A decade ago, in our DTLA gallery, we hung an exhibition with our friends at SceneFour, featuring the drumming legend Bill Ward. Bill named many of the pieces in that collection directly after his own creative process. [→ link "Bill Ward" to his work on the site once you confirm the URL]
During the artist talk, Bill started speaking about that process — specifically about the concept of "waiting for the next moment" and "embracing imperfection." I looked out at the audience, which was filled with our gallery's painters and photographers, and I watched them physically lean forward, absorbing every word, as Bill discussed how he went about making music and the connection to his artwork.
In that exact moment, it crystallized for me just how deeply universal the creative process actually is. Whether you are holding a drumstick, a camera, or a brush, the pursuit is the same.
That realization became the genesis of Project Strata. Then, last year, Ravi Dosaj and I were talking about art collaborations, and the new portrait concept came into focus.
We wanted to see what would happen if we cross-pollinated artists from entirely different disciplines. If we could intersect those different approaches to creating art, could we develop portraiture with more layers and depth than a photographer or a painter working alone? And we didn't want a passive subject. We wanted a true, active collaboration with the person being depicted — a deeper understanding of who they are.
That is the foundation of what we are looking at today. For Project Strata Volume 1, we brought together a legendary disruptor in rhythm — Stewart Copeland, co-founder and drummer of The Police — a visionary contemporary artist in Ravi Dosaj, and an important photograph, to deconstruct a legacy. Because FATHOM goes deep.
About the print
Project Strata | Volume 1: Music | No. 1: Stewart Copeland. A collaboration between Stewart Copeland and Ravi Dosaj, after a Lawrence Impey photograph. 12-color archival pigment print on 100% cotton fine art paper, signed and numbered in the lower margin by both Copeland and Dosaj. Released in an exclusive worldwide edition: 16×20 image, edition of 40, $600; 24×30 image, edition of 10, $1,400.
See the full Project Strata portrait and how it was made →
Project Strata unfolds over the coming months — Volume 1 continues, with Fashion, Film, and Sports to follow. Subscribe to see each new portrait first.
Products in this article: Stewart Copeland Portrait — Project Strata 1:1