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Dakota Noot
147 Plays3 years ago
Dakota Noot is a Los Angeles-based artist and curator. He uses drawings, paintings, and installations to create animal-human hybrids that explore rural yet fantastical, queer identities. Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, he continues to show in both North Dakota and Los Angeles, including solo and two-person shows at Highways Performance Space, MuzeuMM, and PØST. Noot has exhibited in group shows at Charlie James Gallery, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Torrance Art Museum (FORUM. 2019; MAS-ATTACK, 2016), and “Queer Biennial: What if Utopia?” at LAST Projects. His series of cutout drawing-installations have been shown at LA Freewaves, Cerritos College Art Gallery, and Otis College.
Noot graduated with a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of North Dakota (2015) and an MFA from Claremont Graduate University (2017). He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Oxnard College and Orange Coast College. Along with Christopher Velasco, he co-founded the nomadic curatorial project Scream Queen. He was the key artist for the 2018 Slamdance Film Festival.
https://www.dakotanoot.com/
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Transcript
Introduction to Podcast and Guest
00:00:01
Speaker
You are listening to Something Rather Than Nothing. Creator and host, Ken Volante. Editor and producer, Peter Bauer. This is Ken Volante with Something Rather Than Nothing and I am so pleased to have Dakota Knuth
00:00:23
Speaker
on the show. You know, it's one of those things I was looking through Instagram, somebody had sent me a link to your work and I said, Holy shit, I got to talk to this guy. I love it. I love the materials you use. I just got to introduce you. Dakota Newt, welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. Absolutely.
Dakota's Artistic Journey
00:00:50
Speaker
First of all, though, Dakota, I wanted to know if you were an artist when you were born. Probably not. I mean, I don't know. I always grew up around art. My dad teaches art classes and that was my daycare. And also, if I had grown up in maybe a more normal environment with more things to do, maybe I wouldn't have ended up so crazy.
00:01:13
Speaker
Did you get to a point growing up? Was there an event or something that said, well, I can do this, or I can make something? Or what was that like? What happened? It's funny. When I was growing up, I thought maybe I'd go more into writing, too. I'd be channeling my creativity there. It still comes out in the work. I make up imaginary worlds on my body. I don't write it. The most writing I do is coming up with a title now. Yeah. And that's it.
00:01:46
Speaker
Let's just jump right into it. I mean, you got the fantastic images on the wall, you wear your art, you're part of it. Tell us about what that is. A lot of times I interview painters, you put the painting up on the wall and all that's fine. Music, all that's fine. What are you doing?
Wearable Art and Influences
00:02:06
Speaker
Oh, yes, I mean, I make wearable art for my body. So typically, they're really like low tech, too. I don't have skills of animation, editing, film, like design more computers. Everything I do I hand draw with like crayola crayons and colored pencils and marker. And then I make these pieces that I wear in my body.
00:02:25
Speaker
Like medium wise, I think a lot of people associate more with like children's color books in childhood. I'm typically making images of like my guts getting ripped out. I'm giving birth. I'm becoming part animal in my work. Little off brand for a kid's book.
00:02:41
Speaker
Yeah, I love the, you know, I just recently spoke to an artist, Amy Guidry, which combines kind of like the human, human and the animal in there. And I've just been bumping into a lot of stuff that's, you know, juxtapositions, like physical juxtapositions or juxtapositions of image. Do you use that like overtly as a technique just to get like people would be like, hey, look at what's going on with this, using yourself?
00:03:10
Speaker
Yeah I mean a lot of it came out of like I mean kind of anxiety or me thinking about because like I grew up in like a very rural environment like heavy on eating meat cooking out too. I wasn't ever questioning any of that like okay like I'm surrounded by like deer's heads on the wall.
00:03:26
Speaker
But now I do like coming to California also like there's so many more conversations about like how the meat is being raised like the animals are being treated or even like the vegetarian vegan meat that like I never grew up with. My art's kind of a way to process that and also kind of laugh at in a playful way.
00:03:44
Speaker
Yeah, I love the playful component of it. I wanted to, I got some, we'll talk about your art and I have some obvious like conceptual questions, you know, to reflect on what you do. One of the questions I have is about kind of like you and kind of where you come from. What or who made you who you are?
00:04:13
Speaker
Oh, I mean, probably the television set.
Artistic Philosophy and Pandemic Adaptation
00:04:19
Speaker
I don't know. I grew up like I was an only child, so I was mostly at home a lot. That was kind of my safe space, too, like being a kind of a very rural, conservative environment, like a lot of bullying as a kid. So like to me, like cartoons is like a safety outlet. I love like cartoons, like they can be killed, like hit, slapped all the time and come back. There's that slapstick humor to it. Yeah.
