CarmineMagazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Red Nails; Wrong City: I create so as not to combust into a cloud of tiny particles of unhappy and gloom. Self-preservation! Inspiration is inescapable. It is everywhere. I love textures and small details. Beading, feathers, branches, cheekbones, shadow. There’s something beautiful everywhere.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
RN;WC: I am self taught, and really still learning. I would like to take a course or two maybe, one day in the future, but I don’t believe it is, or should be necessarily a necessity for an artist to have formal training. There is so much out there, so much information and so much to see with books and the internet. I’m always finding something new. I think what hinders me the most is my lack of discipline, which is something I’m sure formal training would have helped a lot with.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
RN;WC: First and foremost in my photography and designs, I work with an old digital Canon Powershot A95. It was the first camera I was able to scrimp and save for. When I upgrade, I will stick with Canon probably mostly out of sentimentality. I also have a small Diana+ Lomo and an old early 60’s model Agfa Optima iii s I thrifted once upon a time that I am still learning and playing with. It’s been a long while since I worked with film so I’m still a little nervous with those two and haven’t had anything developed yet.

CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
RN;WC: There wasn’t ever a specific point, or moment in time, I just never knew anything else. Creating was all around me growing up. I come from a large family that was, and still is very artistic. In our house there was always music, writing, drawing, sewing, etc. We made our own books and stories, and even dolls sometimes. I really never imagined for a minute I’d ever do anything else.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
RN;WC: I would really love to learn how to develop and manipulate film and images in the darkroom. I’ve always wanted to be able to make my own prints, and have always been a little bit in awe of photographers that could.

CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
RN;WC: Go back to my favourite books, surf surf surf the internet. There is so much to look at out there. I just try to feed my eyes as much as possible. And try not to panic!

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
RN;WC: I haven’t had one.. yet? I would definitely like to.

CM: How do you define your style? Does it represent an inner you or something completely different?
RN;WC: I’m not sure I know how to define it. My photos tend to be a mix of observational documentation, and personal fictions and cryptic non-fictions. I like to disguise myself sometimes with every day materials. Scarves, feathers. Dress-up or not, it all comes from a place of self-exploration. I love what Sarah Moon said: “To be more creative is to get closer to childhood.”

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
RN;WC: I can create in almost any environment if I feel a certain degree of privacy. A cup of coffee and a little quiet corner for editing and designing is perfect and happymaking. But I always, always carry my camera with me in my purse.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
RN;WC: I don’t have one of my own at the moment. I just moved to Montreal, where I’m sharing a little apartment in the east with my boyfriend. I work at his computer mostly, and take a good chunk of my pictures in a bare orange room with beautiful hardwood floors. I love that room. It feels like a blank canvas, and gets the best light! There is also a cat.

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
RN;WC: Worst: I can’t really think of anything but the creative blocks. I know logically they are cyclical, but they are the most uncomfortable and un-nerving times for me. Best: Seeing an Edward Steichen exhibit in New York at the Whitney in 2000 with my Mother was something I can’t begin to describe. It’s such a different experience seeing these images there in front of you, than it is printed in a book. I wish I could relive that moment again and again.

CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
RN;WC: Kiki’s Paris: Artist and Lovers 1900-1930, about Kiki of Montparnasse and the artist’s community in Paris between those years is one of my favourite books in the world right now. Tiny old folk and blues songs, experimental gothic noises and 20’s-30’s jazz. Hitchcock, 70’s horror, Bugsby Berkeley. So, so much goodness. All these things make me bubble.

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
RN;WC: What I know is the internet allows me to look at art, discover new and old art, and to connect with beautiful artists, every day. I really think it can be absolutely invaluable to an aspiring artist, and a natural extension to the larger art world community.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
RN;WC: Right now I am learning how to be a small town girl in a much bigger world. Montreal was a big move, and I’m still finding my feet. And my heart will always orbit around family. I’m the oldest of five girls, and they are a significant part of my identity. Growing up it was very difficult to find one of us without the others. We have our own language. This keeps me grounded. As does a little black cat, and a small whiskery maus.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like our readers to know about?
RN;WC: A friend of mine, Eric Quach of Thisquietarmy, asked me earlier this year if he could use some of my artwork for his latest album, Blackhaunter. It came out this month, released through Elevation Records! The music is spooky and delicious, and I’m still reeling a little bit from it all because I’ve always wanted to design album work, and this just seemed to fall from the sky in a happy little way.

For more information about Red Nails; Wrong City check out these links:
Red Nails Wrong City on Blogspot
Wrong City on Flickr
Wrong City on Myspace