Interview with psychedelic artist Fred Tomaselli

Fred Tomaselli creates stunningly hyperdelic collages on wood panels consisting of medicinal plants, hallucinogenic drugs, prescription pills, scientific images, birds, flowers, trees, and people. He then paints on top of the collages and coats the whole thing in thick and glossy resin. Tomaselli says, "“It is my ultimate aim to seduce and transport the viewer in to space of these pictures while simultaneously revealing the mechanics of that seduction.” Science writer Heather Sparks (aka my sister-in-law) interviewed Tomaselli for Story Collider, a terrific podcast that each week "brings you a story about how science affected someone's life."
"The Story Collider: Interview with Fred Tomaselli"

• [Anonymous]

  Very cool interview. I also loved his show at the Brooklyn Museum (and agree that his work is best experienced in person). But for those that missed it and want to know more about Tomaselli, the accompanying catalogue is both beautiful and informative.

• [jenjen]

  Oh yay! Tomaselli’s work is wonderful. You really need to see it in person.

• [python_boot]

  Tomaselli just had a fantastic show at Brooklyn Museum of Art; unfortunately, it closed in January so it’s not up anymore. You can still find some images and video up at http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/fred_tomaselli/.

  I have to take issue with kdtintin’s assertion that “intentionality” is not a word. As Dictionary.com will tell you, it is the noun form of “intentional”, much as how “criminality” and “banality” are noun forms of “criminal” and “banal”, respectively.

  • [Ugly Canuck]

    So then how does “intentionality” differ from “intent”?

    Other than revealing an apparent intent on the part of the user of the former term to appear learned (or pedantic?), I see but little difference between the terms.

    • [Ugly Canuck]

      Intent is possessed by somebody in a different way than banality or criminality can be “possessed”.

      One possesses intent: in a way that one cannot be said to possess the criminal, or the banal.

      And the English language reflects this.

• [Ugly Canuck]

  My criminality…my banality…my intentionality?…no no no! My intent, s’il vous plait.

• [Anonymous]

  Words. How do they work? ;-}

  Love his artwork!

• [kdtintin]

  “Intentionality” is not a word. Innovative thought process through collage, though.