The Liberty Interview: Sarah Ashley Longshore Meets Anthropologie

The Liberty Interview
By Patti Friday
September 2009

Sarah Ashley Longshore (If you missed the Introduction Post, read this first!)

Q:

I’d like to take this opportunity to (freak out jumpy giggly) thank internationally famous artist Sarah Ashley Longshore to Liberty Post. I’ve been stalking you and your work for a while now (and watching your hilarious and outrageous videos). Tell us about the day you realized you wanted to be an artist.
A:

I have always been extremely theatrical and very much an expressionist. I was attending the University of Montana and I called my Dad and told him I was taking a semester off to paint and ride horses. His said "No mam you are not" and I said "Oh hell yes I am. Too late I have already started building my portfolio" Two months later I went to a gallery and she gave me a one woman show. The gallery owner was the President of Mexico's Daughter. We had tons of press and I loved it! I also had my first performance artist at that time! It was at that moment my destiny flashed before my eyes and I knew I had to conquer the world with my artistic vision!
Q:

What mediums do you work with and do you feel that will change over time? What medium will come next for SAL?
A:

I am currently obsessed with my performance art pieces! I film and edit videos of a certain subject matter and then project them onto living people. I love the aspect of the viewer taking home a memory and a vision. It's one thing to own a painting but yet another when you can close your eyes and see a vision of something forever. I think there is great beauty in that. I also am having a lot of fun with my personal chair line that features my artwork as well as the chair line I am creating for Anthropologie. (Publisher's Note: WE - Bloggers - LOVE Anthropologie!!!) My ultimate goal is mass marketing and making my brand Sarah Ashley Longshore a specific style.
Q:

Why Magazine Street?
A:

Magazine street is the epicenter of design in New Orleans. There is a perfect balance of antiques, contemporary furnishings, art galleries, art studios, restaurants, and beautiful homes. It truly inspires me everyday plus it is affordable. I like the energy here.
Q:

Can you describe your studio and what a typical day is like there?
A:

I am a TOTAL morning person! I get to the studio around 7 am with a giant nonfat latte. No sugar. I check my email....put on some music and begin my day painting, editing, sketching chair ideas, doing research on the top galleries around the world, I send out press releases, I call my top art collectors, I send out mass emails to my clients with images of new paintings, update my website, pick out fabric, buy canvas, socialize and play with my friends who stop by the gallery and I laugh A LOT. this is all before noon.
Q:

Do you snack, graze or eat full meals while you work? What is your favorite food?
A:

Oh my god...... if I could eat anything I would eat rabbit and duck pate from John Besh's restaurant LUKE served with cornichons, pickled watermelon, dijon mustard and little pickled chantrelle mushrooms. HOWEVER.....that is not what I eat. I love breakfast. I like bacon and scrambled eggs and I like turkey sandwich for lunch! Then my boyfriend cooks dinner. We love to go fishing and lately we have been eating redfish and this great fish called triple tail that we caught in the Gulf of Mexico
Q:

Do you listen to music while you work? Any favorites?
A:

YES!!! I love Sam Cooke, Josh Rouse, and lately I like movie soundtracks....Any Wes Anderson movie soundtrack I love!!! I also love Iron and Wine and M.Ward.
Q:

Do you like to work alone?
A:

Honestly I prefer an audience!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE an audience.
Q:

Who helps you with your promotion and business side?
A:

NO one! I am a one woman show! No one can promote me like I can. I use art reps all over the country and now in London and France. They all get a percentage and they all love my work already! I love working directly with my clients! I am a sales machine and get great gratification to getting the YES and swiping the card! I am addicted. I am not ready to give up that power unless the right person comes along.
Q:

What is your ultimate goal?
A:

The total and complete freedom of creativity and expression with no financial limits.
Q:

Can you share any upcoming series you’re thinking about?
A:

Of course! I want to do a table book of my 'Audreys' first of all. Then I want to create a series of paintings that depict the fashionable, colorful and beautiful life of a French woman. We will see what happens. I think I was French in a former life. I am OBSESSED right now! I am also working on a new chair line for my gallery featuring objects in my paintings.
Q:

What is the art scene like now in New Orleans?
A:

It is truly the most incredible city to be an artist! People celebrate art passionately here! They love all forms of the arts here in New Orleans and have produced some of the best collectors on my list! It is an awesome place to be right now. The economy here has been very stable.
Q:

I haven’t found your blog? Are you going to start one? (perhaps a Vlog?)
A:

No blogging here. I am a video girl! I love to read blogs and one of my very dearest friends has an awesome blog that I am obsessed with . Her name is Amanda Talley and the blog is THE BIG EASY LIFE. She really captures the city so well. (see art show with SAL and AT) I personally like the element of movement and video and using music and my madness! I would say that I am already VLOGGING. I am actually editing a video now that I will be posting next week.
Q:

What jobs/careers have you had in the past?
A:

I have always been a painter. there have been no other options although I did sell magazine advertising for a short spell. It's so much more fun to sell art! Plus...why make someone else rich? I want the goodies. This is America damn it. I am a woman and I have opportunity so I am going to use it!
Q:

Coffee or Tea
A:

Coffee ( I should drink decaf because I get really scary and aggressive when I have more than one cup. My boyfriend thinks I am allergic to caffeine. I get really really bossy and fired up after my Starbucks.)
Q:

