June 20, 2011
This month, Torrey was featured in 944. Here’s the photo and following is the interview in full as submitted pre-edit. Thanks to Katie Pegler and Chivan Wang for setting this up, and thanks to 944 for putting Torrey right next to superhero, Kingman.
944 Magazine
June 944 Picks Issue
Questionnaire
The Basics
Name: Torrey Herbenar-Cook
Business/Profession/Occupation: Professional Art Addict / Gallery Director / Art Advocate
Title: Founder, Artists Republic for Tomorrow. Board Member, JLA Project. Mom. Wife.
Address and/or Web site: www.AR4T.com / www.IAMSNOWBOARDING.com
- Describe your day job and why you love it, in two sentences max?
My job tends to be day, night, and while sleeping, but I love it because I get to work with art and amazing people. In a nutshell, I run every aspect of the AR4T gallery in Laguna Beach, and manage projects to grow awareness for the artists of AR4T.
- Describe a professional accomplishment achieved recently that you’re proud of.
AR4T has been open for a full year now in Laguna. I AM SNOWBOARDING art tour continues to travel with Burton Snowboards. And Mammoth Mountain’s JLA ART PARK which features the I AM art is open until July and is hands down one of the coolest (and biggest!) interactive art projects around.
- What are you currently working on that has you excited?
Summer AR4T show at the Laguna Gallery – Girls vs Boys: The Summer of Love. The show will include collaborative art works between men and women, with two rotating solo walls. Part of the show is a pop up section at the annual Billabong Design for Humanity charity event. This year’s charity is VH1 Save the Music.
Name a trend or two in your industry/profession that your project will have an impact on Orange County.
1. Art as community.
2. More people are coming to the realization that buying art is good for you.
- Who else in your industry, and/or in Orange County period, do you consider a tastemaker and/or trendsetter and why? Or more simply, who do you respect/admire?
I don’t like the term tastemaker / trend setter. I’m not a hipster, I’m all about family. Here are just a handful of people I admire.
Corey Smith (Comune / Drop City Gallery) , JLA, and Timothy Karpinski (Mervin / Together Gallery) are three artists who inspired me as a young youngster and still lead the way for me. Lindsey Byrnes introduced me to my first gallery (OnSix, SF). Trevor Graves, Shem Roose, Jardine Hammond and Mark Hibdon. Levi Jeane Cook, who’s never afraid to wear two different shoes and Brian Cook who supplies those shoes. Dawn True, one of the most beautiful wordsmiths I’ve ever read.
I am every day inspired by:
Sanja Simidzija – Art Cube Gallery, Forest Ave, Laguna Beach
Carla Tesak Arzente and Suzanne Walsh – Salt Fine Art, South PCH, Laguna Beach
Carl E Smith – CES/FA – Laguna Canyon, Laguna Beach
Thalia Street, LS&S, Trash Pretty, the house on … anyone in Laguna who gives a platform for young artists.
Artists: Ben Brough, Cheyenne Ellis, Danny Zapalac, Jamie Lynn, CES, Mike Parillo, Stepanka, Sticky, Dennis McNett, Brennan Coyle, Adam Haynes, Shem Roose, Gomez Bueno, Alex Weinstein, Skibs, Amber B., Chris Brunkhart, Devon Weniger, Dustin del Giudice, Susie Floros, Alisa Mokler-Harper, and my mom and dad.
- How long have you lived in Orange County? Six years
- What area/neighborhood of the city do you live in? San Juan Capistrano.
- What do you love most about living and working in this city, in a sentence? The people. The scenery.
- Biggest pet peeve about living/doing business here, in a sentence? Chiuauas and Pitbulls. I guess to spell it out… Buy Art not Boobs.
Your Top Personal Picks of the County
1. What is hands down your favorite restaurant right now? Nicks, Laguna Beach or San Clemente. Salty Pear Martini with Salmon entrée… yummy.
2. What is your favorite hidden gem or casual hole in the wall? Thai Juan On, SJC (happy hour mai tai to kick your ass)
3. What is your favorite splurge-worthy restaurant right now? Café Fusion Sushi, Laguna Beach next to the AR4T gallery
4. Who serves up your favorite burger right now? Breslin, NYC. But otherwise… Catal is pretty good. Nice burger with Mojito after a day / before a night at Disney.
5. What is your favorite sushi restaurant right now? Nobu, San Clemente. Eddie Wall was right about Nobu and we are hooked.
6. What is your favorite breakfast spot right now? Stacks Pancake House, Dana Point
7. What is your favorite pizza joint right now? Always been a favorite since growing up in San Diego with the one in SB… Pizza Port, San Clemente. The Laguna is tasty.
8. Who serves up the best steak in your city right now? Whitebark at the Westin, Mammoth. I don’t eat steak anywhere else so not a good question for me.
9. What is your favorite place to satisfy that sweet tooth right now? Yogurt Land. Coconut with pineapple and mochi topping.
10. What is your favorite coffee shop right now? Zinc. Soy Mocha.
11. Which neighborhood has the most promising dining scene right now? Long Beach?
12. What is hands down your favorite nightspot right now? Home with friends or a gallery that we like : Thinkspace (Culver City), 210 AR4T Space (Laguna), Curbside (Santa Ana).
