Name

Jason Hanner

Occupation

Architect

Neighborhood

Columbia City

Last book read

A pulpy science fiction novel.  The last good book i read was Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson.

What do you make?

i have dabbled in lots of stuff including additive and subtractive sculpture, book making, wood block printing, collage, photography, & painting.

In two sentences – why are you an artist?

I enjoy the creative process.  I believe it has great value and it makes me happy.

Tell us about your most recent work?

The Paper Robots were the product of multiple influences.  I’ve built architectural models for several years and there is a lot of overlap with the techniques and material used for the robots.  The idea for the robots was born from a conversation with my wife about thinking about other people as something less than human (she referred to them as animatronic and I extrapolated to robot).  Coming from a cynical, prideful, and somewhat misanthropic background i was quick to realize how prone i am to thinking this way and not “loving my neighbor as myself”.  I tended more toward a world view that life was a movie all about me and once the extras (everybody else) left the stage, they ceased to exist.  Now when i catch myself thinking this way, i remind myself that, for one thing, it isn’t about me and for another, all people are created by God with dignity, value, and worth.  Treating them as anything less, regardless of the reason, is sinful.

In addition, there is symbolism layered in that deals with the ideas of attitude, idolatry, and salvation.  I’m particularly fond of the irony of ego-bot who has a very high opinion of himself in spite of his limited mobility, a lack of arms, and apparent lack of function.

Where were you when you made this work? Did the space or environment influence the work at all?

I was just in my home office, so i don’t think it played much of a factor (besides the fact that it’s also where i keep all my model making stuff).

Are there any themes or images that have been popping up a lot, lately?

I like to use my art to poke fun at and rebuke myself.  I have a custom plate on one of my motorcycles that says “Volito” because i was told it meant “to rush to and fro, always in a hurry” to remind myself to take a deep breath.  In the past, i had an image (sort of an icon representing me) that was wearing a paper hat and had black tape over the eyes and mouth.  I referred to it as “invisible me” and it holds a lot of personal meaning.

Does a belief system/faith play any part in your work?

Yes

How does the idea of worship impact how/what you create?

Any act of creation is an act of worship.  The majority of the work i do now (as inconsistent and infrequent as it is) usually involves exploring some aspect of my relationship with God or other people around me in light of my relationship with God.

What role do you give the viewer? How do you see your work being interacted with?

As a rule, i don’t like to explain or reveal all of the symbolism in my work.  I like to hide things in the open and put little inside jokes in them.  It’s fun to see people study something that i’ve made and particularly rewarding to think that some of them might get some of the more subtle aspects.

Is there work that you’ve always wanted to make – but haven’t yet?

I don’t know about always, but i’ve wanted to get a beater and make my own paper for a long time.  I’ve also had a couple ideas for children’s books that i’ve wanted to write.

What things have commonly contributed to your creative dry spells?

I sort of think of the dry spells as the norm.  It’s just punctuated by random periods of creativity.

How have you broken out of them in the past?

There are periods where i wished i was creating more, but I’ve never tried very hard to break out of them.  I usually have a few ideas brewing deep down and just wait for the creative spells to draw them out.

What’s next?

Good question.  I have some ideas for more robots, but i also want to make some light fixtures and a large paper squid.

Finish this sentence: “Satisfaction is…

…finishing.  Whether it’s a project, an art piece, a race, or a jigsaw puzzle there is joy and satisfaction and in finishing and knowing it’s done.