Today we’d like to introduce you to Grayson Simon.
Hi Grayson; so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I conceptualized out of a desire to connect with and platform other subversive artists, and something just clicked. North Carolina has had a thriving art and music scene, but it always felt like it needed to be more cohesive. Whether formed from geographic barriers or the siloing off of niche interests and communities, a gash needed to be tended to. A seemingly staunch cliff wall between the established art world and underground scene, it’s been a high hill to climb for many here, and those that do begin to crest ultimately end up leaving to continue establishing themselves elsewhere, leaving what can be a splash pad trickling into a puddle to dry. Suppose we could help cultivate a sustainably thriving subcultural nest and give our alternative and subversive creatives access to outlets, tools, resources, and platforms they need to feel supported and connect with their community. In that case, NC Underground wants to help support building that net.
It wasn’t until one late August afternoon that the idea of self-producing an art show was sparked. This past summer, my friend Trisch and I were exchanging antidotes for the throes of having your art perceived outside of the mainstream appetite in the American South and the desire to find a way to build our table. She, an anatomical engineer, and I, a fine conceptual art and film photographer, have both had our work described as “dark,” “disturbing,” or even “improper” by a few ill-advised husks of LiveLaughLove culture. When your work deals with darker subject matter or natural forms, finding good placements and fits to exhibit your art can be hard, and artists often face higher rejection rates from curated or juried shows. While the initial framing was only a lighthearted and intimate reception dedicated to our work, I knew other artists were experiencing the same. I felt there was a potential opportunity to widen the impact and convergence of other like-minded artists and communities, and I decided to develop the concept further.
That’s when it hit. I realized that one of the best ways to connect people transcending art genres and mediums was to find the interwoven threads that carry throughout a body of art and share these delicate arrangements with a wider audience of appreciators. Focusing on the human element, the ties that bind, the intimacy of experience, and the interactive exchange between art, artist, and art and audience can supersede any distance, mediums, and intangible influences that keep us apart. And thus, the idea of birthing Transfiguration was born.
Transfiguration, our first regionally curated art experience this past November, was a showcase dedicated to collective reflection, introspection, and the metamorphic nature of life. It was a bold step into new territory for me as an experiential producer and art curator, as I had planned and organized a few art shows in years past, but something different from the scale of this event. The previous shows I’d put together when I worked in local bars in downtown Raleigh were smaller showcases of 2 – 4 visual artists, usually exhibiting work of similar or adjacent mediums.
Presenting a reflective array of NC-based artists from Charlotte to Wilmington, the inaugural Transfiguration show proudly hosted 5 bands and electronic artists, 11 visual artists spanning sculpture, mixed media installation, projection art + more, and shorts from 12 filmmakers for a cinematic evening of short film screenings and immersive art exchange.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Despite some unexpected challenges, it still feels surreal that we were able to pull this off. I’m thankful for everyone who believed in this idea and came together to make it happen. It was a challenging, exhilarating, and overwhelming experience making this happen at some points. At one point, I communicated with over 60 people regarding the show while still juggling work and my personal life. It became an increasingly heavy part-time job for a few months, and the balancing act was no easy game. But none of it wouldn’t have been possible without community support and our event partners. I still can’t believe the immense support I received from the music, art, and film community, and I will work to make the next one even bigger and better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
Originally envisioned as a video interview series, NC Underground is another evolving project dedicated to the spotlight, connecting, and supporting subversive artists presented by art director, photo-video producer, and conceptual artist Grayson Simon. Outside of full-scale curated experiences, we’re still considering auxiliary ways NC Underground can best serve NC’s overlapping yet somewhat insular subcultural art + music communities.
You can follow what they’ll be up to next at @NCUnderground.media.
You can also check out their work at @vernal.lamb and www.yourdoghasnipples.com.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ncunderground.media
Image Credits
Phone pics from Grayson depicting Brutal Jr. set, the work of Hema Gaia, and a snapshot of a film screening session.
