Artist Profile: Steve Frost

Steve Frost is a local artist who works mainly with fabric. By day he's an admissions counselor at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, which he calls "an extremely fun job." He has lived in D.C. since 2004. To see more of Steve's work, visit his web site.

The New Gay: What are some of the ideas and themes that your work engages with?

Steve Frost: My work is about personal and cultural history. I talk about experiences like reading comics or watching sports and then help my audience view them through a personal, and frequently queer, lens. The queer lens helps people see the way in which our culture has developed systems to perpetuate their values. My favorite structure to screw with is the boy scout merit badge system.


TNG: What drew you to working with fabric? Do you work in any other media?

SF: When I was a senior at Alfred University, I started making paintings of underwear. I wanted an iconic image that was uniquely male. I thought that tighty-whities were that essential image. My studio walls were covered with briefs that my mom had saved from my childhood. I guess she knew I would want my He-Man Under-roos someday. Thanks Mom!

My paintings were cute but not good. One day the artist Jessie Shefrin was looking at my work. She said to me, "Why are you using paint? The real underwear is much more interesting and you can touch it!" Jessie was right and I began to build compositions with fabric. I also enjoy working with video, found objects and photos.

TNG: Do you have a favorite art spot/event in DC?

SF: I love the Curator's Office. It's the biggest little small gallery in DC.

TNG: Do you have a favorite gay spot/event in DC?

SF: I must admit that I am a terrible gay. I have never been to Town but I did sleep with a bartender from Halo a couple times which gives me some street cred... right? The other night I promised an out of town friend "The D.C. Gay Experience." We went to Nellie's and had a few drinks then decided we wanted do something queer. So I suggested BeBar, but when we got there it had been commandeered for a Barack Obama fundraiser event. The bar was full of single, over-dressed straight girls and guys in polos talking about Michelle Obama... I said to him, "This is pretty much it." The gayest thing I've done is recent memory was go to the Ting Tings concert with my boyfriend — oh that and the sex I had this morning... that was pretty gay.

TNG: Does your work engage with your sexuality?

SF: My work explores issues surrounding boyhood and often incorporates many references to my sexuality. When I was young there were very few cultural examples for queer youth (Bea Arthur doesn't really count) and therefore as I started searching for a community I found it in a truck stop bathroom near my house, in the form of a Freshmen Magazine (a gay porn magazine). It was the first time I witnessed my desires represented in the media. Gay men are often introduced to their community with sex, not with a quinceañera. This is why people will often find subtle and overt references to gay porn in my work — it's a symbol of my cultural discovery.

TNG: How would you describe the DC art scene/community? Is it a good place to be an artist?

SF: Washington is full of organized, ambitious, and idealistic people. The art scene is no exception. I see fewer and fewer people decorating their apartments with Ikea Paintings, Van Gogh Posters and terrible Yin-Yang batiks. Instead it seems they're opting to support young local artists and designers.

TNG: How long have you been making art?

SF: My mom is a crafter and she always involved me with her projects. She taught leather crafts and rabbit husbandry in our local 4H club, of which I was a member. We collaborated on many Halloween costumes and art projects for the Grafton County Fair. My sisters were athletically gifted but I was clearly not, so my family encouraged me to find other outlets.

TNG: Do you have any upcoming shows?

SF: I'm in an staff exhibition at the Corcoran, and just had work in the Quart Bag show at Civilian Arts Projects. I'm also in a couple of exciting group shows this fall and I just found out I am a finalist for a solo exhibition at the Arlington Arts Center in 2009. Cross your fingers!

TNG: What do you see down the road artistically?

SF: I'm about to start a collaboration with my mom, which should be really exciting!