00:04:39
Speaker
So I feel like I channel my work, like even though there's a lot of violence, like I'm living and laughing, performing with these pieces that you see. So thank you Courage the Cowardly Dog. Well, it's like, I don't know, I think there's a part of it that helps encourage people to engage with the art. But Dakota, what is art?
00:05:05
Speaker
I feel like art is transforming something to something else too, but I love that art is artifice. I know in terms of philosophy, a lot of the Greco-Roman too, they look at art as the illusion and it's a lesser than reality and lesser than the gods in mythology. I've never seen that at that way. I'm never trying to capture the exact reality of what's around me. I'm more interested in the camp and artifice of it. It is fake.
00:05:32
Speaker
I mean, I hope this is fake. You know, like my eyeball isn't popping out of my head. Um, so, uh, as far as, uh, I didn't even answer that question. Yeah. Yeah. No, we're having fun Dakota. It's totally fine, but yeah. Yeah. What is our, I mean,
00:05:53
Speaker
Art can be anything, but for me personally, I love art that has some kind of craft or technique involved, some kind of creativity. There's skill put into it, or some kind of magic, too. That's art I vibe with. I'm not taping a banana to the wall, but I'm taping a hot dog to my head.
00:06:15
Speaker
All right, so on art itself, one of the things that keep coming up to view artists is the role of disruption or reinforcement with art. And I love that question. But I ask it in a way is like, is art supposed to be disruptive?
00:06:34
Speaker
I mean, it doesn't have to be like, historically too, like art, like artisans and craftsmen, like I wouldn't say that's disruptive work, they're serving a purpose. I mean, most of the art we think of in the Cannes Museum, like it's not trying to disrupt anyone. It's not trying to challenge the status quo, if anything, it's kind of reaffirming.
00:06:54
Speaker
But I mean, yeah, like for me, especially now, like art is so so much, it's so divorced right now from like religion or necessarily being like political propaganda. Not saying it isn't sometimes. Yeah, right. But like there's the freedom now, especially the internet to do so much more with it. I mean, I think that's very freeing. Why not embrace it?
00:07:17
Speaker
Yeah, well, and I think one of the things is I've explored with the podcast is, you know, kind of like looking at the different type of media and people that people use. And I like the kind of like make it work aspect of, you know, like of your work. Take us down to LA, right? So take us down to, you got an art, whether it's a performance or an art exhibit, like what's going on? Like what, Dakota Newt's there, what am I seeing? What are you up to?
00:07:46
Speaker
Oh, yeah. So, I mean, I've actually made a lot of different work. Like, I've done traditional paintings on walls that are framed, traditional drawings. Like, my wearable art came out of, like, I used to do these installations that are gonna be making a comeback, where I used to mount the drawings to, like, a foam core cutout. So, they all look like cardboard props that you see, like, in a window display.
00:08:06
Speaker
But they're themed around like me, the body and animals. And so like, they'd be on the wall, they'd be coming out of you in a window space. And then like, during the pandemic, I'm like, I have no space to work and except my home and the parking lot around me, or the KFC down the street. And I'm like, I started to wear and photograph instead. So it's an adaptation, an adaptation in a sense to like, to conditions. And I've talked to with guests and they'd be like, you know, I'm
00:08:36
Speaker
A kid comes along and like, I'm not going to be playing the trumpet at 10 30 at night. Like I'm a, I'm a writer now. And yeah, I love how the conditions can help, you know, uh, you know, create like what it is that you can do. So about your art, what, what, what do you think your art is and what do, what do other people think your art is?
00:09:02
Speaker
I mean, my work's this way to make me laugh and also process the world around me. I'm always thinking about what I'm eating straight up while also my relationship with animals. I'm also thinking about my body too, like the sexuality, how provocative it is, or if it's not. It's funny because even stuff online too, like how people react. Someone was reacting to my body not being buff enough. That inspired me to make work where I was more buff.
00:09:31
Speaker
The audience is participating in what comes out of the yard here. So do you find that as a reflexive relationship of what you're hearing, whether it be from social media or what have you, that impacts what you create? Because some artists would be like, look, I'm going back here. Here's the thing that's out there, and that's it. So you feel a little bit more of a reflexive relationship with your audience.
