Interview w/ Emily Whittemore

 

Emily Whittemore is a skilled artist, prolific Twitter baller, comic, and all around pretty dope person. I’m not entirely sure, but I think she’s a pretty legit Houston Rockets fan (we went over our research budget this month). We caught up with Lil’ Escher for the second time, and she humored us by fielding a slew of pseudo-important questions. Below, you can find out about her upcoming projects and more. 

 

Rob Patrick: About a week ago, Houston Press said that people absolutely have to check out your paintings at an event called “Dimpled, Twisted, and Buried” at Fresh Arts. Your work was shown alongside pieces by Iva Kinnaird and Jade Abner. What was the event like, and did you end up going to any of the other activities that the Houston Press suggested?

Emily Whittemore: Unfortunately I was in LA during the show, so I don’t really know how it went. I heard it was good. All the other activities probably sucked in comparison.

 

Interpol releases an album of Jeff Buckley covers. Would you be elated af or upset as fuck?

I’d be down for it. Interpol voice is way different from Jeff Buckley voice and their instrumentation is really different, but it would probably be cool. It would be better I think if Buckley did Interpol covers.

 

You had your first stand-up show a few months ago. How did it go, and what was your favorite and least favorite joke that you made?

edd

Diaper Astronaut, Emily Whittemore, 2013

The stand up show went really good. I was the only lady and they made me go first and they spelled my name wrong, but I won. My least favorite joke was probably about my pussy worms or how my name has become slang for meth.

 

What’s something that you’re currently working on that you’re not totally ready to reveal or talk about?

I’m putting together a solo show at CalArts this spring for myself but no one knows why yet.

 

Blake Griffin: Nah or what

He’s fine.

 

What’s the difference between the Houston and Los Angeles art scene?

Houston is totally DIY. Nobody gives a shit about Houston except for Houston, so Houston artists have to hustle and put themselves on. Plus the scene is way smaller so the artist community is very tight knit and sort of a subculture. Also Houston is way cheaper and it’s a little easier to spontaneously have an art show in your house and afford a space to work. In LA there are tons of artists. People go to LA to be an artist. There’s an industry and a path in LA. Like LA is just more saturated and therefore art is more in the psyche of the general non-artist population than Houston.

sailorneptune

Sailor Neptune, Emily Whittemore, 2014

We’ve discussed Twitter before, but I’ve gotten less funny over the course of time and need more tips. Why bury the lead, here.

The trick to being funny is to be extremely sad and lonely and so you try and think of things to cheer yourself up. A good exercise for this is to try to describe your pain to someone without making them feel bad too, which is usually possible through making them laugh.

 

What are you most excited to ignore about the Oscars this month?

I don’t care as long as they give Best Documentary to The Minions.

 

You occasionally do commissions. Is there anytime you’re like “fuck this; there’s no way I’m fielding this request, pal”?

Yeah & I don’t like to do that, but sometimes I’m not getting paid enough for it to be worth my time or if it’s something that I don’t care about or think it’s corny then I will just be too lazy to want to do it. It’s a bad habit, I should take everything. I’m honored people like my art and come to me with their ideas.

 

And, finally, Ezra Koenig is still following you.

He loves to watch me shine.
 

Author: Rob Patrick

The program director of the Olympia Film Society, Rob is also a former San Diego Film Critics Society member. He has written for The East County Californian, The Alpine Sun, The East County Herald, The San Diego Entertainer, and the San Diego Reader. When he isn't curating a film festival, he is drinking rosé out of a plastic cup in Seattle or getting tattoos from Jenn Champion.

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