As part of our Duke Arts Create “Meet the Instructor” Q&A series, we’re excited to highlight Robby Poore, a graphic designer, musician, DJ, and screen printer based in Chapel Hill, NC. He has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico in painting, drawing, and printmaking. Robby has been screen printing punk rock t-shirts and oddball prints since 1982. He is currently the director of UNC Creative.
Robby is one of many Duke Arts Create instructors—local artists from Durham and the surrounding area who lead hands-on arts workshops for Duke students, faculty, and staff, open to all skill levels throughout the academic year. Duke Arts Create also offers select workshops that are open to the public.
Read the Q&A below to learn more about Robby Poore’s art practices, inspirations, and experiences with Duke Arts Create!
I am a screen printer, primarily, but my training is in painting, drawing, and printmaking. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. I began screen printing in 1982, making punk rock T-shirts for friends and bands in high school. I’ve always been interested in music posters and records and things; music has been a constant inspiration in my artwork.
Communication! I find art helps me communicate with strangers and friends alike in ways that are non-verbal and thought-provoking. I also find it’s an ever-present need in my life to work with my hands and make things that are unique and interesting.
Creating art is a way for me to reach into our culture and communicate strange and interesting things in nonverbal ways. I’m very interested in the legacy of 1940s and 1950s suburban culture, the mythologies around that culture as told through advertising, (through symbols and imagery), and how we present ourselves as a culture. I’m also interested in how music and art combine to create visual languages that are sometimes ironic, or prescient, reflecting our culture and politics in ways that are surprising.
I’ve learned that I am not alone. I have worked in many different creative fields over the years, as a lighting designer for concerts, a psychedelic projectionist, a graphic designer, and even as a musician…so I’ve learned that regardless of the media, I can still communicate with people in similar ways. I have been fortunate to meet some amazingly creative people throughout my many years doing art.
I would love to learn woodworking! And maybe bookmaking.
I absolutely LOVE teaching classes with Duke Arts Create. The students are amazing and love the process of screen printing. I learn something new from them each time, as well. There’s a great energy with folks who are new to printing, and the students are always interesting to talk to.
My favorite painter is probably Fairfield Porter, but I do love the Fauve painter Andre Derain, and have a big fondness for Gerhard Richter’s work, both the photo realistic as well as the abstract pieces.
Do lots and lots of work. Always work on art, no matter if it’s good or bad, and don’t get bogged down thinking you are not doing it right. Keep working.
Keep up with Robby on Instagram→
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