Chris Frisina
Illustration by Emma Ptak
Meet multi-talented Chris Frisina: Durham artist and musician. Check out his new album, Carolina (Out of My Mind).
What makes you happy?
Lately, the song “Fire by the River” by Harumi has given me a serotonin boost. Let's see, what else? Switching from Coffee to Green Tea in the morning has made me happier. Writing a good song makes me the happiest.
Who would win in a fight: Keith Haring or MC Escher?
I had to google MC Escher to look at his art again. OMG, right! Every stoner had one of his posters up in their house. That's probably why I feel uneasy when I look at his art - I remember hitting a bong in my early 20’s teetering on the edge of a panic attack staring at that drawing he made of those faces that look like they went through a pasta maker. Gross!!! So duh, Keith Haring all day. My mom had a poster of Kieth Haring when I was a kid. She said I used to stare at it and draw perfect circles over and over again with my Magna-Doodle. That is where my OCD must have started. Magna-Doodles were so cool.
What's your preferred "canvas"?
I don’t have a preferred canvas. When I was younger I used to love to spray paint everything I wasn’t supposed to. I like to put gesso on wood and paint on that because little tasks feel monumental to me, like stretching my own canvas. I’d like to screen print more.
Does art have to have an objective? Does your art have one?
I think my sense of self and my perception of the world governs my feelings about art and how I make art. I draw simple lines and shapes because that’s what my brain likes to do; it’s soothing to have no destination, and no rules. So no, art needs no objective! I wonder what MC Escher’s objective was? It probably wasn’t to make me feel uneasy but it sure does.
Do you value accident in your work?
Happy accidents is how I make all of my work. Songs, Photos, Paintings. It’s all about the accidents for me. I hate planning anything. Sometimes I’ll go through 10 sheets of paper flailing my hand around the page until something feels balanced.
What’s your next project?
My next project is an animated music video for a new song I’m putting out this year called “Claude, the Armadillo”. Did you hear that we have Armadillos in Durham by the way? Crazy!
How can we buy your art?
My visual art is currently not up for sale, but I hope to have it up soon! You can go over to Sleepy Cat Records and buy my album though! Thank youuuuuuuu :)
