from GlitterousIn between packing the car with all sorts of not-so-healthy supplies, our two Open Call winners, Carrie Shaltz and Zach Hyman, were able to share a few juicy details about their compulsive and constructive process, and their new trip’s more lurid -- yet more familiar -- feel.
But where are they going? The Southwest! Do they know much other than that? No! But they will have a road map handy – along with some Jack Daniels, a whole lot of outdoorsy inspiration, and -- well -- each other.
Glitterous’s contructed “love story” explored abandoned spaces on the West Coast. This time, they’re on a gruesome hunt through a wasteland of the suburban sort, while we’ll be here keeping you posted on their adventure. But for now, get better acquainted with our two favorite road-trippers – because you’ll be hearing a lot about them and their travels in the near future.
3RDWARD: Any details you two can divulge about the trip? Do you have a “concept” in mind?
Zach: We have a concept in mind, but we’re hesitant to talk about it. In terms of our last trip, we went out there with all these ideas and came back with something completely different.
Carrie: This type of project is spontaneous. We literally can’t tell you what the images will look like because we are unaware of the all things we will come across. That’s just the nature of the trip, and we don’t want to mislead anyone! For Glitterous, we went in knowing that we would be using glitter and that it would be a love story. For this, the words we are playing with are “the hunt” and “prey.” You’ll also be seeing a lot more recognizable and iconic things, like commercialism and capitalism types of things.
Zach: This is going to be a little more gruesome, and pretty dark and surreal all at the same time… It’s also going to be richer, and fuller. And just a totally different experience – for the viewer, for us – in terms of location, materials, the costuming, too. Not that we’ll be naked or not (laughs). It’s just going to be different.
3W: What about an itinerary? Have you decided on your location?
C: [For Glitterous] we went through barren landscapes, and for this one we are going to try and hit up the suburban wastelands.
Z: We’re attempting to make a giant loop, running along the border of Mexico, up around New Mexico, back to LA, through Albuquerque. But even if we go out there with those intentions, we could come back with a completely new thing.
C: We don’t have an exact charted course of where we’re going. We’ll fly into L.A. and if we’re inspired by something, we’ll drive there. It’s all very much about choosing your own adventure.
3W: So, are you saying that your setting is what inspires you, and you create your art from that?
C: It’s kind of a free association. Like for Glitterous, I remember driving through the Broadway Tunnel to pick up Zach in San Francisco, and was like “Dude this is so cool! We should shoot there.” So we shot there. And then this guy at the camera store was like “Where are you guys headed?” And we were like, “We don’t know!” so he told us about this cool airplane graveyard. And we drove to that.
Z: And within those moments, we also ran into problems, too. On our first night, there was a really unfortunate accident with one of Carrie’s friends, so we stayed at my parent’s place in Northern California, and then ended up using one of the shots from that night. Whether or not we stick to the plan, it’s about those beautiful mistakes. Everything seems to work out when you’re committed and sincere.
C: Before going on the Glitterous trip, we were set on saying yes to everything – as long as it wasn’t putting ourselves in direct danger, like “Oh, let’s put our hair on fire!” It was more about crossing our own moral and cultural barriers. Like, can we get up on that billboard and get naked? We wanted to see how far we could push ourselves.
3W: How do you know when an idea or setting is right? How do you "set the moment"?
C: I feel like it just clicks. If there isn’t one hundred percent enthusiasm, we just don’t do it. We’re only out there with two cameras, and we don’t have hours to spend on one shot. We’d just kind of look at each other and be like, “Oh my God, right there.” And then we’d just pull over.
Z: When you see something that nobody has seen, or you know you can create something that nobody has ever seen…. that’s exactly what we are looking for. I’m sure people drive through the desert all the time, but they don’t stop and photograph themselves in it. When it works, we do it.
C: There’s nothing that discourages us. Like with the first billboard shot [for Glitterous], we went there at four in the morning, and the lights were off and it was raining. But we figured “Well, we’re going to do it anyway.” And it actually turned out better.
3W: What else inspires your art on the road?
C: In my everyday life, I have a lot of things to juggle. [But while out on the road] we didn’t even have cell phone reception for about seventy-five percent of the time. We had nowhere to be, no appointments, nothing else to think about. Just the two of us, and we could do whatever we wanted.
Z: A lot of my inspiration comes from having someone else who is just as inspired. In finding someone who is just as crazy as me, who thinks the same way, and sees the same thing – that’s what’s inspiring. The collaboration.
C: It’s like you are bigger than yourself.
3W: Now that we’ve talk about all the good stuff, what are your fears going into this?
Z: I have one big one. I really want to dip into Mexico…and I’m terrified. Well, not terrified, but you can’t just free for all in Mexico. But, I know that when we’re driving along the border and see that sign, we will go to Mexico. Even if we stop in to get some lobster tacos, we’re going to end up working there. Some of the best stuff comes from those abandoned roads.
C: We both know we’re going to do it (laughs).
3W: What sort of lessons did you learn from the last trip? How will this one be different? Or the same?
Z: Spend less time in Vegas (laughs).
C: Actually, don’t lose as much money in Vegas.
Z: There won’t be any sort of bullshit between us. We hardly knew each other before going on the last trip – maybe about two months. But now we have a studio together, and are very close friends.
C: I can’t think of any big mistakes that made us think, “Oh, we should never do that again!” We take advantage of every moment.
3W: Now the big question: What are some obligatory road trip accessories?
C: Jack Daniels. Cigarettes.
Z: Towels and shit. Cleaning supplies. Some random deodorant. Lighters. Reefer for me.
C: I don’t do that, but that doesn’t mean Zach can’t. Lots of Coca-Cola. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – the little mini ones. Fast food. We both love fast food. It’s so good.
Z: It’s really amazing because we eat fast food, drink Jack Daniels, smoke cigarettes, me the reefer, and seem to feel incredible. It’s just a testament to how fun the whole experience is.
Stay tuned for the next installment... from the road!
-- Vann Alexandra
Jan 21, 2011
Love this shot so much. 3rd Ward Members totally took over Martha's woodworking-themed show with a diverse selection of Member-Made products.
