Who re-invents an entire feature length film in a tiny part of someone else’s studio?  The answer:  Michele O’Marah.  The film? Valley Girl.

This one-woman production company has been able to tackle some amazingly complex projects while acting as director, producer, cinematographer, editor, costume designer, set designer, teamster…. you name it.   Truly an artist with big vision.

The artslant girls dropped by for a visit in Michele’s oh-so-big-and-lucky studio just a stone’s throw from downtown Los Angeles.  Despite the proximity of the 110 freeway and rush hour traffic, it was serenely quiet and calm.

Michele gave us the grand tour and talked about her process, her inspirations and her aspirations.  Coming off a year-long project and very successful exhibition at Sister gallery, she is now ready for something “a little smaller.”  Her latest feat, “Faustaus’s Children” encompassed a 45-minute video and full-gallery installation of a New England style cabin and woodsy backdrop.

Michele is represented by Sister.

rackroom interview with Michele O’Marah

february 2007

What's your earliest memory of art making?  Coloring in coloring books and making angels out of readers digests in school around the holidays. I loved to color in coloring books.  I had this series of op-art coloring books when I was really young it was all abstract groovy designs that was my most favorite. Lots of paisley!!

Who was the first artist that affected you?  Probably Salvador Dali.  I remember going on a bus trip to Washington DC in middle school we went to the national gallery where they had a Rothko exhibit up boy did that look BORING to a 7th grader but in the bookstore I found a Salvador Dali book.  Melting clocks, surrealism, now THAT was cool!

What's your best kept secret?  I don't really keep secrets.  I'm a blabber-mouth.

Who or what influences you now?  I would say my biggest influence is my friends.  I am lucky to have an amazing community of people around me who are creative, articulate and always seeking knowledge.  We talk about ideas, artwork, films and politics all the time.  It is part of my day to day life.

Next I would say the boobtube, or television, because after all that stimulation I really need to dumb it down. I have been a television addict all my life.

What would you change in the art scene?  Hedge fund managers as art collectors.  The dominance of painting. Preciousness.

Why do you get up in the morning?  Because my cats are hungry.

Your Greatest Success/  Worst Disaster?  I make really long projects so they usually contain elements of both great success and horrible disaster. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish.

What do you dig? What do you don't?  Things I dig:  Honesty, Laughter, People who take risks, Animals, Rainbows and other girly type things, Beer, Food lots of food, Working hard and being cozy where it is raining or snowing outside

Things I don't dig:  Greed, Easy artwork, Laziness,  people who don't love animals, George Bush the hands down most horrible person I can think of, fucking up the enviroment.

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