00:09:58
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, since I'm inspired by cartoons and television, I mean, those, like, the writers are typically responding to, like, the fans, the community, what they want, too. I like that relationship where it's very reciprocal, too. I mean, not all the time. Sometimes I just want to make something and freak people out, and I'm like, I don't care if they like it or not.
00:10:17
Speaker
Yeah, and you have the the ability to do that. And the reason why I asked that question, because artists have so many, well, they have just completely different approaches and they can be hard approaches to, you know, to the audience. And I think using the podcast and, you know, creating this podcast, it's interesting to put things out and then to see what people are saying or what what what what should come out of it. We were talking about the
00:10:46
Speaker
you're talking about the conditions and dealing with the pandemic and things like that. And it's a question I've asked throughout the show of, do you feel that it's been more important to create your art? Like through the pandemic, do you feel like either for yourself or for your audience that like you needed to or you felt you didn't need to or didn't want to? What was your relationship with producing?
00:11:14
Speaker
I mean, it's actually really funny you asked that question because most of the artists I know here in LA too, most of them have stopped making this past year, which is really sad. But I feel like a lot are losing inspiration. If anything, this year has made me reflect on it and becoming more confident with, OK, I'm doing this. It's relevant to what's going on too. I'm not making little COVID
Pandemic Influence on Lifestyle and Art
00:11:39
Speaker
artwork. I'm making work that's personal to me with a lot of meat and animals.
00:11:43
Speaker
But it's interesting. Like I was like, there's a lot of themes in it that were relevant to what was going on right now. And also like I found a process, a way to do it where like I can pump my work out very quickly. So like I've just kept rolling with it during the pandemic because I'm not commuting to work anymore. It's all mine. Like I'm, I'm in a year, things are back to normal. I might not ever have this time back. Right. Right.
00:12:11
Speaker
I was recently, I mentioned I was speaking recently with Amy Guidry, a surrealist artist, you know, melding of bodies, animal, and human. And we got into extended conversation about, you know, about the environment and about animals. And I know you mentioned that a couple of times. I've been a vegan for 26 years.
00:12:35
Speaker
And she uses her very particularly to stop, bring awareness to, to look at animals and the environment. And I've heard you mention that, and I know the Midwest, I lived in Wisconsin for 10 years, you can do the animals, I know all the, a particular relationship with animals that's kind of different in some parts, you know, from other areas.
00:13:02
Speaker
What is that role for you? I mean, like, do you take into, I mean, how important is that to press on, you know, on animals in that relationship with your art? I mean, I don't want to shame anyone for what they eat, too. I mean, again, like, for me, like, I'm definitely not, like, a picture perfect, like, vegetarian right here, obviously, because, like, I'm, I told you my background, like,
00:13:28
Speaker
I think anyone who comes from a rural background too, they're typically kind of more aware of like the actual farming aspect of like the kind of the violence, like they see more in person, but then they still choose to eat it. I don't know if that's more, that could be more horrifying. But like, yeah, too, like coming here to California, it's like, I'm meeting so many people that are thinking about like what they're eating too. And also like I was too, I was like, I was getting healthier, like making cocaine, making my own food, I'm an adult.
00:13:59
Speaker
The pandemic has also made me more vegetarian, too. Like, I don't eat meat unless it's more eggs or fish. And even that, like, it's been very rare. Like, I've been slowly just, like, easing off and all of it. Well, of course, Dakota, we're having a great discourse. It's great to meet you. And you're wearing a hot dog on your head. So, you know. I know. There's great vegan dogs.
00:14:24
Speaker
If we can dogs, of course, they're totally, totally, totally, totally, uh, a vegan. Hey, uh, Dakota, I'm going to pop in the, the, the, the, the big question here. And I got a few more to follow up with you, but I always like to ask the titular podcast question is, uh, why is there something rather than nothing? Hmm.
00:14:51
Speaker
I'm like nothing to me would be like me just like laying on the couch right now watching a horror movie. I mean, which honestly doesn't sound that bad.
00:15:03
Speaker
I don't know, it's just, it's self entertainment too. I mean, most of my work, I'm not really making it with the goal of trying to sell it, you know, especially with like these paper pieces for me, just entertainment. Like I make something I want to see in the world. Like I'm the kind of injecting myself into it. I'm making my own movie or fan fiction to watch. Have you want to phrase it? But hey, yeah, maybe after this, I'm just going to chill and watch a bunch of movies for us today. I get a,
00:15:31
Speaker
I get a question about your work. So I think of LA and everybody has an idea of LA, but I know a lot of artists, a lot of creators, a lot of technically gifted folks. Do you work solo or with groups of folks? And if you work with groups of folks, has that been an adjustment as well over the last few months? Yeah.
