This month we talked to Adam Wallacavage about the battle for art sovereignty between two of Philadelphia’s “alternative” galleries, Octopus Chandeliers at the new Sailor Jerry Store, photography as an art form/profession, and meeting (other) famous people.

It was kind of silly to interview Adam Wallacavage looking for the truth, because all he did was tell us lies (albeit, really funny lies). We got some answers out of Mr. Wallacavage, but it is up to you, dear reader, to separate the truth from the fiction.

It’s a little difficult, but don’t give up: Adam Wallacavage is basically the poster man-child (and that’s in reference to his twelve-year old type energy, laughing blue eyes, and immature humor) for what an artist/entrepreneur should be: someone who’s not afraid to put his art out into the public space, whether that’s in a gallery, a magazine or a retail store.

THE LIES, MYTHS, AND LEGENDS OF ADAM WALLACAVAGE:

The Vulture: Legend has it that you were one of the founders of Space 1026?

Adam Wallacavage: Legend has it that I actually own Space 1026 and let artists hang out there and do stuff. The truth is, I’ve never actually been there.

V: Huh?

AW: Alright, that’s a lie. I did a lot of stuff to help start that place, I even looked for locations, but I didn’t want to be on the lease, and I waited a month until I moved in there and started working on it and was never called a founder because of that. It was really annoying for a while, but then I founded Black Floor, and I now get the recognition I deserve.

V: Yeah?

AW: Ok, that is a lie too. I’m just not a team player, there is no “I” in “me” or something like that.

V: But you’ve been heavily involved with Space 1026, you recently helped them set up for “Locally Localized Gravity”, an art exhibition at the Institute for Contemporary Art in Philadelphia . . . I know you’re still involved with that space. So tell me, what’s your favorite Space 1026 moment?

AW: The time I kicked out the ghost on the third floor. The time I called the fire department on the Space during Shep Fairey’s show. The time I tried to steal drawings from Raymond Pettibone. The time I got the rest of the Space members to give Jeff Weez a wedgie.

V: More lies?

AW: Three of those are actually true. . .

I would say my favorite moment at Space was walking in there one day, and the place being empty and totally dark except for one person in the back drawing on the light table. It actually was Raymond Pettibone working on some drawings that were to be made into screen prints for his show at the Philadelphia Art Museum. I introduced myself to him and shook his hand and it was the grossest handshake ever; all cold and clammy and weak, and the next drawing he did was of a severed hand that said: “THIS LAW IS INVIOLABLE” .

He left a pile of drawings at space 1026 and left. I put the drawings aside and about two months later the curator from the PMA came over looking for them. That sucked, Raymond could have cared less about them.

THE DRAMA ON THE PHILADELPHIA SCENE

V: You’re a real artist.

AW: Yeah?

V: I mean you get out of Philly and do artist things. You have gallery representation in NYC and know all about New York’s scene and the rest of that, so I’m curious, what’s your real, super-honest, opinion of Philadelphia and it’s art scene?

AW: I really like it. I know other scenes in other cities but not enough to compare. I show with Jonathan LeVine gallery in NYC, it’s NYC and people buy art up there and the openings are different because there are “old heads” who come to the openings who are cool to talk to. I meet really interesting people in NYC. Same with Los Angeles. Philly doesn’t have the same kind of “old heads” but it is getting better all the time, my close friends are here and I like my friends.

V: Does Space 1026 hate Black Floor Gallery?

AW: Yes. Because of the fact that I founded it to piss them off for not kissing my butt enough. . . haha! I started the rumors of the Space hating Black Floor because it’s my favorite place to go on First Fridays and I didn’t want that scene to be a bust, but now that Black Floor is getting painted over, I don’t know what that rumor has done for the betterment of my social art scene.

No. The Space does not hate Black Floor.

ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND SKATEBOARDING

V: Since you’re a photographer do you think photography is superior to all other forms of art?

AW: I personally like art that enhances a living space in some way. I like interior design and I like art that works that way. My personal photography is not good for that sort of thing so I don’t do much printing and framing of my photography.

