By Darian Scalamoni
Ilene Hinden is the third artist to showcase their artwork this year at Monmouth Arts' Red Bank community event space and gallery, ArtSpace. MISALIGNED will be on display until Saturday, September 28th. We sat down with Ilene for a short interview to discuss her influences, her history within art and digital design, as well as how her sister's collaboration helps bring them closer together.
Can you tell us about your background and what brought you to create your art?
I’ve always made art, from when I was five. I originally started out doing painting and sculpture in my freshman year of college at Syracuse, but then went into advertising design. When I graduated, it was around the time that the Apple Mac was invented, and so I started a graphic design business, which I did for a long time. At some point I wanted to combine art, digital, and design. When I started helping my sister with her company Artistscent, it got me thinking I should get back into fine art. And then one day I took a monotype class that I fell in love with and where I’ve been introduced to an amazing community of artists.
Tell us about your company, Postdigital Ink, and the collaborative process with your sister's company, Artistscent?
Natalie [Kuhles] used to work for Revlon as well as Ferminiche, which is the largest fragrance company in the world. About five or six years ago, she retired. And of course, you can't sit still, so she decided she was going to start a candle company, Artistscent. I did the logo design and all the packaging. She sort of pioneered going to different craft fairs and markets, and I kind of followed in her footsteps, thinking “How can I reach people?” We're constantly figuring out how to collaborate. This has been our dream – to be in a gallery together and see how that would work. So, I'm very excited about that.
Where did you find your inspiration for MISALIGNED?
I met Gina Torello, a local artist, and went to her monotype class. I was having a very difficult time in my life. I basically left everything I knew at that moment to move to New Jersey because I was kind of done with where I was. I realized, through doing this art and a poem I had written at the same time, that even if things don't line up, you're always trying to get things aligned. But it doesn't always work out. A lot of times you work really hard and what you hope for doesn't happen. Or you might think you have a great relationship, and it goes the other way. And so, the whole collection started to be about how even if things don't line up, beautiful things can come out of it.
Looking ahead, what are your goals as an artist, and how do you hope to continue evolving in practice?
My goal is to continue combining different kinds of traditional art with digital art to make beautiful fine art. I’d like it to be more acceptable as fine art. I think this type of art deserves it. I have other things I’m working on. Next, I'm mixing watercolor with digital. I take a picture and then I paint and then I combine them. So you get a view between what you think it looks like or how you see it and how the photo sees it and they come together. I'm calling that collection “Retreat.” I like to continue mixing all kinds of media and art together. I find that the whole process really exciting.
What do you hope people's takeaway is after seeing your exhibit?
I hope people take away that there's hope and beauty in everything. Even stuff you may not like, things that don't work out. Something good can always come out of anything at any moment. That's kind of what I learned. Like at my deepest, darkest, horrible moments, I said, “Hold on… something could change any second.” And it always does.
Who are your favorite artists these days?
Andy Warhol… still. I met him. That's a wild story, but I was a big fan of his when I met him and before I met him, and I've always loved him. Andy Warhol is the reason I thought I could mix business and art together. Also, Yayoi Kusama, who actually came before Andy Warhol, but a woman, so she only became famous 80 years later. And I just love Takashi Murakami. I just think he's the best. There are others, but those are my three main people.
Regular gallery hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12:00 - 4:00pm. Special events for MISALIGNED include an Artist Talk on Saturday, August 17th, from 5:00 -7:00pm; Art+Scent on Saturday, August 24th, from 5:00 - 7:00pm; Art+Scent on Saturday, September 14th, from 5:00 - 7:00pm; and a Closing Reception on Saturday, September 28th, 4:00 - 7:00pm.
You can see more of Ilene's work on her website and Instagram. Thank you to Alex Kuhles for use of photographs.
Interested in becoming an artist member like Ilene? Join Monmouth Arts today and get all the benefits of a Monmouth Arts membership!
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