00:15:59
Speaker
I've worked and collaborate a lot. I mean, even though like a lot of my work looks so low, my, I guess my husband does take the pictures for it. So, I mean, I credit him too. It is a very collaborative process where like I help him with some taking shots of his stuff. He does mine, but also he is the photographer and has the technical skills to light and adjust all of this. Right. So like, even though like I'm hand drawing in it, I'm not a photographer.
00:16:25
Speaker
And also like even outside of it too, like whenever I'm like organizing or working with other artists, like we're always collaborating, working on it. I adjust my practice to kind of match theirs to pay on the context. I did a public art pop-up at like KFC, which is like a block away from me where we were like putting work outside, but then I was making like a Colonel Sanders look for it. I wouldn't have done that normally.
00:16:51
Speaker
Was it appreciated? Yeah, I mean, they are not paid enough to care over there. I like your workstations.
Art Exhibitions and Online Presence
00:17:06
Speaker
Dakota, if it's applicable, any exhibits or display around town, physically, if appropriate, where can people find your stuff?
00:17:19
Speaker
Oh, yeah. So I have a couple things happening. So like right now I have a traveling art show with my dad in the state of North Dakota, even though I've moved out. It's going to be coming back in November, December around the state and then throughout 2022. It's all painting work. So it's a different side of me. Yeah. And I'm also doing a residency this summer in San Diego in July, where I'll be making a new installation, the space. So instead of just me doing a look on my own body, it's going to be filling the space again, which I'm really excited for.
00:17:50
Speaker
Oh, that's wonderful to hear about the installation. How long will you be there for a while? Yeah, it'll be like a month, month and a half. Wonderful. Wonderful.
00:18:01
Speaker
Dakota, where else, where else can listeners find your stuff? Is like a website, Instagram, all that stuff? Yeah. So my website, my website, Instagram, also I have a Facebook too. Like they're all under my name, Dakota Newt. My last name is weird. I've gotten over that fact. Newt N-O-O-T. I'm the only Dakota Newt in the world. So like, no matter what kind of symbols he put in that, it's going to pop up my name.
00:18:28
Speaker
That's probably the best and easiest answer out of all the episodes that I've done. You're only going to find one of me. No, I just I just love it. One of the things I was I also wanted to to to ask about a little bit a little bit further is what what when it comes to like
00:18:57
Speaker
uh the the the work that you've done that's been like more standard like you said you've done painting and landscapes like that how was that for you did you move into like a little bit more what you're doing now in this project out of a reaction to that or was it just like a development where you're like ah this seems more more me
00:19:20
Speaker
I mean, they all flow together to like, even my paintings, they're the same subject matter just rendered differently. Like my paintings are even like brighter colors because I'm using metallics and fluorescence a lot. Like, so they've always flow together ideas and inform each other. Like sometimes they'll draw something that I was working on the painting ID and vice versa. I don't have like severely different
Conclusion and Gratitude
00:19:41
Speaker
bodies of work. Like the content is kind of consistent throughout it, even if the medium and style is a little different. Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:49
Speaker
I wanted to let the listeners know that we'll have some video of Dakota for the YouTube.
00:20:00
Speaker
just so you're able to see some. I wore this just in case. You know, Dakota, you took care of everything for me on your side. But I wanted to let listeners know about that. Dakota, any general thoughts, anything we didn't cover that you just wanted to speak about?
00:20:23
Speaker
I don't know. I mean, I guess like other than I feel like I played up cartoons a lot, a lot of my work is inspired by like Cronenberg and body horror too, but like those are typically very like gutsy and bloody. If you fuse that with like a colorful cartoon like Fantastic Planet, that's the equation for my heart. I love this Dakota because
00:20:46
Speaker
You got to an equation for your art, and that's never happened. I'm like a little mad. Dakota, I wanted to thank you so much for visiting with the show. I adored the energy of your work, the vitality. It just makes me feel alive. Thank you for what you do.
00:21:15
Speaker
Thanks for visiting the podcast. It's been a great pleasure to meet you. Same. Thank you for bringing me on. This has been very fun and conversational. It's like no one's even listening, but then they are. Well, nobody's listening now, but there'll be plenty of fans. We got a great listenership. I guess shout out to everyone who's listening when this gets posted. Thank you for tuning in.
00:21:41
Speaker
Hey, and everybody, you got to listen to the one and only Dakota Nuke. It could mean something. This is something rather than nothing.