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Transcript (Unedited)
Tom Heath
Welcome back to another fabulous episode of Meet the Artist, a product of the Tucson Gallery. We’re located at 300 East Congress. We’re in downtown Tucson across from Hotel Congress, next to the Rialto Theater and in the center of all this amazing activity. And we have this beautiful gallery with 30 different local artists all represented. Sometimes we’re fortunate enough that they will come in and say hello to us and meet their adoring fans. And we have Lauri Kay in today and we’re going to chat with her. If you want to hear this podcast or any others, you can head over to our website. It’s Life Along… That’s not it. It’s the Tucson Gallery, tucsongallery .com. And you’ll find different podcasts and there’s also a really nice calendar and a newsletter you can sign up for to get notification of all these cool events. By the time you hear this podcast, you will miss the opportunity to hang out with Lauri Kaye. And that’s so sad. Lauri, welcome to Meet the Artist.
Lauri Kaye
Thanks. Thanks for having me.
Tom Heath
So I understand that we’re a little bit out of our comfort zone today.
Lauri Kaye
Absolutely. I purposefully did artwork so I would never have to be on a mic and do any public speaking. Perfect. Thanks a lot.
Tom Heath
That’s our job here is to make sure that we want to make you feel uncomfortable. That’s our goal.
Lauri Kaye
Perfect.
Tom Heath
All right. So let’s go back to the beginning. You got into art so that you wouldn’t have to be on a mic, but when did you get into art?
Lauri Kaye
I think I was born ready and willing and excited to do artwork. I’ve been drawing all of my life, whether it’s crowns or chalk, pencils. So it’s just something that’s been pretty innate and something I learned at an early age that I could hustle to earn a couple extra bucks.
Tom Heath
So you were selling your art as a kid?
Lauri Kaye
I was actually in elementary school. If I wanted to stand in that lunch line where you could get an ice cream sandwich for 25 cents or chocolate milk for eight cents, you actually had to have the money for it. So my parents pretty much said, if you want something, you got to earn the money for it. So I would paint on rocks, I would sell fuzzy pencils, and I had all sorts of schemes going on with my artwork.
Tom Heath
How old were you at this point?
Lauri Kaye
I was probably about eight.
Tom Heath
Oh my gosh, that’s incredible. That’s absolutely incredible. So you’re in line, you’re like, I want some chocolate milk and an ice cream bar. So I’m going to sell a fuzzy rock, a painted rock and a fuzzy pencil.
Lauri Kaye
And it worked. So I would make a batch at home, bring them to school, sell them to all of my friends and earn enough money to get that ice cream sandwich. So it was pretty sweet. And I think the endorphin rush of selling something and earning money for something I did was pretty wild.
Tom Heath
Where did you grow up? Was it here in Tucson?
Lauri Kaye
In Pennsylvania.
Tom Heath
Oh, Pennsylvania. What part? It’s a big state.
Lauri Kaye
So the town is called Yardley and it’s a suburb of Philadelphia.
Tom Heath
All right. So my dad is from the suburb of Pittsburgh, so we’re on the other end of the state from you there. Another country. So are you then an Eagles fan? Is that a thing?
Lauri Kaye
Yep. Yep. Eagles, 76ers. Went to tons of basketball games with my brother.
Tom Heath
Okay. So if you’re in the sports mecca, the Philly cheesesteak mecca, you’re making a living selling fuzzy rocks. What brought you out to Arizona?
Lauri Kaye
Well, I eventually moved on to selling t -shirts as a teenager and still back in Philly, still back in Philly and was contemplating, you know, a life and career and ended up going to art school, becoming a graphic designer. So I was in New York city for about 10 years going to school and working afterwards. So that’s where I began my professional art career.
Tom Heath
You went to art school in New York city? I did. That’s pretty like heavy duty stuff, right? I mean, you gotta be pretty good to do that.
Lauri Kaye
It was just awesome. I felt like I just found my groove. I was not big on high school, so to get into college and just love being with the people that were in my classes, I felt like I definitely found my tribe.
Tom Heath
Did the demand for fuzzy pencils and rocks dip at the art school or were you still selling those?
Lauri Kaye
You know, yeah, that was a thing of the past.
Tom Heath
So I had to reinvent yourself. That’s why you moved into t -shirts.
Lauri Kaye
Yeah. Yeah. When I was 16. So I could up the game a little bit.
Tom Heath
So then you go and you get a degree in like graphic design?
