A.T.B.... not just another entity

art is many different things,,,some happy,,,some sad,,,some f*#%’d up…but it is art

i know  i cant live w/out it,,can u????

lets think about something,,,what does a lovely piece of art do 4u when it catches ur eye,,I know what it does 4me ,,,,& i know I can never ever ,,,,ever breathe w/out it

A.T.B. 4me,,has always been a luv hate relationship,,,luv 4 what they do but hate that I cannot always afford their stuff,,,,lolol. buuuut….i know when i see it i am glad that i did

thank  u A.T.B,,,4embracing me & making me a part of what u do,,,i see ya when we make our 1^st million….lol

Alexie F.: what is ATB?

Trina SB.:  Is a minority owned business.  It use to be called A.T.B.; Burks Graphic Designers..  Obviously the initials stand for Anthony & Trina Burks…We dropped the Burks in 1996. Then we changed our company name again in 2005 because we felt we were more than a graphic design company.  & in 2009 we became A.T.B. Fine Artists & Designers LLC.  Technically we are an image building business for artists and companies. We connect missing links in businesses and artistically help bridge a gap. We also connect artists to clients & Mentor Young artists by offering training for the professional art world.

In 2006 we developed Collaboration.  This is a showcase of artists' of many disciplines, presented in homes & businesses allowing artwork to be viewed by clients in a more realistic environment rather than a gallery or museum. It allows the artists to intermingle with buyers one on one and develop a personal relationship without a third party facilitator. We have since added poets, singers, musicians & dancers to our repertoire.

Alexie F.: how long have u been in existence?

Trina SB.: Since  Spring of 1993

Alexie F: what r the artistic struggles of ATB

Trina SB.: There isn’t really an “artistic struggle” Our struggle is the lack of a sales team.  Because of all the other things we do… we are in needs of someone who can be a selling lead for our company.

Alexie F: has ATB been well received in ur community?

Trina SB: It’s funny because.. We are kind of known as this "power couple" in our community.  We are known for being art activists in our area. A.T.B., represents the quality of work that we put out.  But we represent strength in the art community…a voice that many artists don’t have.

  

Alexie F: how many artists do you represent?

Trina SB: That is hard to say.  Every artist that we have had in Collaboration, we represent them @ some capacity.  We give them leads to projects & jobs, sell on their behalf… lead them to clients etc. I want to say over 30+ artists so far. Once you are a Collaboration artist, you are family.  & we take care of family.

Alexie F: what was the thing that made u want to start ATB?

Trina SB:  Anthony & I wanted to get design work, but people at the time were not taking individual artists seriously. So we developed a brand that demanded respect.

Alexie F: where do u see ATB in 5yrs?

Trina SB:  Honestly,  our goal is to tackle the apparel & textile industry….scarves, ties & believe it or not shoes…also other forms of merchandise.

Alexie F: do u see ATB staying in west palm beach, fl?

Trina SB: Hmm that really depends on a few things….Which way the economy turns, & whether Palm Beach County ever really develops a respect for artists in their own back yard like Dade & Broward do.

Alexie F: is there art appreciation for ATB in west palm beach

Trina SB:  The lack of art appreciation would be here regardless if we were or not. We have been trying to develop an art appreciation in this community for years. I think we were ahead of our time honestly.  We support other artists, we buy art, we bridge businesses &  artists…..and that isn’t common here.

Alexie F: if u had a platform what would u say to ur community when it comes 2 art.

Trina SB:  Stop alienating the artists in our community.  Art is needed for so many reasons. If we leave, the little culture in this community that is left will be non-existent 

Q&A interview w/Anthony Burks

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74164220/florida-panther?ref=pr_shop

 http://www.anthonyburkscollection.com

i have always been an admirer of this man's art, 4  a long time

there is a luv hate thing goin’ w/me & anthony burks’ art,,,luv b/cuz of the admiration,,, hate cuz i can't buy it right now..lol

he blessed me w/mother nature VIII,,,,i luv that piece 4 so many reasons but 4most bcuz she is beautiful,,i see so much in her

Alexie F: what art sale made u want 2 pull the hairs out of ur head

Anthony Burks: A person literally offered ½ of the listed price of a piece.  He offered cash to top it off. Because of my financial situation, I agreed to the representative that I would take the offer. When I met the couple later on that night, they came over to the gallery I was running at the time, totally inebriated.

They started talking about their financial wealth, all homes they had & the traveling they did.  I felt like saying, “ Why did they need to throw change at me like I was some kind of amateur”   They really made me feel worthless.

Alexie F: do u create outside of ur home or do u only create @ ur home studio?

Anthony Burks: My mind is always in creative mode. Bathrooms, restaurants,  galleries; if I have a writing instrument, a piece of paper  & I  am sitting down, I will create something.

Alexie F: can u paint when ur pissed off?

