cluded, but that art should speak for itself, and analyzing the creative motives based on the heritage of the creator should be left out of the equation. Why is there a demand for that kind of art? Let’s see, most art collectors are wealthy white people. When they buy work from a black artist they want to feel like they are supporting the struggle, the revolution, whatever the fuck that means today. Black artists who make weird shit outside of “black art” are not accepted by minorities or rich white people. Black artists get pushed to make stereotypical work to make a profit. It’s always about profit. The only people that really like your work are you and the gallery if they can sell it. Everybody else is supporting you based on if they like you as a person or not. FD: Since you brought up influences, do you have any influences you would like to talk about? You must be a big [Robert]Crumb fan? JJG: The only crumbs I am fan of are the ones left from a Dirty Danish a la Mode. Haha. FD: I won’t even ask what that is. JJG: (Laughs) Don’t knock it until you try it. I will field your influence question because it’s a subject that I like to talk a lot about. My biggest influence is myself. I inspire me. I put in the work it takes to get here. I planted the seeds and harvested the fields. I milked the cow and baked the cake. I’m eating dinner all by myself and if you don’t like it you can suck a dick. I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist. Since I have alter egos that are better artists than most of these bum ass pretenders. I only answer to one higher authority, who ironically is also one of my alter egos. That guy is skilled. You should interview him. FD: When we chose you for this interview we could not have imagined that you would have such an ego. JJG: Look, I can’t sit around and wait for the world to recognize my greatness. They don’t even know what they are looking for. It sucks being at the mercy of morons. You guys at Aesthetic Taste are doing a good job. FD: So what does the JJ stand for? JJG: My parents wanted me to be great and they really wanted me to be named Michael but there were already a shit ton of guys named Michael that had achieved greatness: Jackson, Jordan, Tyson. So they combined the middle names of the greats and here I am. Jeffrey Joseph Gerad. In talent and name
I’m the greatest. No one can beat me. My style is impeccable, my defense is impenetrable. Speaking of penetration, all the pretty ladies call me JJ so you can feel free to use that. (winks) FD: Ughmmm, ok. This is getting a little weird? Perhaps we should get back on topic. JJG: You’ve seen my art babe. Don’t fight the feeling. That tingling sensation isn’t fear. Let’s cut this interview short and go get a bite to eat. I’m feeling very Danish. FD: Let’s just move on. The idea of a talking broom that is also a superhero with robotic legs is kind of out there. How did you come up with the idea? JJG: Awww. I was hoping you needed to satisfy your hunger but we can keep talking shop. You know, some ideas just come to you while you are in the shower or when you are talking amongst friends at the bar. This idea came to me at a show I saw; I think the title was the “Magic Moment”. There was this old broom in a corner and the thing just spoke to me. It said, “Use me the right way JJ, because you know what to do with me.” I wish you would say those magic words to me Fancy. FD: So you just ripped off the idea from someone’s show. JJG : No. I didn’t rip them off. They had an idea and I just came up with a better one. They might have put the flour, sugar, milk and eggs in the same room but I baked the cake. Some artists know all the ingredients but only great artists can bake the cake. FD: I guess that is fair to say. It seems that you are able to find inspiration in the most fleeting moments and that is true talent in itself. When you are creating the characters personality are you modeling them after specific people you know. JJG: Yes and no. I model my characters after the true nature of people I know and not the people they pretend to be for public sake. I like to make my characters be the extreme version of people I know. People try to hide their true selves all the time but if you look closely you can tell their insecurities, their true thoughts, and how they would react to