WORDS / KODY FORD
PHOTOS / SOPHIE BAUER

It was shortly before midnight on a Friday. A few members of a bachelorette party had strayed from the pack to examine a new structure that recently appeared near the Nadine Baum Gallery on West Street in Fayetteville. Their drunken giggles displayed nervousness as they trespassed. The bride-to-be in her tiara and phallic necklace struck a pose. Cameras emerged and flashbulbs popped to mark the moment they stood upon the multicolored stage.

Their nervousness appeared obvious, even from the sidewalk nearby. With this inebriated thrill, they had disturbed this recent addition to the landscape. Little did they realize, their actions were all part of the plan.

Dublin-based artist Maser recently unveiled his latest piece entitled “Under the Stars” for Walton Arts Center’s annual Artosphere Festival. To build the installation, Maser enlisted volunteers who helped him over the course of two weeks during construction.

“I get my hands dirty [and] guide people through it,” he said. “I just let everyone get involved. I’ll grid it out and let people paint it. The whole idea is so people can take ownership of it. That’s what I enjoy and it’s something that artists often forget. It’s always me, me, me and I, I, I, but I like to make it [otherwise]. That way they take ownership of it. The idea grows and your message spreads more and more.”

“Under the Stars” is a continuation of Maser’s artistic narrative, one of involvement, interaction, and vibrant interruption. This piece will lead into the next; however, it needed it’s own personality and had to fit the goals of Artosphere. This was discussed early on in his meetings with Walton Arts Center.

“When I met with Artopsphere we talked about what their goals were and this [bike] trail,” he said. “Trails are new to me. We don’t have trails in Ireland. So I got to learn a lot about the trail and it’s values and then put out my ideas to see what would slide in with it. It’s not like I sit down and sketch. I’ll be having a beer with mates and thinking about it or I’ll see something and take a photo of it. It just all collates together and comes through and this is what you get. It’s very hard sometimes to be able to describe the actual process. I am it. I live it.”

Part of his process involves the use of an app called Sketch Up, which allows you to draw forms and make them three-dimensional. This lets him move from artist to architect and communicate his intentions clearly with his crew and volunteers.

“The guy I work with, I drive him crazy because he needs plans and I never have them,” Maser said. “The way we do it now is we build all of the forms loose and I have all of these elements and rejig them and move them around. That way it’s functional and aesthetically pleasing.”

This brightly colored structure is not simply for aesthetics; it serves as a stage as well. For the basic design, Maser drew upon the format of how a band works – singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer – to provide enough space for small bands, poets or people who might want to have their lunch on it. Or even the occasional bachelorette party.

When painting, he will label sections for various colors, making it a paint-by-number for his crew, while being careful to avoid putting two colors next to one another. He is open to suggestions from those involved. One notable feature of this piece and Maser’s other works is the use of bright colors; something he feels allows the piece to stand out even more.

“I’ll go completely opposite from the natural color palettes,” he said. “That’s the truest contrast. These pieces are so synthetic that when you put it in a natural environment it brings it even more attention. Contrast…I love that and I use that with color. Put a purple with a yellow, a blue with a red. Contrast the hot and cold and I use that with the environment.”

Now that it is finished, “Under the Stars” will serve as a permanent part of Walton Arts Center grounds. While this is Maser’s first time at the festival, he has been working on projects in Springdale, Fayetteville and Fort Smith over the last year with the help of a local patron. Northwest Arkansas is cultural contrast for the internationally-acclaimed artist, who has recently constructed installations in Berlin and Copenhagen. However, it’s a change of pace that he enjoys.

“I really enjoy Fayetteville,” he said. “Cool people. Nice and local, quiet, but still a lot going on. I come from the capitol city, Dublin, in Ireland and it’s pretty full on, a busy enough city. This is a good breather.”

He and his girlfriend have rented a house and he plans to set up studio space downtown, where he will paint between major commissions around the world. His visa lasts up to two years.

“I’m eager to get back into the studio and paint on canvas,” he said. “I haven’t done that in a long time. Here, it is a different ball game. People are driving by, but I love working in public spaces. That’s when work really comes alive. You get enjoyment out of it by seeing people look at it and enjoy it. The playfulness and the childlike thing that comes out. It’s almost like a big playground. I get joy out of it because ‘oh, I created that’ and know they’re taking photos on it. And they share it on social media or use it as their wallpaper. I think that’s cool.”

Maser has been pleased with his first collaborative experience with Artosphere.

“This is a great opportunity for me to introduce myself to Fayetteville and the community and [Walton Arts Center] has been very respectful to my creative needs. They haven’t been trying to dictate what I do. It’s an exciting and interesting collaboration.”

For more information visit, MaserArt.com or waltonartscenter.org/artosphere

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