Anthony Burks: Yes. Coming home frustrated everyday from my old job, that was my peace. My art is my life. Nothing stops me when I am in artistic mode.  I am human, so that isn’t 110% of the time. Sometimes life does take over & I am not able to produce, but that isn’t often. I  created a self portrait years ago called Mad as Hell . It showed all the frustration I was going through as an artist. Images from different drawings I did in the past were in the piece. 

Alexie F: has any pieces of artwork been inspired by ur family?

Anthony Burks: Yes, Back to Basics , which was produced when Trina was pregnant with our first born  Anthony Jr.  & Hear Me which is a portrait of Trina for her first book What is My Priority?

Alexie F:  do u feel u r well received in ur hometown?

Anthony Burks: NO. It’s kind of what I told someone who approached me to do a project  I am working on (Endangered FL Species) Sometimes  I feel like I am an endangered  & overlooked specie. My work should provide solace in people’s lives   & it is NOT appreciated.

Alexie F: do u see urself staying where u r ,,,or moving elsewhere ,,,,4 the good of ur art

Anthony Burks: MOVE, MOVE, MOVE….SOON, SOON, SOON

Alexie F: if u were in a room w/a group of art students about 2 graduate,,,wat would u say as a form of inspiration

Anthony Burks: The only way you will continue being a great fine artist is to stay true to yourself . Once you sell  yourself out , you become commercial

Alexie F: has $$ ever inspired  u to do any of ur art?

Anthony Burks: Yes, A number of times unfortunately.  An example to what I would probably tell those kids about selling themselves short. 

Alexie F: wat should a person who aren’t an artist think about when they r buying ur work,,,anything in particular??

Anthony Burks: I would hope they are buying the work because they like it & appreciate it & not because  of who I am or they are waiting for me to pass on for the value to go up.

Alexie F: does it affect u when u set a price on something,,,& someone wants 2 negotiate a lower price?

Anthony Burks: Yes,  because obviously that decision effects my financial growth.

Alexie F: wat is ur process when u go into developing a piece?

Anthony Burks: There really isn’t a process. I use to sketch ideas. Now things just pop in my head.

Alexie F:  is there a certain time of the day that u work on ur art?

Anthony Burks: Not anymore. Now it’s anytime I am motivated. Now that is quite often.

Alexie F: wat feeling would u want people 2 walk away w/when they see or even buy ur art?

Anthony Burks: Honestly I don’t think about it. But when I see the work framed & hung in the person’s home or office. I get my high knowing that they truly appreciate my work.

Alexie F: wat is the message u r trying 2 convey w/ur work

Anthony Burks: The public doesn’t inspire me to do what I do. It is a gift from God & that is what I want to convey. I believe that God gives everyone gifts & who are we to question that. I happen to love mine. Wouldn’t give it up for anything

Mother Nature VIII-Beauty. The beauty of mother-nature with the bird pollinating the world. The Butterfly is the eyes of mother-nature, seeing on her behalf. I knew it was a slightly edgy piece of work, but solid.  It is part of a 10 piece series.

Red Elephant- I always wanted to do an Elephant w/ the trunk up, but could not locate a realistic source. Many people who follow the folk lore of the trunk up, believe that it brings good luck. However, when the trunk is up for an elephant they are either, spraying dirt , water or are charging. It took quite a few years to find a reference that did not look that the animal was forced. Some sorority members from Delta Sigma Theta (the mascot symbol) asked me many times to produce one.  So I finally located the right reference & created it. 

Obsessed- My love for the female body is what inspired this. No real elaborate story behind it. 

Gone too Soon- Was a tribute to Gerald Levert after his death.  Billie Holiday always wore a gardenia in her hair. The  petals from the gardenia at the bottom of the microphone represent all the musical artists who passed away too early in life. i.e Gerald, Billie, Luther Vandross, Phylis  Hyman, Rick James  & later Michael Jackson & Teena Marie

Lion (w/the Antelope) Was a 2 piece series that was suggested by the CEO of Suffolk Construction Company. He told the story to his employees about the Lion & the Antelope. In a nutshell, the lion gets up early with the goal to catch the antelope to survive. The antelope gets up early with the goal to not get caught by the lion.  Work is the circle of life, survival of the fittest.

Universe- This is part of a 4 part series stemmed from Identity Crisis ,  which is about my point of view with the title “African American” and being torn  between two culture. Universe is the man, Freedom is the eagle  (which is in the permanent collection @ the Cornell Museum in Old School Square in Delray Beach, FL, & the lion.. well that is in work. 

his work,,,when u look @ it,,,it just keeps on givin

,,,,it is obvious that he puts his heart in his work,,,,i wanted 2 share this artist's talent with all of u,,,$$ doesn’t make this gift flow,,,luv does

appreciate it,, luv it