Artist Information - Nate Scoble
Artist Statement
I call my visual art work 'Selfscapes'. Though the Internet has subsequently shown me the term's in fairly popular use,
it's the most apt name I've found so far. Pen-and-ink landscapes tend to be from sites; the persons in my work are invented
but the same presence is sought as that of the individuals around me.
My visual art, my music, and my written words experientially aim to enact a 'selfhood' that is inclusive, questions whether
'personality' is a constant, asks how we can say 'the self' exists, and seeks a cult of individuality that is socially and ecologically
just and needs no 'leaders'. I seek a continuous topology of concerns: delve a bit into Eros, get sentimental about the
hippie past and still advocate its utopianism, have the cake of dreams and eat it too, etc. 'Self' bodies forth and copulates
with landscape, sign, symbol, nymph and satyr in the foam.
Color of a color, Location of an idea
I believe there's truth in discussions of 'language mysticism' such as occurred in Vienna in 1910. I believe in 'noosphere':
words, ideas, songs caper and intend as spirit-forces in the consciousness-ether, for better and for worse, as we extend the
'metropole' and race against our eco-tastrophic demise. Correspondingly, 'selfhood' is as constellated and as remotely-located
as where one's 'content' travels to and from. And how can I detach myself from the landscape, body twined with it at every
port of entry and discharge?
Immersed in global supercorporate ownership and brand definition by remote locations, 'meaning' detaches further from
speech and genetic redefinition on demand seeks the deepest golden pockets. Emerging ecological dislocations promise to
enormously change 'property' and 'ownership'. I try to suggest paths through this crash toward self-constitution not
degradation, with an attitude that could be termed 'corrosively positive'. My wish is to create maps of the process of arriving
at truth, while knowing truth ever slips away, evanescent as a flower.
Resume
EDUCATION
• B.A., UC Santa Cruz, Music Compositionm 1977
• B.A., Otis/Parsons Los Angeles, Fine Arts Painting and Printmaking, 1982
VISUAL ART
• Completed a number of layered and 'multi-face' drawings and paintings while at Otis/Parsons and following (1980-1983).
• I chose to pursue making music along with a graphic design career for many years. I have learned that my work has
always been ‘Selfscapes’, now consciously in the context of the planetary ‘metropole’ and ecological/epistemic crisis, but
co-evolving in a fuller way with my music and writing.I resumed drawing and painting after life-threatening illness (1995-1997)
and an epiphany whilst sitting at the computer in 2000; my visual arts work has been the following.
• Drawings series (all are in progress):
Selfscapes: 'Simple Moms’
Selfscapes: 'The Live Oaks’
Selfscapes: 'Detective Dan’ and 'War is the diseased becoming the deceased'
Selfscapes: 'Katherina’
• Paintings series:
Selfscapes: small paintings (30" x 22")
Selfscapes: Large 'Multi-face' paintings and other paintings (in progress)
• Other visual arts projects:
Created story and art for children’s book, ‘Do You Have A Favorite Horse?’ (2001).
Created story and art for a children’s book, ‘The Best Chest’ (2004).
Created story and art for a children’s book, ‘Ur And The Voices’ (2005).
• Preparing for public show of visual art.
MUSIC / POETRY
I have been an active singer-songwriter and guitarist for many years. My principal projects
(performances and/or recordings) follow.
• The Blue Daisies (1982-1985); album, ‘Wilt’, (Iridescense #123, Michael Sheppard, producer,
Ethan James, Engineer, 1985).
• What Makes Donna Twirl? (1985-1987); album, ‘What Makes Donna Twirl? / TonijeSala’ album released
(PsychoAcoustic Sounds / Ralph, 1987).
• The Smash Cousins (later Future of Hell) (1988-1990).
• ‘Nude Knight’ solo CD (1987-1990), released under pseudonym Nils Shields (1990).
• Mouthsore with Russell Masuno (aka ‘Ginger Leigh’) (1991-1994).
• ‘Virgette de Godbunker’, second solo CD of all-original material (1992-1993); album released under
pseudonym Nils Shields (1993).
• ‘Startron And The Love Ring’, an avant-rock opera, performed at Glaxa Studios, Los Angeles (1996).
• Active member of Beyond Baroque Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop (1886-1999).
• Lead guitarist and co-writer with The Deadbeats (who wrote the song ‘Kill The Hippies’) (1996-2000).
• Song cycle: ‘Songs for Bob Enevoldsen’ (personal friend), music in jazz idiom (unreleased, 1997).
• Song cycles: ‘Lavendar Lovegiver In The Pansex’, ‘Darkheart’ (unreleased, 1999).
• Song cycle: ‘Gingham Girl’ written 2000-2001; recorded by ‘Lovegiver’ musical project –
Spencer Savage (drums/percussion) and Michael Gordon (saxophone).
• Song cycle: ‘Kanan’ (unreleased, 2002).
• Song cycle: ‘Trystram Street (2004-present); project in progress.
• Co-written art songs and bossa-nova-idiom songs with Weba Garretson, performed by her (2004-present).
• Solo performances at Dangerous Curve, Los Angeles (2006-present).
GRAPHIC DESIGN
• Assistant Art Director at HOME MAGAZINE, Knapp Communications Corp (1987-1988).
• Art Director of AUDIO/VIDEO INTERIORS, CurtCo Publishing Corp, a high-end monthly
coffee-table magazine (1988-1995).
• Designed Beyond Baroque Logo (1997). Designed and produced Beyond Baroque Wednesday Night Poetry
Workshop Anthology (Sarah Maclay and Jessica Pompeii, Editors); its format has served since as the format for
poetry books published by Beyond Baroque (1997-1998).
• Designed Corporate Annual Reports as Senior Designer at Libera Design, Santa Monica (1998).
• Freelance Graphic Designer / Art Director (1996-present).
• Designed Premiere Issue of VACATION HOMES, CurtCo Publishing LLC (2004).
652 Moulton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90031 • www.natescoble.com • nmscoble@sbcglobal.net • 323.227.1039