Lauri Kaye
Yeah, but it was a bachelor in fine arts and my first gig was at Rolling Stone. My one of my teachers, the magazine, oh my gosh, I didn’t know we had rockstar royalty
Tom Heath
with us today.
Lauri Kaye
You know, I was like very, very, very, very low woman on the totem pole. My teacher was the art director, Fred Woodward, and he was the most amazing teacher and every year he would ask a student to work at the magazine. So I was lucky enough to it was pretty wild. I knew very little about the magazine and but it was a pretty exciting place to be.
Tom Heath
So this is all making sense to me. You grew up in Philadelphia, you go to art school in New York City, you get a gig with with Rolling Stone and the natural progression then leads me to Tucson.
Lauri Kaye
Oh, yeah, for sure. I love Tucson. I love this place.
Tom Heath
How did you I mean, how did you end up here?
Lauri Kaye
Well, like a lot of people kind of like an early midlife crisis and also as much as I love New York City and I try to get back every year just to eat and people watch and draw. I knew that that kind of hustle and quality of life of just always being on the go was was not my long term plan. And I’ve always been drawn to the desert. I was in Israel quite a few times and just loved like the heat and desert life. So when I first visited Tucson, I felt like this was a place I could really see myself
Tom Heath
long term. So was it was it accidental that you came to Tucson to visit or were you here?
Lauri Kaye
Nothing’s really accidental, but it’s a long story. We can we can talk about that on the next podcast.
Tom Heath
Okay, we’ll have we’ll have a part two. This is exciting. This is the first teaser podcast that we have. So talk a little bit about your art is is it you you said you’ve been like drawing your whole life. So is what you do now mostly drawing?
Lauri Kaye
It’s it is mostly drawing.
Lauri Kaye
I’ve I had a restaurant here for about 13 years. So there was a blip in my life where I wasn’t doing artwork. So after that, in 2013, I was trying to think of what I was going to do. And I started drawing again and was really enjoying it and trying to kind of unlearn a lot of the rules that I learned in art school and to draw freely, not worry about mistakes and erasing. So I kind of intentionally draw with black markers that I can erase and just let things fly. So most of my pieces, well, they all start with line drawings, hand drawings. And then I incorporate photography and digital color. So I am using the computer once the drawing is done to add color and to add a little bit of photography.
Tom Heath
So everything we have in the gallery, it’s I think everything it’s either a print or it’s on metal and it looks like it was drawn and then transferred to a to a metal canvas.
Lauri Kaye
Yeah. So when I first got into this, I was just doing black and white and everybody was saying you got to add some color, you know, you just got to take it a little further. But I really didn’t like the idea of having to frame anything. So I was playing around with different materials and reproductions downtown on Sixth Avenue. They were huge, showing me some options. And when I found the metal, I was so excited because I wouldn’t have to pay money for a frame and it looked great on its own. And that’s the whole framing I thought was cost prohibitive. It would have been really hard for me to ever get started if I had to frame this. So and also I love murals. I love outdoor art. So the idea of printing on metal, just even though I’m mostly drawing, I kind of feel like I’m bringing the outdoors inside by using that that kind of material and it’s all outdoor signage material.
Tom Heath
Yeah. So you’re bringing the outside in and the inside out. Yeah, exactly. That’s that’s what artists do. They connect the worlds. Yeah. And you’re all of your pieces are in great detail and some of them are like you’ll stare at them for hours and just keep seeing more shapes or more objects sort of appear. Is that how do you do you just keep drawing until you feel like you’re done or do you have an idea of what the end is going to look like?
Lauri Kaye
No, I actually never know what the end is going to look like. And I for a lot of the pieces, I’ll do research on the subject material. And so I like to draw in the information into the artwork. So there’s a lot of text or icons or little images within the artwork. And that’s, you know, one, it adds texture to the piece. And it also helps me to remember what I learned about that particular subject. So and I also I know that I overdo it and they’re more like maximalist pieces. And then our teacher would probably say, that’s not OK. You went too far. But I don’t know. I’m an adult now, so I can do what I want.
Tom Heath
I can do that. And and I can tell you, the people that come in the gallery have never said she’s gone too far. They’ve been completely impressed with how far you’ve gone, but no one has felt that you’ve gone too far. That’s exciting because you’re a lot of different styles. It’s not just like you see something and instinctively you probably know it’s Laurie Kaye. But the subject matter can be different. You know, some are more like abstract than others. Some are seem a little bit more realistic and just it’s very interesting to me. But your style is is very clear.
