eyecandyzine.com
interview with shannon kringen
by sage adderly copyright 2004
Winter 2004 issue of Eye Candy
themed Humanity
1) First, I would like to say that I admire the way you
use your creative talents to make a living. Can you
tell me a little about what you do?
Shannon Kringen: thank you. yes! i model for artists full time for a living. i work for about 20 different colleges around seattle as well as private art groups that get together and hire a model to draw/paint/sculpt. i started modeling in 1991 as a side job then began full time modeling in 1997. i also work with photographers as a figure model= fine art nudes. i have also done some bodypainting and been photographed in that. thats such a fun way to make money! i love expressive work.
i also sell my artwork (photography, abstract paintings and "KringWEAR" hand painted hats and shoes that i make) on my site http://www.shannonkringen.com and also in seattle at art/not terminal gallery (http://www.antgallery.org) where i show every month.
i have aired a cable access tv show in seattle every week since 1995 called "GoddessKRING" i don't make money from this. it's totally non commerical tv but it's given me a wide audience to share my work with. it's great exsposure for an artist to be on public access tv! i get recognized a lot. it's good to know i am reaching people in the seattle community. i highly recommend it to anyone wanting to express themselves in the community where they live in a more bold way.
i have always wanted to be a famous artist. airing my tv show has helped me in this effort. i am buildling on the name i have created for myself here in seattle and online with my site. it's very fun to see what i can manifest. in some ways i am a fairly shy person. my creative outlets are where i express more bravely. in person i tend to be more quiet.
2) Tell me what the word 'humanity' means to you.
SK: the word "humanity" brings up spirituality to me...when i think of human beings i see them (us) as a whole. i don't believe in separating ourselves into different countries and religions/races etc. i value the differences between cultures and languages and religious/non-relgious people but i don't define who i or someone else is by that "label". what i mean by spiritual is that we are all connected on this earth together. every country effects the whole globe with their policies and actions.
i think the world would be more peaceful if human beings would focus on what connects us and not what divides us.
i like this controversial quote from a guy from india named "krishnamurti"
'When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.'
--J. Krishnamurti, Freedom from the Known, pp.51-52
i found that quote on this webpage:
http://www.ratical.com/ratville/CAH/
i think what he is saying is to see the bigger picture. see mankind as a whole and not so separated and competitive. i would take it a step further and say it's violent to separate human beings from other species of mammal or even plants! we need plants and animals. they are very valuable just as people are. it's all connected in this amazing ecosystem we have on earth. to me, that is a spiritual way of looking at life here. for me, evolution and spiritual truth is the same thing. science and physics IS god/great spiRit to me.
travel is a passion of mine. i have been to europe 3 times and australia and mexico. i am planning more trips soon. i appreciate international diplomats a lot and those who are doing humanitarian work and crossing international borders connecting people of different cultures. mostly i travel to take photographs! i love architecture, landscapes, shadows and reflections in chrome and water. i do a lot of self portraits- my shadow and my face reflected in things. i especially love when disortion is created in curvey shaped reflective objects. i see it as a metaphor for "bending reality" kinda like the way jimi hendrix played his guitar. he changed the rules of MuSiC with his work! new innovative sounds he created that inspired many and lead music in new directions.
3) Why do you think some people make such a big deal
about nudity? Could it be their own insecurities?
SK: i know in europe and most native/indian tribal type communities nudity is totally normal and not considered dangerous. this seems more sane and civilized to me. in the usa there is some fear of "losing control" or fear of nature- like it's too wild and out of control. a fear of chaos perhaps? people seem to lump sex with nudity and then think kids should not see the naked human form like it's some kind of sexual boundary being crossed or something? to me, it's a different issue. sex and nudity are not the same thing. i was interviewed recently for nude and natural magazine about this very issue. i have been involed in nudists events and i have done some nude performance art pieces both solo and with others. you can read more about it here:
http://www.shannonkringen.com/naturistinterview.htm
i think people also fear being that vulnerable with each other. when you are naked physically you are also more naked mentally. people also tend to worry about looking perfect and being judged by others. this is sad! i have found nudists partly are trying to heal from this by being nude with each other and letting go of it being some kind of beauty contest and allowing nature to be what it is. perfectly imperfect. full of diveristy of body type-fat/thin/tall/short/dark skin/light skin/freckles etc. i recommend everyone go nude swimming at least once at a naturist resort just to see who it feels. you might be surprised how relaxing and liberating it can feel. i think people are more honest when nude. there is nothing to hide!
4) What art projects are you currently working on?
SK: there is an indie film i might have a small part in.
i am planning a trip to italy or spain or both this summer with a naturist friend of mine who is from england.
i am going to give a presentation about my work as a figure model and photograher to the naturist societies 25th anniversary gathering in massachusetts this summer (i hope...it's not 100% confirmed!)
i am always working on improving my website with new photos i take, music i make and overall desiGn changes. i studied graphic design in college and love using my skills on my site.
i am always looking for new people to model for!
right now i am transferring a tape i have of me as a 12 year old playing piano and doing comedy skits with friends onto my computer. i make MP3's for my website and wav files for my tv show. i have been airing digital slide shows of my latest photography along with my improvisational piano MuSiC and the 1980 tape of me as a 12 year old! it's so fun mixing old and new technology. analog and digital. it's amazing how you can mix it all up now.
i am making 2005 calendars that i am selling of my photography. i sell through my website and the gallery where i show in seattle.
5) Who or what is a positive inspiration in your life?
