art in the same frame of mind and preserve and expose the action. I guess it is a safer out let. I don't think I will go to jail for a painting. But then again Cindy Sheehan was arrested for wearing a T-shirt saying, "2,245 Dead. How many more?" referring to the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq.
IdN: Has design or art on the theme of war and peace ever been used as a form of propaganda?
Sfaustina: Always, Dr. Seuss when he first started out doing illustrations worked for the U.S. government producing propaganda movies and comics during W.W. II for the soldiers. In order to have a multi billion dollar war there has to be designers and artist producing propaganda and the same helps to end the wars (plus poets and people).
IdN: What would be your most challenging project? And why?
Sfaustina: I don't know what would be the most challenging project but as of now it is raising a two-year-old big man. He is at the age where this is his world and he knows exactly how he wants it to be. He is learning what is and what is not acceptable, I guess he is learning the way of life. He is brilliant.
IdN: What are your future plans? Are you working on any particular projects right now?
Sfaustina: Hopefully slow down a bit. I finally have a day job I love I am Senior Graphic Designer for Francis Ford Coppola. His hands are in many different directions calling for cool design projects. Working for him keeps me extra busy. I would like to have a couple of gallery shows. I am currently working on Bloodwars book Volume II and an illustration project called God, Guns, &Terrorism. But this is a just personal projects.
Big Thanks goes out to IDN
Best
Sfaustina