Lauri Kaye
So, yeah, well, I love looking for different subject material here in Tucson and it is just endless. So, you know, my mission right now is to uncover all the people, places and events that make Tucson extraordinary. And so far I’ve done about 70, 75. And there’s you know, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as you know.
Tom Heath
So and the one we’re unveiling tonight, had you gone to the website and signed up for the newsletter and gotten the advance notice, could have joined us. But since you’re hearing the podcast, you’ve you’ve missed this opportunity for the unveiling of your new piece on Tucson Icon that’s focused on the Sonoran hot dog.
Lauri Kaye
Yes. And I’m very excited about this very deep piece of art. So I’ve been wanting to do a piece on Sonoran hot dogs for so long. I’ve got a list that I’ve had for years and they take me so long to get to. So I was so happy to finally have the time to do it. And I love El Guero Canelo hot dogs. So I went over and asked if they could make me the most beautiful Sonoran hot dog, which they did. It’s I mean, they’re artists, they’re food artists over there. And I took a photograph so I could go home and use that as my inspiration. And I was working on it for, I don’t know, 10, 20 hours. And then finally I saw this like kaleidoscope of hot dogs turning into a barrel cactus. And so that’s what it is.
Tom Heath
That’s the amazing thing to me is how you get from from I mean, I’ve seen Sonoran hot dogs. I don’t they don’t last very long for me to take a picture of them because I eat them too quickly. But then to take it and create what you’ve done and it works, it’s so it looks so intentional. Like this is exactly what you laid out and wanted to do. And to know that you sort of progressed to that point is really fascinating to me.
Lauri Kaye
Yeah, I never know what I’m going to get. And so it keeps things exciting.
Tom Heath
And you’re sitting there like, oh, how about cool. A barrel cactus looks like a top of a barrel cactus. Well, there we go.
Lauri Kaye
Yeah. What the hell were you thinking?
Tom Heath
Well, whatever it was, it looks it looks fabulous. And these are the types of pieces you can head over to the Tucson Gallery’s website. See a lot of Lauri’s artwork. We have things for reproduction. One thing I’d always like to point out is the the we offer things on metal through our website, but it’s a different type of metal. Ours is really designed for indoor display. And when you print yours that you have in the gallery on metal, that’s a much heavier duty kind of printing. That’s that’s really good for outdoor use as well.
Lauri Kaye
Right. It’s a totally different process, different material. And they’re they’re signed. So, you know, they’re not really comparative, like apples to apples.
Tom Heath
Do you do limited or or?
Lauri Kaye
I do. All of the pieces do come in limited editions out of twenty five. And I add personalized information. So somebody will say, hey, I really want this twisted beauty piece, but I want the limited edition. And so I’ll ask them to give me some personal information. Maybe it’s a birthday, a quote, a little photograph, and I incorporate that into the artwork and then they get a certificate. And yeah, I only do that for up to twenty five for each piece.
Tom Heath
That’s fantastic. But that’s not it. But you have unlimited of some versions.
Lauri Kaye
All of the versions are unlimited. OK. And I wanted to keep things very affordable and accessible. So, you know, for one hundred and twenty five bucks, you can get a piece of art.
Tom Heath
Yeah, it’s really the price points are quite amazing as well as as the artwork. And you said you go back to New York like once a year in your. Yes. Is that a work trip? He said you like to draw the people.
Lauri Kaye
Absolutely. It’s very hectic. I go with all my pens and paper and I find all these, I don’t know, places to sit and have coffee and eat pizza. And I just draw to my heart’s content.
Tom Heath
Do you find the drawing is different because the surroundings are different? I mean, that’s the subject matter, but just the way you go about the process.
Lauri Kaye
No, no. The process is always the same. I just, you know, I’m just so inspired really wherever I am. So I don’t need to go out of my city of Tucson to be inspired.
Tom Heath
But nice. And then the other thing you mentioned, we kind of glossed over is you’ve got a list, you said, of like you’ve already done 70 of these items, but you said the Sonoran hot dog was so far down the list. You couldn’t wait. You’re so excited to get to it. Like how many more things are on this list?
Lauri Kaye
Well, the list is always growing, but I really want to do the Biosphere. There’s something on Gates Pass that a friend told me about. It’s like a stone, a stone building, I forget the name, but I’ve got quite a few on this list. I just finished the Saguaro Henge, which was a place that I had never heard of that exists here in Tucson.
