Cream: When you exhibited at Millennium Art Gallery, and now MillenniumArtGallery.com, you mentioned Kwagiutl First Nations tribe. Tell us about where you are from and the artists that first inspired you.

Marc Ewert: I am from Vancouver (B.C.), born and raised. I am half Heltsuk and half Bulgarian. My native side is from my mother being from Bella Bella B.C. I am from the raven and eagle clan. My father is from Bulgaria. The artist that first inspired me was Bill Reid. I admired his skill and craft. He took the art to a new level for everyone. Something to look up to, he cleaned the art to close-perfection.


Cream: MAG features works of yours in mixed media and paint, most from a few years ago. What are the tools and techniques of your current works?

Marc Ewert: I still use acrylics and canvas, the pieces are just getting larger in size.


Cream: How have the world's events of the past 2-3 years influenced your art or your outlook? Have you moved from certain subject matter to other subject matter, or gone further into your prior subjects...?

Marc Ewert: I can't say that the world's events have had an  effect on how I paint, but I do feed off the public spot light. There are always new and interesting people popping up, and I get inspired by their craft and personalities, which makes me want to paint them how I see them.


Cream: I've seen some ink drawings of yours that reflect pop culture, specifically, rock and roll - tell us about your musical tastes and how you participate in music, if you do.

Marc Ewert: I love music. I always paint with music on. I can't do without it. I love any music that catches my ears. David bowie of course, rap, underground, up and coming, Kinnie Starr, Johnny Cash, George Leach, Jane's Addiction, old and new. I sing all the time. I have friends in bands and after they finish rehearsing, they mess around and we jam to old tunes and I sing with them. I would like to have my own band one day. I also have a bunch of books, full of songs and poetry that I write.


Cream: What's ahead for you as an artist?

Marc Ewert: Hopefully full time painting in my twenties  - I was busy finding my style -now that I have found it I can concentrate on promoting myself in my thirties. And being able to paint full time.


Cream: If you could say one thing to the premier of BC what would it be?

Marc Ewert: Reconsider school cut backs: Art and music can be a huge part of a kids life at the time of high school - that's when you find out if you want to pursue it further in life.


Cream: If you could say one thing to your most prominent hero, who and what would that be?

Marc Ewert: Jean Michel Basquiat , thank you for your courage as an minority artist in pop culture and being one of the first in the spot light. Wish u were still with us, we salute you. And the same to Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison.