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Interview: Eostar Eszter Gavallér September 21, 2005
1. How long have you been a resident in Siskiyou County?
For two years.
What brought you here?
I was travelling and I found that the power of the sacred Mount Shasta had a huge impact on my life. I wanted this effect to continue. I noticed that my personal growth was accelerated tenfold.
2. Can you give a short explanation of your specialty or your artistic medium?
I use watersoluable oils on canvas as well as charcoal on paper.
3. How long have you been making art (professionally and unprofessionally)?
For the last eight years in a more intensive manner. I do not differentiate between professional or unprofessional. One is either an artist in the heart or not.
4.Is art your full time career?
Yes, it is in the sense that I am dedicating all my life to the purpose of creative self-expression and the healing that comes through that. It is not my source of income but it is my life's calling.
5. What else do you do as a profession?
I am trained as a school-teacher, but I take care of old people now.
6. How have you learned your art? Have you had any formal art education? If so, where, when and for how long?
I studied with one art teacher who I leared everything from. His name is Danny Adams, he teaches in Port Townsend, Washington at the community college and he gives workshops. For three years I took almost all of the classes he offered. I also attended the life-drawing circle every week.
7. Can you talk a little about your experience as an artist in Siskiyou County? (In other words, what is unique about being an artist in this area?) (Pros and Cons) (economic, cultural, physical/geographic)
I live in Mount Shasta and hardly every go outside of town except into nature. I am very influenced by the beauty of nature and the new-age community. In Mount Shasta there is a unique concentration of artists and musicians who are dedicated to expressing their connection to the divine. My connection with these people is very nurturing.
8. Do you feel like art in Siskiyou County has any prominent trends or patterns? If so, how do you see your own art in relation to these?
I am interested in the visionary art "scene" and the new-age music scene such as chanting and meditational journey music. I see myself as an organic part of what makes Mount Shasta a spiritual vortex.>
9. Are there any other things you would like people to know about the relationship between your art and the place that you live.
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10. If you had to describe your style in a few words how would you do this? First 5 words that come to mind?…
I call my music written for guitar and voice "alchemystic cosmo-beat" and I call the new-age music I play "meditational journey-music". I call my paintings "visionary" and my poetry "mystic".
11. What is it about making art and the creative process that you find most interesting or are most passionate about?
It is the act of reaching into the depths of one to bring it up to outer expression. It takes a certain skill to step aside and not have any expectations as far as the outcome. The piece of art is what it wants to be. To see it unfolding without pushing any personal preferences onto it is sort of like a training to live life as an act of faith dedicated to the divine path.
12. Do you teach art in anyway or are you interested in being a teacher?
Not at this point.
13. Do you have one particularly interesting story about your adventures as an artist? The most unusual work you've done, the hardest work, the most interesting commission, celebrities you’ve worked with, your biggest success story or biggest failure, or your earliest memory of making art.
When my grandmother was dying of old-age I was taking care of her for a few months. I started making sketches of her as she was not moving much in her bed. I managed to make about four detailed sketches of her during the last week of her life. They are very precious pieces now that she is gone. I think that I managed to catch the expression of total letting go.