“Fernandez, a former graffiti artist and photographer, partnered with a local jewelry designer to create custom pieces for artists performing at Tulsa’s 19,000-seat BOK Center. The arena had been giving artists a generic gift, but those trinkets didn’t capture the artists’ attention or generate good photo ops.”
www.businessweek.com/duanefernandez
TULSA PEOPLE 2011
“Younger brother Duane, who has lived in Tulsa for five years, is owner and photographer for Black Ops Studio and founder of the Left Field Project, a series of books featuring a collection of art, portraits and interviews with, according to Duane, some of the world’s most creative minds. He is a husband and ‘dogfather’ to two.”
http://www.tulsapeople-digital.com/duanefernandez
URBAN TULSA – APRIL 2009
Duane Fernandez - Digital Artist:
Four fun facts about graphic designer and digital artist Duane Fernandez: “I was fortunate enough to be a product of the Hollywood art scene in the early 1980s, so I am very heavily influenced by both graffiti and skateboarding.
“I moved to Denmark when I was in my early teens and was completely inspired by the country’s appreciation for modern and contemporary design.
“I’m fascinated by military philosophy and military design.
“I’m typically carrying at least one camera with me at all times.”
Fernandez moved to Tulsa in 2007 and was immediately taken by “the thriving art scene and the city’s incredible history,” he said.
“Tulsa is a unique place with so much character, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. I saw opportunity here, so I made the leap and I am happy I did.”
As an artist exploring the digital medium, Fernandez said, “I discovered a passion for the digital medium when Microsoft first released the Paintbrush program for Windows in the early ’90s. As much as I enjoy working on computers, I have always felt that every project should have tangible aspects to it.
“My passion for the digital world is a love/hate relationship, which continues to evolve every day.”
Last year Fernandez founded the “Left Field Project,” a boutique/exhibition space dedicated to paying homage to the artistic styles and figures that have influenced West coast surf and skate genres. The gallery will open a new exhibit of work by local artist Michael Sexton April 3.
“Left Field Project started because I wanted to write a book about the people that have influenced my life,” Fernandez said. “The project focuses on those in the art, fashion, film and design world. There are more than 300 interviews in our book, a new gallery, studio and documentary in production. Our goal is to keep everything in motion and allow the projects to continue to grow at their own pace. The ultimate goal of Left Field Project is to inspire and encourage passion in everyone.”
As for the arts in Tulsa, Fernandez said, “There are quite a few artists who are really putting themselves out there, critics be damned. That’s always so inspirational to me, to see other people really doing their thing and making it work.
“I wish there were just as many art enthusiasts as there were artists. It would be great to get even more encouragement from the community from a financial aspect — you know, people getting out there and showing support at art shows, not only through attendance, but also by actually buying the art. Money is good.”
TULSA PEOPLE 2008
What is your job description and job title?
I am the Creative Director of Left Field Project. With Left Field Project, I never thought about what it is that I do on a daily basis. It’s become a part of my life. It’s essentially an extension of my consciousness. I build relationships, ask lots of questions, help manage our store and art gallery, I take some of the most absurd ideas and turn them into realities and I smile a lot.
What is the best part about your job/worst part about your job?
As an Account Executive, I am the liaison between the client and the creative team. Being the middle man is sometimes a terrible place to be. You want to make everyone happy, but at the end of the day, it’s my job to remove all subjectivity and identify what is best for helping our client achieve their goals. The best part of my job is working with inspired and capable individuals on a daily basis.
Why do you enjoy the creative process?
I’m absolutely fascinated with the mechanics of the creative process. It’s actually one of the reasons Left Field Project exists. When I was a child I could not understand why some people would ever stop coloring, painting or drawing. Left Field Project was created because I wanted to understand why some people never stopped. But to answer the question, I enjoy the creative process because it’s not the same for everyone. There is no formula. Sometimes it’s extremely easy. Other times it’s not so easy. I’ve had many sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do next. You reach into the depths of your heart and soul for clues. Inspiration is not something you go in search of, it finds you. The process is brilliant. I usually learn something new about myself with every creative transaction. So maybe that’s why I enjoy it, there is self discovery within the creative process.
What makes Tulsa a unique city to work in?
Tulsa is a unique place, so it’s only natural that working here would make for a unique experience. That’s my political answer… I moved to Tulsa a little over a year ago because of numerous reasons, one of them was because I enjoy a challenge and let’s face it, Tulsa has some challenges. There are a lot of great ideas in Tulsa, but without the buy in from the community those great ideas will remain “ideas”. Great cities were built on dreams, support and stick-to-itiveness. If the community does not get behind the ideas of the dreamers, Tulsa will surely lose them all. But, despite the odds, there are a handful of people who are trying to make a difference. Working with them has been inspirational.
more from this interview: http://www.duanefernandez.com/tulsa-people-2008/
URBAN TULSA 2009 – Hot100
URBAN TULSA 2008
Left Field Project Gallery, 819 E. 3rd St., hosted TYPros third annual Next/Now art show, “Countdown to Utopia.” This was my first stop – I walked into the gallery, trying not to run over other attendees or be run over – that’s how crowded it was, and smiled over at the DJs spinning music in the corner of the gallery. Songs blared while people chattered over them; I looked around for the breakdancers but didn’t see any obvious suspects.
Walking into LFP felt like walking into a crowded club on a Friday night, only there was cool art on the walls and people weren’t acting like drunken idiots. Circling the space, I scoped out the “Countdown to Utopia” show, based on an invitation for artists to interpret the sustainability movement in Tulsa as well as Tulsa’s potential for the future.
A set called “The Book Series” caught my attention, although no artist was acknowledged [found out later it was by the gallery owner Duane Fernandez]. There are four paintings in the set,“Where They Are (1),”which displays a monster from the popular children’s book Where the Wild Things Are, “Corduroy,”with a rendition of the stuffed bear, “Giving Tree,”with the giving tree in a prominent spot and “Where They Are (2),”with Max from Where the Wild Things Are taking center stage. The figures are rendered in precise line-drawing style closely mimicking the original illustrations while the background consists of loose brush strokes with a graffiti feel. Above the series, attached to the wall hangs a heavy piece of metal symbolizing the state of Oklahoma. A wrecking ball hanging from the panhandle appeared to be on the verge of crashing into the book series. Interpret this how you will.
I missed the first set of breakdancing when I decided to wander away from LFP, but I couldn’t help stopping back by to see the moves of Movement 918. When I returned to LFP, the members of Movement 918 were outside taking a break. These guys- Leonard Richardson, Boogi and Hex, have been breakdancing for almost six years. After getting their names, I let them rest and prepare for their next set.
Inside, LFP Gallery was still packed with people and the music continued in full force. I didn’t have to wait too long for Movement 918 to find their spot in the middle of the gallery floor. Their energy was through the roof, their moves amazing; the guys hammed it up for the art show crowd, who circled around the dancers and watched in awe and enjoyment. It was worth stopping back by LFP to see Movement 918 perform and take a second look at the art show.