The Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton WisdomUsing large backlit sheets of clear plastic stretched across wooden posts on a stage as his canvas, Santa Monica lifeguard and shark-wrestler, Norton Wisdom, performs live improvised painting onstage with musicians, interpreting the music being improvised during the performance in real time. His paint is dilluted to stay malleable, so his paintings remain in continual motion, through Wisdom's use of paintbrushes, windshield wipers, sponges, and his own hands.
Unlike most painting, his live work does not aim for a finished image, but celebrates the process of fluid metamorphosis: a cornucopia of images emerging unpredictably from one another: clouds become bodies, bodies become musical instruments, buildings become rockets, and dinner plates become crowns worn by monarchs, in a labrynth of unexpected paths. The live experience of his work continually challenges your perception of what you think you are seeing, and your ability to predict how forms and shapes relate to each other.
A local gem of Los Angeles, Wisdom has been invited to paint all over the world, including Bali, Turkey, and Morocco. The venues for his painting performances range from punk clubs, to prestigious concert halls, to the Berlin Wall upon which he made guerilla paintings prior to its demolition. Wisdom performs regularly with Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), Mike Watt (Minutemen), and Nels Cline (Geraldine Fibbers/Wilco/etc.), under the moniker, Banyan; however, he has also performed with a wide range of artists as diverse as the National Bamboo Orchestra of Bali, Beck, and my own band, The Autumns.
I conducted this interview with Norton Wisdom at his home in 2003, and took the accompanying photographs of Wisdom in 2003 and 2004.http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Wisdom-2/335474158_kZV9d-Ti.jpghttp://elkins.smugmug.com/gallery/5210011_vxKpP/2008-07-20T18:24:18ZCopyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved.SmugMugThe Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton Wisdom<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />The Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton Wisdom</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471634_ce3ei" title="The Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton Wisdom"><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-1/335471634_ce3ei-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton Wisdom" title="The Fertile Mistake: An Interview With Norton Wisdom" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:18Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-1/335471634_ce3ei-Th.jpgELKINS: I've noticed that something really unusual happens when you paint in front of an audience. When all the music stops, and you put down your brush, you sometimes grab a camera from t ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />ELKINS: I've noticed that something really unusual happens when you paint in front of an audience. When all the music stops, and you put down your brush, you sometimes grab a camera from t ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335474158_kZV9d" title="ELKINS: I've noticed that something really unusual happens when you paint in front of an audience. When all the music stops, and you put down your brush, you sometimes grab a camera from t ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Wisdom-2/335474158_kZV9d-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="ELKINS: I've noticed that something really unusual happens when you paint in front of an audience. When all the music stops, and you put down your brush, you sometimes grab a camera from t ..." title="ELKINS: I've noticed that something really unusual happens when you paint in front of an audience. When all the music stops, and you put down your brush, you sometimes grab a camera from t ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:18Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Wisdom-2/335474158_kZV9d-Th.jpgI'm not interested in making paintings without mistakes. That's why I typically don't perform with musicians who play songs. I'm not up there to be a chained monkey, like an actor followin ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />I'm not interested in making paintings without mistakes. That's why I typically don't perform with musicians who play songs. I'm not up there to be a chained monkey, like an actor followin ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335474075_pgmGT" title="I'm not interested in making paintings without mistakes. That's why I typically don't perform with musicians who play songs. I'm not up there to be a chained monkey, like an actor followin ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Wisdom-1/335474075_pgmGT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="I'm not interested in making paintings without mistakes. That's why I typically don't perform with musicians who play songs. I'm not up there to be a chained monkey, like an actor followin ..." title="I'm not interested in making paintings without mistakes. That's why I typically don't perform with musicians who play songs. I'm not up there to be a chained monkey, like an actor followin ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-09-21T17:01:42Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Wisdom-1/335474075_pgmGT-Th.jpgSimply looking at a painting is a musical activity. Even if a painting is a static image, the eye travels around a painting. It's very difficult to focus on an entire painting at once. So ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />Simply looking at a painting is a musical activity. Even if a painting is a static image, the eye travels around a painting. It's very difficult to focus on an entire painting at once. So ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471909_qVHFy" title="Simply looking at a painting is a musical activity. Even if a painting is a static image, the eye travels around a painting. It's very difficult to focus on an entire painting at once. So ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/painting-close-ups/335471909_qVHFy-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Simply looking at a painting is a musical activity. Even if a painting is a static image, the eye travels around a painting. It's very difficult to focus on an entire painting at once. So ..." title="Simply looking at a painting is a musical activity. Even if a painting is a static image, the eye travels around a painting. It's very difficult to focus on an entire painting at once. So ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:18Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/painting-close-ups/335471909_qVHFy-Th.jpgThere have been well-known arguments that music began when primitive man was attempting to mimic the mating calls of birds. I can't say if that's true, but if you start from that aspect of ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />There have been well-known arguments that music began when primitive man was attempting to mimic the mating calls of birds. I can't say if that's true, but if you start from that aspect of ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471731_dYVvy" title="There have been well-known arguments that music began when primitive man was attempting to mimic the mating calls of birds. I can't say if that's true, but if you start from that aspect of ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-3/335471731_dYVvy-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="There