CRATER CREATIVES: NICO GLAUDE

Welcome to Crater Creatives, a biweekly artist profile series offering a unique look into the artists that call Sudbury home! There’s certain type of creativity that’s born up here in Northern Ontario, maybe it’s the wilderness that surrounds us, or maybe it’s just our resourceful spirit. Whatever the case may be we’re here to shine a spot light on the innovative artists of all sorts in this big old crater! Have an artist you’d like to recommend for a future Crater Creatives profile? Shoot an email to jessica@ourcrater.com and tell us all about it!

Nico Glaude is an active member of our public arts community. A part of the team behind We Live Up Here, Up Here festival and Party Cannon he just can’t slow down! From found art, to murals, to installation pieces this is an artist who will try anything once (probably twice). The best part about Glaude’s work is that you’ll stumble upon it by accident, turning a regular day from dull to vibrant! We got in touch to get the scoop on his work, influences and insights into our ever evolving community!

When did you first become interested in pursuing art seriously? 

Definitely with the “You Are Beautiful” mural. It was and still is a pretty humbling feeling knowing that I had a hand in that mural and to be painting with a group of people that value public art and Sudbury that much was special for me. That was definitely the spark and once Up Here came around, everything came full circle for me. I grew up reading Juxtapoz magazine and lived vicariously through the internet for my daily art fix. But the festival changed everything for me, just more so it changed my outlook on Sudbury.

Just to add to that, I was chatting with a friend a few weeks ago and I got pretty cynical about art, telling him how I hope this art thing takes me somewhere. And without missing a beat he replied saying that I’m taking art somewhere. It hit me pretty hard cause he was absolutely right. I’ve been able to help bring in these renowned artists to Sudbury; I took these artists and more so their art somewhere it’s never been before. I’m all smiles because of that.

Tell us a bit about your style and influences?  

I owe a lot to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for the N64. That’s when I saw graffiti for the first time and things changed after that. I started actively seeking everything graffiti and street art related, it just took over. I’ve definitely become less obsessed with being an encyclopedia of street art knowledge recently, focusing more on making installations and making public art accessible to Sudbury, but I’m such a nerd when it comes this stuff. It’s been intriguing and enticing seeing Sudburians react to something that I’ve been obsessed with for over a decade now.

But recently, I’ve been doing these installations based on objects that resonate with me or have this sense of nostalgia attached to them. I really got into Douglas Coupland’s work and love how he appropriates nostalgia. My work isn’t supposed to be taken seriously, sure there can be subtle sighs of commentary here and there, but I’m having fun investigating different themes through the installs and that’s A-OK with me.

From murals, to installation pieces, to mixed media – it seems that you’re not afraid to experiment with your style! How do these different formats change your process?

It really all depends on what I’m trying to say. I spent a few months last year getting really into embroidery. It was about making something handmade, being delicate and sensible with the patches that I made and the work reflected that sense of vulnerability that I was dealing with while I made them. The idea of being good a little bit of everything always stuck with me.

But my favorite part of the process of creating has always been getting outside; if it’s to go dumpster diving for cardboard, finding discarded pieces of wood on the road side, painting a mural over looking the city or setting up an installation downtown, seeing art happen in the public has always made it all so worth it to me.

You’re involved with quite a few groups locally – Anyone Zine,We Live Up Here, Up Here, Party Cannon and in the past the Basin Arts Project. Community arts is obviously something you’re very passionate about! How have you seen community projects like these change the culture of Sudbury?

Basin was the first project I’ve ever launched. Short lived mind you, but got a grant for it which was pretty cool and some local press too. It was an online art gallery that showcased up and coming artists. But I don’t think things have really changed. The likes of Myths & Mirrors, the GNO and TNO have been doing some really progressive stuff for years now, and they really laid the ground work down for everyone else. I think the mandate now for all of us is to make things as inclusive and accessible as possible for people. It it’s hosting all ages shows around town, getting local artist paint murals or having panel talks where people can share their opinions, all of that is incredibly important.

The thing I really want to push is that if you have an idea for something, why not go ahead and try it. The arts community is so nurturing here, fostering local talent should be the goal in all of this.

Where do you see the Sudbury arts community in 10 years? Any big changes  you’d like to see? 

On an organizational level, it’s going to be interesting to see the kind of impact the school of architecture will have on the art scene. It’s been cool to see some of the work they’ve produced at event that We Live Up Here, Up Here and Party Cannon have put on, I just want more of that. And with la Place des Arts opening up in the next five years, that’s really going to change a lot of things too. In all honesty, I just want more of the same. There’s a sense of intrigue here because we don’t know what’s next. The scene has changed so much in the past 5 years even and it’s really only up from here.

What artists keep you inspired?
There’s really only a handful of artists that I consider to be sources of inspiration, and in all honesty, it’s more so their stories and personalities than their art that inspires me. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a few artists that I’ve looked up to since I got into it all. Troy Lovegates being a highlight. He’s an idol of mine and when he was in town to paint for the first year of the festival, it was nothing short of life changing to hang out with him. He’s a raconteur, a living moniker, he’s folklore to me and I still reminisce about those days. But just to name drop a few artists that people should check out, I’d have to go with Barry McGee, Steve Powers, Faile, Swoon and Maya Hayuk.

What is your favourite thing about being a part of Sudbury’s creative community?
The talks. That’s really it. Everyone is genuinely interested in what everyone else is doing, regardless of the medium. Getting feedback from your peers is so important. I keep saying it, but people are so nurturing here. I used to think about how everything would be so much more worth it in a bigger hub, but Sudbury has given me everything I could ever want from art. I owe a part of it to my passion since it has carried me though, but having people to collaborate with and learn from has been the biggest push for me.

What would be your best advice be to a newcomer looking to get into art?
Trust the process. I’ve been at this for awhile now and it’s only now all coming together for me. It’s about believing in what you’re doing and what you’re trying to say. Find your worth and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. This is total cookie cutter stuff that you’d find in a fortune cookie, but it’s true. I’m terrible for advice.

Where can we follow you work? 

The streets, some walls, the grams, hopefully some galleries this summer. And keep an eye out on the Up Here instagram page. I’m really stoked on this year’s muralists. It’s been awesome to see the caliber of artists that want to come paint here. I’m still dumbfounded by it all.

Jessica Lovelace

Jessica Lovelace is a Public Relations and Communications grad, musical theatre enthusiast, lover of live music and part-time unicorn tamer. Some have said that the Big Dripper from Sub City is a regional delicacy and the perfect end to a Sudbury Saturday Night – Jessica is definitely one of those people. No, the hair is not a perm.

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