Introducing Bob Borel

Drawn to the arts at a young age I cannot remember a time when art wasn’t a tool that I used to try and make sense of the world. Being self taught I bounced around several art forms: pen and paper, photography (eventually with my own dark room), storytelling, historical reenactment, documentary making, digital photo manipulation, and most recently painting.

My favorite art expressions lately are teaching art to inmates and busking (street performance) in a series I call Unflattering Abstract Portraits. It involves two chairs, an easel, and a sign that says ‘Unflattering Abstract Portraits, Free, Tips Accepted”. Any passerby can have a seat and I’ll scratch out a likeness that’s part portraiture, part abstract, and part essence. I’ve done it over a dozen times and I usually do 30 – 50 portraits in a few hours.

Who makes up your art circle?

Initially I’d say creators, students, supporters, appreciators, etc. but even people that don’t dig art I’m intrigued and motivated by. All roads lead to art for me so my circle has blurry edges at best.

How do you expand your art circle?

You gotta put yourself out there. For me that’s trying to engage people with art in any way shape or form.

I worked at Vermilionville for a bit (hopefully will again soon) and if you want to see unengaged people, work in public history. Anytime someone came to my station I’d try everything (while not pandering) to get them engaged. I bring that mentality to my art.

What value do you see in having a creative community?

It means that you’re not alone, there are other people that’ll help you out, sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally. Also knowing that you’re not the only one trying to create something from nothing is invaluable.

How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?

I hope that what I do makes my community a little bit richer. If putting myself out there helps someone else, what more could you ask for?

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