Youth Insights Leaders Meet Jared Madere
Oct 20, 2015

On October 20, Youth Insights Leaders had the pleasure of meeting with artist Jared Madere, whose work is currently on view on the first floor of the Whitney. Before meeting him, I had done some research and found his concept of his artwork as “a springboard for new ideas” to be incredibly intriguing. As a young artist, I love taking inspiration from what other artists have to say about their work, and after meeting with Jared, I definitely felt empowered and inspired to create more art.

Before his work was shown at the Whitney, Jared lived and worked in a recreational vehicle called Bed-Stuy Love Affair. He seemed to look back on his time there lovingly—it helped him to get started in the art world and explore the kind of artwork he wanted to create. Since then, he has done several installations using various materials. When asked about his choice of materials in the installation, Madere spoke about the practicality of the materials and how they work (or don’t work) together. Upon looking at his installation, it is obvious there is no one central theme, and there is equilibrium with the materials being used. He explained his concept behind this, saying that there is no stopping place in his artwork, and compared it to composing a meal, in which all parts are equally important. 

When I work on my own art, I have often a plan or sketch of what I want to accomplish. If the finished product doesn’t really match my original layout, disappointment ensues. Jared does not think in this way at all. When asked about his process of creating, he said that he once worked on an installation that came out exactly as he planned, but he didn’t feel any satisfaction from it. The real joy came from working in a collaborative environment, in which his group of artists contribute and fuse ideas—resulting in a different artwork that would not have been created if he had been working on it alone. Hearing this perspective totally changed how I view my creative process. Change and evolution occurs naturally, and should be embraced. Something not coming out as planned doesn’t have to be a negative thing.

Unlike Madere’s other installations, the one currently on view at the Whitney was his first to not be created onsite. The installation is a truly immersive and captivating experience, in which Madere’s idea of art not having an end point is evident. 

By Jocelyn, YI Leader