have been well-known arguments that music began when primitive man was attempting to mimic the mating calls of birds. I can't say if that's true, but if you start from that aspect of ..." title="There have been well-known arguments that music began when primitive man was attempting to mimic the mating calls of birds. I can't say if that's true, but if you start from that aspect of ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:18Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-3/335471731_dYVvy-Th.jpgELKINS: Earlier, you talked about painting being essentially a musical activity. Do you think there is any relation between the idea of making a mistake in a painting, versus the idea of a ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />ELKINS: Earlier, you talked about painting being essentially a musical activity. Do you think there is any relation between the idea of making a mistake in a painting, versus the idea of a ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471692_Q4SBB" title="ELKINS: Earlier, you talked about painting being essentially a musical activity. Do you think there is any relation between the idea of making a mistake in a painting, versus the idea of a ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-2/335471692_Q4SBB-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="ELKINS: Earlier, you talked about painting being essentially a musical activity. Do you think there is any relation between the idea of making a mistake in a painting, versus the idea of a ..." title="ELKINS: Earlier, you talked about painting being essentially a musical activity. Do you think there is any relation between the idea of making a mistake in a painting, versus the idea of a ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:18Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-2/335471692_Q4SBB-Th.jpgWhatever the case, the only real mistake in painting, is painting something you've already painted before. Because that's not what art is about. Art is about new paths in the human event. ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />Whatever the case, the only real mistake in painting, is painting something you've already painted before. Because that's not what art is about. Art is about new paths in the human event. ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335474982_myr7Q" title="Whatever the case, the only real mistake in painting, is painting something you've already painted before. Because that's not what art is about. Art is about new paths in the human event. ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Nels-7/335474982_myr7Q-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Whatever the case, the only real mistake in painting, is painting something you've already painted before. Because that's not what art is about. Art is about new paths in the human event. ..." title="Whatever the case, the only real mistake in painting, is painting something you've already painted before. Because that's not what art is about. Art is about new paths in the human event. ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:19Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Nels-7/335474982_myr7Q-Th.jpgWISDOM: Well, I always feel like a jerk. I always wonder if I'm making an ass out of myself. I think, who needs this? I mean, self-doubt is inevitable. It amazes me when anyone comes up ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />WISDOM: Well, I always feel like a jerk. I always wonder if I'm making an ass out of myself. I think, who needs this? I mean, self-doubt is inevitable. It amazes me when anyone comes up ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335474201_pG9t8" title="WISDOM: Well, I always feel like a jerk. I always wonder if I'm making an ass out of myself. I think, who needs this? I mean, self-doubt is inevitable. It amazes me when anyone comes up ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Norton-Contemplating-2/335474201_pG9t8-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="WISDOM: Well, I always feel like a jerk. I always wonder if I'm making an ass out of myself. I think, who needs this? I mean, self-doubt is inevitable. It amazes me when anyone comes up ..." title="WISDOM: Well, I always feel like a jerk. I always wonder if I'm making an ass out of myself. I think, who needs this? I mean, self-doubt is inevitable. It amazes me when anyone comes up ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:19Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/Norton-Contemplating-2/335474201_pG9t8-Th.jpgWISDOM: Well, Nels has committed his life to this vision that he has. He's very focused on not compromising in what he believes is time well spent: creating something vital and relevant t ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />WISDOM: Well, Nels has committed his life to this vision that he has. He's very focused on not compromising in what he believes is time well spent: creating something vital and relevant t ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471860_nW5wn" title="WISDOM: Well, Nels has committed his life to this vision that he has. He's very focused on not compromising in what he believes is time well spent: creating something vital and relevant t ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-6/335471860_nW5wn-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="WISDOM: Well, Nels has committed his life to this vision that he has. He's very focused on not compromising in what he believes is time well spent: creating something vital and relevant t ..." title="WISDOM: Well, Nels has committed his life to this vision that he has. He's very focused on not compromising in what he believes is time well spent: creating something vital and relevant t ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2008-07-20T18:24:19Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-6/335471860_nW5wn-Th.jpgThere was a Banyan gig at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is an opera house in New York. I was painting in a pink chiffon nightgown. A little negligee. The head stage manager was a teamst ...<p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com">steve elkins</a><br />There was a Banyan gig at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is an opera house in New York. I was painting in a pink chiffon nightgown. A little negligee. The head stage manager was a teamst ...</p><p><a href="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/5210011_vxKpP#335471772_4gTow" title="There was a Banyan gig at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is an opera house in New York. I was painting in a pink chiffon nightgown. A little negligee. The head stage manager was a teamst ..."><img src="http://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-5/335471772_4gTow-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="There was a Banyan gig at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is an opera house in New York. I was painting in a pink chiffon nightgown. A little negligee. The head stage manager was a teamst ..." title="There was a Banyan gig at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which is an opera house in New York. I was painting in a pink chiffon nightgown. A little negligee. The head stage manager was a teamst ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p>2009-07-23T10:23:26Zsteve elkinshttp://elkins.smugmug.comhttp://elkins.smugmug.com/Interviews/The-Fertile-Mistake-An/wisdom-5/335471772_4gTow-Th.jpg