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Inside Look: Glenn Barr
He has been described as one of the most innovative and popular visual artists around. His artwork has been featured in the MTV cartoon "Ren & Stimpy," on Grammy Award -winning singer Bjork's video, "I Miss You," and in comics and graphic novels such as Mad, DC Comics, and Parabox Press. Those accomplishments only scratch the surface of Glenn Barr's enormous talent. His extraordinary works is one of the reasons his artwork will be on display at the second annual Fringe Festival in the Detroit Music Hall. The festival established in 2007, was collaboration from the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, CPop Gallery, Cranbrook Academy of Art's Artist-in-Residence, Elliot Earls and Frank Nemecek Filmworks. In addition to the mix of eclectic musicians, designers and artists, the thirty hour long party included dancing, a talk show, and a "Green Eggs and Ham" breakfast. DFP's Charlena Hall had a chance to sit down with the multi-talented artist before the show to understand what his inspiration is, why he's participating in the Fringe Festival, and what to expect from him next. CH: What inspires you to create the things that you do? GB: I'm influenced mostly by D grade films, old television shows, old TV commercials, and old films. CH: Which TV shows do you like the most? GB: Stuff I was raised on. I guess cartoons basically. CH: Do you have a favorite one? GB: Not really. I like the old Warner Brothers cartoons. I love the old Max Fleischer cartoons, which were like Betty Boop, and Superman. And those other acts were way before my time. But I seem to like those a lot more. CH: How did you get your start? GB: When I was in college, I met a lot of people when I was a musician. I ran into these people who introduced me to people in the field. I was introduced to Gary Grimshaw who was working for Creem magazine at the time. I started working for Creem magazine while I was still in college. After I graduated I worked in advertising for awhile. CH: Why did you stay in Detroit? GB: Why not? People ask me that all the time. Everybody wants to leave Detroit for some reason. I left the state and found work elsewhere. I went to New York. I went to LA. I worked in animation. I worked in comics, but I just stayed here because this is where my home is. CH: How did you get involved with the Fringe Festival? GB: My friend Rick Manore. He started a gallery there and we worked together for years. CH: Who would you like to work with in the future? GB: Ridley Scott or David Lynch. CH: Why? GB: Because they're brilliant. CH: What's your favorite work of art? GB: Well, they're kind of all my babies. It's hard to name one over the other. It's usually my latest piece that's my favorite. I have five large paintings right here in my studio that I'm working on right now. CH: What's next for you? GB: Next for me is a large solo exhibition in LA, and then another exhibition in Australia. When I go to the continent over there I do shows in three cities...I just had a show in Rome, which was really good. I'd like to go back to Rome. CH: Is there anything else you want people to know about you? GB: I do have several books and toys out. My newest book, “Haunted Paradise,” is already going into second printing. So, if people aren't aware of it, it's a nice hard cover. For more information on Glenn Barr check out his website at http://www.glbarr.com/ To check out the Fringe Festival log on to www.http//detroitfringefestival.com
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Photography by Melissa Herndon
