Victoria Everman

As you likely read in my previous post, my first-ever trip to Portland has been set! A week of cutting-edge green fashion and city exploration is just what I need to combat the chill that is setting in this fall. This great little “Portland Series” that I have going is likely to continue for another month or two, thanks to the immense amount of talented people in that one city alone.

Speaking of talented people, artist Justin “Scrappers” Morrison is one of them. After being born in Vancouver (British Columbia) and growing up in Los Angeles, Justin and his wife have settled happily into the Portland creative community. With a versatile mind, Justin “makes all sorts of things out of junk that is lying around. The simple truth is that I think of what I want, then use what I’ve got on hand to make it.”

Often described as an urban folk artist, his visions do have a bit of a banjo-playing, toe-tapping vibe to them (and I mean that in the best way possible). Full of color and curves an animator would love, Justin’s paintings, sculptures, doodles, and murals have been displayed in galleries all over the West Coast - there are event two rooms at Portland’s Ace Hotel that he painted. In addition to creating, Justin is co-owner/founder of Portland’s Grass Hut gallery, featuring a new show the first Friday of every month and selling quality zines, crafts, prints and random goodies.

What’s all this leading up to? An interview, of course! My recent chat with Justin was most pleasant, covering everything from forest rangers with Legos and college to thrifting and clay creations - you don’t want to miss this, so read on!

Have you wanted to be an artist since you were a kid or did you stumble into being creative?

I wanted to be a Forest Ranger who lived in the woods all by himself when I was a kid. I made art when it was homework, but never really did it on my own, unless making epic Lego war scenes and muddy G.I. Joe battles count as art.

Honestly, I never considered myself an artist until a couple months ago. In my eyes, real artists spend a lot of time on their work and are very skilled. That’s not me, I try not to brood too much when I make something because I want to capture the pure stoke of inspiration without running it through a process. I’m sloppy and have no idea what I’m doing. It’s ignorance in art that makes it fun for me. I only started to go by the “artist” title because that’s what other people call me. It’s tricky to land work unless you have a title that is easy to understand; you know “curb appeal”.

You were born in British Columbia, grew up in Los Angeles, and now live in Portland - how would you compare the different three locations?

I would compare the different places as totally West Coast. The West Coast has a cultural identity that is so beautiful in the world context. I focused my History Major from Portland State University on the West because the stories are so rich with struggle, hope and success. This is the land for dreamers, the people who have come far for freedom. Anything is possible here. We are still pioneers in the wilderness.

Out of your wide variety of jobs (including fish gutter, thrift shopper, and photography editor), which has been your favorite so far and why? Is there any profession you still hope to try?

I am working in advertising right now and it’s my favorite so far. It’s challenging: ethically and creatively. It’s good work.

Your paintings and sculptures are inherently sustainable since you make them out of leftover house paint, salvaged wood, and other thrift store finds - did you consciously choose to make such a green message or was it more out of necessity?

Both. I try to live/work resourcefully, so that means shopping thrifty and responsibly for art supplies. I also have a deep love of junk. My wife’s Grandpa was a professional Scrapper, meaning he would drive around in his beat-up truck looking for metal and other stuff to salvage and recycle for money. He considered it the family business. I was the only other person he ever took Scrapping. It would be dishonorable if I didn’t carry on the tradition for him in some way.

Collaboration with fellow Portland creators Apak Studio

Currently, your Etsy.com store has some of your clay creations; what led you to experiment with this medium? Why make a collection of “Oregonian Gentlemen”?

It was an experiment. Most of my art buddies make toys, so I thought I could try to use that medium to express something meaningful. The Oregonian Gentlemen are supposed to remind folks to stay kind to each other and stay strong for one another. They also work to reinforce bioregionalism, without the academic words and other things that turn people away from the subject.

Portland is also home to the Grass Hut studio/gallery/shop that you share with fellow artist Bwana Spoons. How did you two decide to team up for this venture?

There is a complicated answer and an easy one for this. The easy answer is we love each other’s work. I will spare you from the complicated answer because business is boring.

Living in what has been called the greenest city in the US, do you and your wife have any eco-conscious habits?

Sure, but we could be better. Once we save up some more money, I want to invest in solar power for our home and get a wood stove to heat the place in the winter with wood we harvest on our own. I also need to build a better rainwater catch system.

Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

I’m working with the students of Wieden+Kennedy 12 who are animating a bunch of my doodles for a TV commercial; the commercial is for Wordstock: Portland’s Literary Festival. I’m pretty damn happy to work with these folks.

[All images courtesy of Justin Scrappers]

Trackback URL