V: When did you first start thinking of yourself as a photographer?

AW: Soon after starting my first zine back in like 1987 called “Wonder Rolling News” I got really into photography in High School and would shoot photos all the time with my friends doing things and stuff. . .

V: Like skateboarding? You were a skateboarder. Were you a good skateboarder? Like, are you in any videos? Are there pictures of you skating?

AW: I did an invert in an old Thrasher video once. I used to put photos of myself skating in my old skate zines like a real good egomaniac. Old photos of me are the best because I was so 80’s in the 80’s. Even though that crap is so overdone right now, I used to have a really long front bangs that parted to the side that went past my chin, all sun-bleached blond.

V: Have you taken a photograph that you would call your favorite?

AW: That is really hard to say. I like the photo on the cover of my book a lot because it encompasses so much of what I enjoy shooting: artists, skateboarding, musicians, colorful stuff, wacky d.i.y. culture.

V: So what’s on the cover?

AW: Brian Chippendale, an artist who lives up in Providence RI, who is also the drummer of the band, Lightning Bolt, and an artist from my favorite collective ever: Fort Thunder.

V: Now everyone has a camera and a flikr account, and the look of snap-shot photography (Vice Magazine, even Dash Snow) has become real trendy. . . do you ever worry about that?

AW: No, because I shoot what I like to shoot anyways. I shoot mainly for the whole idea of the “shits and giggles” philosophy. I shoot photos for the enjoyment of the people I am shooting as well as myself and to share with others. I think most people do that too, and that is why they shoot in the first place. I used to worry about competition, but I figure if I just follow my own internal weirdness, I will always have something that might set me apart a couple inches from the competition.

VINTAGE, TROPICAL, SEA RELATED, AND JUST COOL LOOKING:

V: Why did you want to make an Octopus Chandelier?

AW: It first started from seeing an octopus on the bed of Wednesday from the Addam’s Family comics. I wanted to make an octopus like that for my bed but never finished it. I forgot about it for a long time until I was inspired from the book by Ernst Haeckel’s, Art Forms in Nature, when I was designing my dining room.

V: . . . And you designed the interior of the new Sailor Jerry store? Tell me a little bit about the brand and your dealings with them?

AW: I designed and built the original store on 3rd street in Philly. The budget was small, but I am good at polishing turds and had a great time making that store. It fit the style I was into at the time, sort of a mix between a funeral parlor, meets bordello, meets pirate den. When the store moved, there was more money, and I got better at building and making stuff and the new store is nicer, more customized and just better craft and quality.

I love the brand. Even though I don’t have tattoos, I like things vintage, tropical, sea related and just cool looking.

MR. WALLACAVAGE’S CELEBRITY LIFESTYLE:

V: Tell me all about Bam’s wedding, please?

AW: I didn’t go to Bam’s wedding. Bam is a terrible influence on kids. I’m really over everyone trying to outdo each other by being decadent and gross. We need some positivity in the world nowadays.

V: But you told me you went to Bam’s wedding yesterday. Fine. Do you know any other celebrities?

AW: No. I said I use Pam when I go sledding. You know the kitchen spray for cooking eggs and stuff? If you spray it on your sled, it makes it slide really fast. My date met Iggy Pop but I didn’t introduce myself to him. I know Bam’s parents and his brother and Uncle.

V: I know you do stuff for Swindle, what is it? and do you hang out with Shepard Fairey? What’s that like?

AW: I love Swindle Magazine. I used to shoot for magazines all the time but stopped for some reason. Swindle got me back into shooting again. I love the subject matter of the magazine and everyone I work with. Roger Gastman is the best. That guy has done so much for me it is ridiculous.

I’ve known Shep for a really long time but he is always busy working and running around putting stickers on things. When he has a chance to relax, he DJ’s so he doesn’t have to talk to people. He is the type of person you only talk to when you are driving in a car with him, but even then he is jumping out of the car at every stop light to apply stickers on things. It’s really crazy.

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