It's the school summer holidays and I'm taking a break. So instead of new chats, I'm replaying some of my old favourites!
This is a repeat of episode #12.
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview John Thomas Paradiso.
John Thomas Paradiso is a Washington-based artist who has been exploring the intimacy of gay culture through needlework for over 30 years.
Using hand embroidered quilting techniques, working on surfaces including leather and suede, and using traditional materials like doilies to mask the graphic parts of his subjects, John’s work treads the line between pornography and personal portraiture. His art is unapologetic in its openness and his expressions of the passion of gay love are both sensitive and sensational.
In our NeedleXChange we talk about how John’s artistic career has run alongside the timeline of the HIV pandemic, the value in re-appropriating homophobic slurs, and how his art has defined his own queer identity.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:38 - How John’s subjects come into being
00:04:00 - Why John hand quilts his work
00:08:00 - The challenge of entering into quilt shows
00:16:00 - How John honours his feminine side and strives for masculinity
00:21:00 - Reflecting on his earlier work
00:23:00 - John’s definition of success
00:25:15 - Favourite Album
00:26:55 - Favourite Book
00:29:26 - Favourite Film
00:33:00 - John’s reflections on working in the care sector
Links:
Website: john-paradiso.com (http://john-paradiso.com)
Instagram: john_paradiso_artist (https://www.instagram.com/john_paradiso_artist/)
Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/3403dx) .
About NeedleXChange
An artist interview podcast exploring contemporary embroidery and textile art. Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers.
Stay Connected
needl.exchange (http://needl.exchange) | Newsletter: bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNews (https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNews)
mrxstitch.com (http://mrxstitch.com) | xstitchmag.com (http://xstitchmag.com)