13. What is your favorite nightspot for a big night out? 210 AR4T Space for opening night then Café Fusion Sushi.
14. What is your favorite neighborhood chill spot right now? Goku Café to go… then eat on the benches at Thalia.
15. What is your favorite wine bar right now? Wine gives me a headache.
16. What is your favorite bar to throw back a brew right now? My backyard with Brian on the grill. BUT! I do like the beer from O’Shea Brewing Company – we serve it at the gallery.
17. What bartender is making the meanest drinks right now? I am hooked on Javiers margaritas. Spectrum or Newport doesn’t matter. I also like Carol’s mojito at the Westin Whitebark Lounge in Mammoth.
18. What is your favorite hotel to hit up for a night out? Ace, NYC. Westin, Mammoth.
19. What is your favorite locally owned boutique? It’s only online.. Novella Royale – www.novellaroyale.com
20. What is your favorite spot for fashion finds period? I buy art before fashion – it says more about you. H&M, Vans and Volcom store.
21. What is your favorite spa to get pampered right now? Who has time for a spa?
22. What is your favorite salon right now? Ollies Barber Shop in Denver – Shanna.
23. What is your favorite gym to work on your fitness? outside.
24. What is your favorite overall venue for boundary-pushing art exhibits right now?
1. AR4T
2. Art Cube
3. Salt Fine Art
25. What is your favorite museum for boundary-pushing exhibits right now? PS1, New York. Local? Grace at the Laguna Art Museum is doing great things. OCMA… MOCA – LA… MOMA – SF, SAM… they are all wonderful. Just get out there and see art.
26. What is your favorite artsy district/neighborhood right now?
1. North Laguna Beach. 2. Culver City. 3. Costa Mesa. 4. Santa Ana.
27. Who is your favorite blogger or Tweeter in your city right now? I like Nicki Scoggins for Vans. She is fun.
28. What is your favorite venue for live music? Dana Point music in the park is epic.
29. Who is your favorite DJ making his/her mark right now? Robert Sticky Shaw.
30. Who is your favorite local musician or band right now? Levi on her karaoke machine.
December 9, 2010
ARTISTS REPUBLIC FOR TOMORROW
I AM SNOWBOARDING
210 AR4T SPACE LAGUNA BEACH, CA. 92651
AR4T.COM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – DECEMBER 07, 2010
MAMMOTH ART PARK (Mammoth Lakes, CA) Mammoth Mountain and AR4T turn a new page in snowboarding and cultural history with the creation of the first ever art inspired terrain park. Features include jumps, rails and boxes, custom “jib-able sculptures”. All will be created by some of the worlds most progressive artists – Art Park is intersection of form, function and fun. This new type of artistic expression is interactive and open to anyone that likes ART and would like to utilize new and creative features. The park will be curated by AR4T in conjunction with The JLA Project.
Art park opens in Mammoth December 18, 2010 during the annual Mammoth Night of Lights weekend. Fittingly, the first show in the park is in honor of Mammoth legend, Jeffrey Lin Anderson – an artist and snowboarder who passed away in 2003 at age 23, who forever left his mark on the world. The paintings from I AM SNOWBOARDING, a collaborative art exhibit in honor of Jeff’s 30th birthday that traveled the world in 2010 and continues into 2011 will be brought to life in this ground breaking rip-able art park.
The opening launch party at Hyde Lounge in The Village at Mammoth is slated for Friday December 17th from 9pm to 2am and will feature collaborative art pieces from the I AM SNOWBOARDING exhibit, music from DJ Rockwell, and raffle of a Stomping Grounds Evolution Park pass – a $499 value – with proceeds to the JLA Fund.
ABOUT I AM SNOWBOARDING: Traveling art exhibit in honor of Jeffrey Lin Anderson, as seen on FUEL TV, San Francisco Channel 2 News, Portland KOIN Channel 6 morning news, etc. and now featured in Unbound magazine, is “one of the most original events in snowboarding and art.” In honor of what would have been Jeff’s 30th birthday, a group of 44 world-renowned photographers and artists have come together to pay tribute to Jeff, and to raise money for the JLA Memorial Fund. Each image started with a photo of Jeff that was captured by someone who knew him well. The photo was enlarged onto canvas, and a separate artist then painted, or used a medium of his choice to create a unique collaborative work of art. The resulting pieces are one of a kind. The partnerships in this project are a tribute to the depth of the snowboarding, skateboarding and art communities. For info please visit IAMsnowboarding.com. All media inquiries: torrey@AR4T.com
ABOUT AR4T: Artists Republic for Tomorrow – is an art advocacy program where progressive creatives born from youth culture have a place to show their work and be supported with assistance in public outreach via newsletters, press, events. AR4T is a growing family, partnering with people who are working hard to make life visual and without boundaries. Our mission is to foster community spirit by creating relationships through art. It is our hope to plant our seed amongst a garden of others and provide a little more water to help this forest grow. The New Community Garden.
All media inquiries: torrey@AR4T.com
ABOUT THE JLA PROJECT: The JLA Project is a non-profit organization created in 2003 by Jeff Anderson’s family to provide skate parks, art spaces and the tools that support children and young adults as they pursue their dreams in art, sport, and education. The JLA Project funds The Brothers Skate Park, 210 AR4T Space, and I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends programs.