Tom Heath
So, yeah, you’re telling me about that Saguaro Henge, I thought, oh, that’s cute. And then you showed me the picture. There’s actually a Saguaro Henge here in Tucson.
Lauri Kaye
Yes. And everybody should know about it. It’s such a cool place. Well, where is it? It’s on the west side off of, I think it’s off of La Cholla around Tangerine. And it’s called Prickly Pear Park.
Tom Heath
Prickly Pear Park. Yes. That’s just fun to say. Yes. That’s just fun to say.
Lauri Kaye
It’s a really cool park. Lots of great cacti.
Tom Heath
And I like with like when you do your displays here in the gallery, there’s you sometimes will put a picture of the original subject matter, which I think is fun. Yes. I try to do that more often. Oh, and your other places. I mean, you’re everywhere besides the gallery. You’re at the La Encantada, you’re part of the Sagu group up there.
Lauri Kaye
And at the Botanical Gardens, why I love where I live, it’s Oro Valley. And just who will ever have me? It’s I pound a lot of pavement, so it’s it’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of nose. And until you get it, yes.
Tom Heath
So you’ve got it dialed in. I think this started when you were seven years old. Painting rocks. But you’ve got you’ve got the system dialed in. Do you as part of Sagu, do you do or just in general, do you work with other artists to kind of help them get going? Or do you provide any mentoring or teaching or are you just too busy for all of that?
Lauri Kaye
I I feel like I’m always open for questions and people do ask me a lot of questions. And I love to tell people where I get materials, where I do my printing. And, you know, a lot of people, artists are very they don’t like to share information. They’re very, like, proprietary. And I’m totally not. And a lot of the artists at Sagu and that I’ve met are also very open and willing and sharing their ideas and information.
Tom Heath
And where can people find more? Because I know you are a prolific social media poster. Oh, that’s that’s. So that was a joke. That was sarcastic.
Lauri Kaye
It’s like, why are you talking to?
Tom Heath
Well, but people do you have a website? I mean, where can people check you out besides the gallery?
Lauri Kaye
OK, so create for the people dot com all spelled out. Oh, I love that. People dot com.
Tom Heath
That’s your brand.
Lauri Kaye
That’s the brand. And the point was to always make the art affordable. And when I do shows and exhibits, always to raise money for local charities.
Tom Heath
And notice that part of the unveiling tonight, you bring in Sonoran hot dogs and you’re collecting money for the Tucson Food Project.
Lauri Kaye
Yes, the Tucson Family Food Project. They support kids in school who don’t have access to food and who are hungry. They have meal plans that they pay for. So that’s what tonight’s contributions are going towards.
Tom Heath
It’s been it’s been a few years since you were purchasing chocolate milk and ice cream bars. But you’re still raising money for school lunches. I think that’s fabulous.
Lauri Kaye
Oh, didn’t think about that. I love that. Yeah. Wow. Something’s never changed.
Tom Heath
Create for the people at Lauri Kaye. Check her out on our website as well. The Tucson Gallery dot com. You can order prints in different formats as well. Not only on the metal, but we do things have things on canvas in case you want something with that pesky frame around it. And there’s also some merchandise that we’ve created. Just got into blankets, by the way. So some of these things on a blanket, I think are really, really kind of fun to see.
Lauri Kaye
And it’s getting cold.
Tom Heath
And it is getting cold as we are recording this. It’s barely 100 degrees outside. So it’s it’s getting chilly. To meet the artist, it’s the Tucson Gallery, 300 East Congress Street, downtown Tucson. Come by. We’re open Thursday through Thursday through Sundays. And check out the website for all kinds of special events. And just make an evening of it. Come down, grab some dinner, stop by. We do have a bar inside the galleries and grab a drink and walk around and enjoy this beautiful art from all these Tucson fabulous talented people. So, Lauri, thanks so much for your time.
Lauri Kaye
Oh, thank you. What a pleasure.
Tom Heath
Thank you
Tom Heath
for listening to Meet the Artist. This is a weekly production by the Tucson Gallery, located inside of the proper shops at 300 East Congress Street in Tucson, Arizona. The mission of the Tucson Gallery is to support local artists by providing a space to show their art. A forum to engage with their audience, a virtual presence to connect with global patrons, an outlet to earn a fair price and an opportunity to hone their business skills. Head over to the TucsonGallery .com for more information about our live events. Listen to other Meet the Artist podcasts and check out the wide selection of art, gifts and other items created by Tucson’s modern, thought provoking and forward thinking artists.