Do you have an altar in your studio? (see my blog for examples)
A:

Yes actually. I have a giant Moroccan lantern that I burn voo doo money candles in and I keep my sage inside it. I also write secret wishes on pieces of paper and burn them in the candles. It's all about positive energy!
Q:

Who is your creative muse?
A:

I would have to say that I have many. My friends inspire me. We will sit around and have cocktails and Ill spew out something ridiculous and we will all laugh and that will be my next painting. Like The painting I have called "Souffler Moi" Its a giant gumball machine that says BLOW ME in French. I love that painting.
Q:

Which artists have influenced you?
A:

I love Anh Duong, Alice Neel, Francesco Clemente, Vanessa Beecroft.....Picasso, Egon Schiele...blahblahblah.....the past year I have only been inspired by my thoughts. I believe they call that "coming into your own"
Q:

Any art ed?
A:

No art ed....theatre. I grew up in musical theatre. I drove my mother crazy because I was such an independent expressive child. I could really express myself on the stage. I love to sing and dance! I play the guitar! I guess I am a performer all the way around. As I said earlier I love an audience!
Q:

Do you teach art?
A:
Yes I do...well I did.....I am sooo busy now, I don't have time. But when I did I would work with very creative motivated kids. I loved it! Loved it so much! Kids are awesome!
Q:

What do you do when you become ‘creatively stuck’? How do you recharge and refill?
A:

Never been stuck. This brain has a lot of madness and wildness rattling around. I am never bored and definitely have no shortage of ideas or energy. When I do relax I go to the beach and drink rum and get a tan with my love Michael Smith...he is an amazing photographer and I like to watch him work and take photos.
Q:

What are the 3 worst things that have happened to you?
A:

1. I broke my little toe. Jesus that hurt.
2. I ate a whole can of jalapenos. I would not wish that on my worst enemy. They were so hot they burned me twice.
3.One time I went to the bathroom in a restaurant and didn't realize I had tucked my dress into my pantyhose. That was horrible. Thank god I had on underwear. I walked back to my table and people were clapping.

(You need to paint that...Liberty Post interrupting)
Q:

What are the 3 best things that have happened to you?
1. I am an artist.
2. I am confident
3.I am happy
Q:

What makes you sad?
A:

I hate it when people whine about the damn economy. If they put that energy into doing something positive we would all be better off. I am sick of hearing about it and it pisses me off. Honestly I dont really get sad...I get really pissed. This is what pisses me off lately:
-people that stop at green lights
-lazy people make me want to scream. Actually those people need a spanking
- people that make empty promises
-I hate it when I cant find my scissors and tape
Q:

What makes you happy?
A:

My friends, my boyfriend, lots and lots of art sales, vodka and cranberry with a splash of soda, anything fried, the ocean, I LOVE to swim, I like really swanky hotels with impeccable service, having people wait on me hand and foot, my basset hound Buttercup, a freshly glazed painting, a freshly glazed donut, a big stack of 100$ bills, a plate with strawberries, cheese and crostini, a giant huge over the top bouquet loaded with giant casablanca lillies and orchids, I love to drive past my gallery at night...it twinkles
Q:

What do you wear while you work?
A:

Skirts, heels and giant cocktail rings and a smile.
Q:

If you weren’t an artist what would you be?
A:

I would be the craziest person in the nut house
Q:

Name 10 people who you’d love to invite to your studio for a potluck and why?
A:

Does it have to be a potluck or can it be catered and way over the top with giant urns filled with orchids and tall palms, Krug Champagne and one surprise 11th guest during dessert? :
1. Salma Hayek: love her! she is a marvelous person ( and she loves my art)
2. Penelope Cruz : you gotta have Penelope if you have Salma
3. Conan Obrien: he is funny and would keep the party interesting
4. John Galliano: he could flirt with everyone at the table and purrr with that French accent.
5. The gimp from Pulp Fiction: dont ask why on this one.
6. Tom Brokaw; I would like to test his social boundaries
7. Simon Cowell; he could be the token sourpuss and the most honest person at the table
8. Anna Wintour: I want to force feed her
9. Oprah: you gotta have Oprah.
10. Chuck Close: I love him and I adore his art. he could give me advice!!!
SURPRISE GUEST:
A streaker!! I love streakers!!!!
Thank You.

Sarah Ashley Longshore, Thank You !!!!! We have enjoyed this so much!

Footnote on 'That Love of The French and French Women' - It's no surprise Sarah Ashley Longshore ended up in New Orleans:

The French first settled New Orleans in 1717, based on a land grant given to Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, who named it after Phillipe, the duc d'Orleans. The land was literally a small island surrounded by the Mississippi River, huge Lake Pontchartrain, and swampy land. The thriving port city that emerged became the center of high society in the region. In 1762, all of Louisiana was given to the Spanish court but eventually reverted back to the French government before being sold to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The descendants of the early French and Spanish settlers are still referred to as Creoles, with their own cuisine and style of living. The Cajun culture descended from the French settlers called "Acadians" who originally colonized Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada. Expelled by the British in the 18th century, they fled south, ending up in colonies throughout Louisiana, particularly in the crown colony of New Orleans.