SK: my cat tux inspires me daily! he is so full of love and affection. i strive to me more like him all the time. i tend to worry and forget to slow down and relax! i love the artist hundertwasser he was a painter/architect/philosopher/environmentalist from vienna austria. i love the musician tori amos (i met her in person in 1996 and gave her a pair of hand painted shoes i made for her. she wears size 7! i arranged the meeting with a man who used to run her fan club in clearwater florida. he set me up with backstage passes. i met tori backstage, gave her the shoes, shared a hug and a bried talk and then she performed in the shoes i made her! she thanked me in front of the whole crowd of 1000's out loud! "shannon's a new friend of ours. she painted my shoes. thank you shannon!" tori said from her piano on stage. this inspired me greatly. to have a dream and manifest it for real. tori amos's music touches me deeply. i also love neil young and a local seattle guy named jason webley who plays accordian and writes his own brilliant songs.
i am inspired by all kinds of artist. singers/dancers/actors/painters you name it. i soak it up wherever i am. i also am very enriched and filled up with good energy by natural settings. being with plants and animals makes me happy. soothes and calms me. quiets my mind. refrehses me. i get new ideas when i am quiet enough to listen to what's inside.
i enJOY the actors christopher walken, and gene wilder. actually i love dozens of actors. the more eccentric the better in terms of how they use their voice and mannerisms. i like jeff bridges. i met him briefly when i was an extra in a film he was in called "american heart". he is a very kind person. he paints, writes/records his own music and takes incredible black and white photos behind the scenes on film sets he is in. he has a great website and is very humanitarian. angelina jolie also inspires me to do more to help others. she has a wildlife refuge and does humanitarian work and is adopting babies from orphanges in cambodia. i love famous people who use their money to help save plants and animals and poor people of the world. i love when they speak out politically and challenge the status quo. i agree with susan sarandon when she recently said how ridiculously obsessed we are with celebrity so why not use your fame to give voice to topics that don't get reported on in the media? take something silly like celebrity and do good things with it. people who are focused on doing their part to make the world a more kind peaceful place and innovative visionary thinkers/scientists/spiritual philosophers inspire me.
i like to say:
hear
art
heart
and
a-void-dance
verses
a-bun-dance
i am very inspired by my friend ana voog who has a great site called anacam.com she makes her whole living from her site and does gorgeous music, photography and crochets one of a kind brilliant hats. she lives in minnesota. i hung out with her in person a couple years back and we collaborated on beautiful webcam photos 2gether. she has three wonderful dogs. two japanese chins and one toto like dog (not sure the breed of that) i LOVE animals. i have a cat named tux. ana voog is a very spiritual person and highly sensitive and full of paradoxs- she helps me feel less alien and less alone. i feel a strong kinship with her!
i have a very strong connection to the music of tom petty. his music keeps me connected to southern california where i spent the first 9 years of my life. i feel like i am walking barefoot on the beach when i hear his songs. makes me very happy.
inspire to me means:
in-SPIRIT= more than you see in front of you. the energy that animates life.
6) What do you think of the statement 'starving artist'?
SK: "starving artist" i have mixed feelings about. i am very ambitious and want to make a good living as an artist. i have no desire to be a starving artist. i think some people think you are only a pure artist if you are struggling. i don't agree. i also think it's sometimes a reality that being an artist is a minority profession and it's challenging. but if you really want to make a living as an artist i think you can. i believe whatever you tell yourself over and over again happens. so i try not to be a part of that "myth" of the starving artist and i am seeking to be a working artist. i am very mucy into what dr. wayne dyer has to say on manifesting your destiny. the power of your intentions and thoughts and self talk within is underestimated by many people. i think you achieve goals you must do both outer work= take action in your outer life and in inner work= what you think about and focus on- even in your sleep! it's all important. i think reality is flexible. i think it's in a jewel song "nature has a funny way of breaking things that do not bend" did she write that or is it from another famous poet? i belive in doing what you love and never giving up and also being flexible to work with what the universe has to offer you. appreciating every opportunity that comes your way and building that. i believe in not letting the bastards get you down! not letting set backs disCOURAGE you. keep learning as you go and see what you are capable of instead of assuming you know what "being realistic" is.
it's true there are plenty of struggling artists- there are also plenty of artists who fully support themselves with their work and some are famous. my dream has always been to be a famous artist. by that i mean making good money and traveling internationally and making a strong connection with those who like my work.
7) How long have you lived in Seattle?
i was born in san diego california oct. 25th 1968. when i was 9 years old my mom and i took off for seattle. i went to high school on whidbey island an hour outside of seattle...in 1986 when i graduated from high school i came to seattle. 18 years! wow. i like the green and the mountains but i miss the ocean, constant blooming flowers (honeysuckle/gardenia/eucalytus trees) and 70 degree sunny climate of california.
my contact info.
shannonkringen.com
P O BOX 20355
seattle, wa 98102
kringgoddess@yahoo.comto order or submit work to eyecandyzine:
sage adderly p o box 356 acworth, georgia 30101
sage@eyecandyzine.com
Winter 2004 issue of Eye Candy
themed Humanity
48 pages, Full Size, printed on recycled paper
(except for the front & back covers)
This is my favorite issue of Eye Candy yet This issue is nothing like the past issues as far as appearance, we took this zine back to the root of creativity and started printing it ourselves, it’s bound with sheer ribbon and it's a HUGE issue!
Features:
Matthew St. Amand-writer
Mimi Shim-designer
Shannon Kringen-artist/model
Articles:
Veganism (with vegan holiday recipes)
WM3 Benefit Show Review
Zines (info article)
Zine/book reviews
International friendships
Bi-polar disorder
Art of a Monster
4 articles submitted by freelance writers
Filth & Decay comic
8 pages of literary, visual art & photography submissions
and lots more!
$3 US $4 Canada $5 Everywhere else
You can order a copy on the order page of the website.
Check out the submissions too!
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