Steven Muller Studio View

FP: Tell us about your meticulously clean workspace.....

SM: ....yes I actually work in here despite the criticism I get for being too neat.

When I moved to this current studio after about twenty years on Melcher Street, this was the remains of a camera store. It more resembled a basement than the totally cool over the top studio I have today. I designed the layout, drove to Home Dept. and brought back the supplies and build out the space myself. Gay man who worked in interior design, who would have thought he could pull that off?

FP: What is the concept behind your work and how are the works created?

SM: The concept is to communicate or send a message, and as most of the photographs are men in different stages of undress, there is a certain degree of "edge" to the work. The messages along with the formate are delivered on a level that is challenging. You have to spend time with the work, you have to pick it up and look at it, you can't just walk by and get it. The current work I am doing (pictured above) are hand altered photographs with words and text constructed into a book format. Some of the "Books" are single photographs, some / most larger. All are altered or changed in some way with scratched text and de-solving chemicals.

FP: What is the most unique part of your space?

SM: The most unique part of my space is my windows gallery. As part of the studio design, I did a wall parallel with the street level windows with lights on timers. I do three of four shows of different artists a year during the winter months when the days are short and the work can be appreciated from dark until about midnight. Two years ago at the FPAC artwalk I did a group show of artists from different neighborhoods in Boston, not on the windows wall, but in the abundant space I am so lucky to have. It is great to have the opportunity to increase the visibility of this area as an artists community which is active and vital.

To learn more about Steven Muller and the Gallery at 259 visit:

www.stevenmuller.com

www.thewindowsat259.com