When artists make animals look pretty, that’s just them anthropomorphizing the animal kingdom. Animals are beasts and can be ugly too. Joey Cocciardi thinks about these things, but ultimately the animals he draws are still nice to look at, maybe even kind of hot. His show at Charlie Horse gallery opened a little bit ago and closes really soon, so if you like the teaser/interview we’re about to present, then please get off your ass and check it out.
You like animals a lot. Where are you from?
I am from the Appalachian mountains.
That makes sense. What’s your favorite animal? And why?
When I was a child I always wanted to hunt the giant squid. I wanted to find it and take it down.
Does the ocean scare you?
I’ve been thinking about deep sea for years, and about two years ago I was doing a series of deep sea creatures. And they were all just views from my submarine.
What? A submarine?
It was all from my head because I don’t have a submarine yet. But one of these days I’ll get a submarine.
If you’re so into the ocean and submarines and animals, why do you live here in NYC?
I like the detachment from it all. All this work in the show is actually from a box that I got for my second birthday. This little grey box that I carried around with me, that I still carry around with me. I did the triptych from this little green box. The triptych is the sponge, the newt, and the coral, and that was the starting off point, and all this work came from that. And I just didn’t know what to do with the box, I couldn’t put it down, so after the show I think it’s time to get rid of the box. But it’s more about disassociation we make with nature–what we’re told nature is.
Yes, maybe it is time to get over a box you had from when you were two, seeing as how you’re a grown man and all. Can you tell me a story of a pet that you’ve had?
I’m still searching for a snake I lost recently. It’s in the walls somewhere in the building in Brooklyn. I had a frog named Romulus who was the love of my life, and I left it with friends for a weekend. They neglected it, it died, and they batted it off the roof of my apartment with a giant purple dildo–and I was mortified. Oh, whenever my fish would die, I used to eat the fish immediately after it died.
That is gross. If you weren’t an artist, what line of work would you be in?
Somewhere between a bird watcher and a bus driver. Because both things really don’t involve any effort. I’d really like to be a bird watcher/bus driver. Drive around in a bus and watch birds.
Ideal. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Living out of a suitcase in a small plane. I’m probably going to develop a lot of bad habits.
Tags: Animals, art, Charlie Rose gallery, Interviews, Joey Cocciardi, Uncategorized
i think it’s relatively easy to be a bus driver/bird watcher. step one - get a bus. step two - watch birds. voila!
animal art is the best. all art should have some kind of animal in it. the end.
The opening was awesome, Charlie Horse is a sweet venue and the artist’s work was sick. ANIMAL ART? I”M IN.
Loved the show, definitely worth checking out.
as long as the art isn’t ON the animals i’m in.
I love joey’s art. I love joey’s hair. but most of all, I love joey’s hot-pants.
Loved the art, loved the gallery, love bus drivers.
sorry about romulus - still feel a bit guilty about that. what ever happened to that massive purple dildo though?
A fine artist being able to afford a submarine? Keep dreaming, pal.
no kittys? gorilla is cute.
I want a kitty and the newt making romance. Someone help me finance commissioning Joey Cocciardi to make this a reality.
wow, i’m glad this got covered. the gallery is the newest addition to the neighborhood, and they’ve been showing great work from local artists. joey’s paintings are also something to be commended. its great to see a young painter putting himself out there. check out the show if you have a chance and keep support local artists and establishments.
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