Matt Eatonis an artist in Detroitbut his own art is often a second priority.
It has played host to over a hundred artists since 2011, carefully selected by Matt and his team.
And, of course, he is an artist himself.
Preferring a hammock to an office and paint over PowerPoints, I think Matt has things figured out.
We spoke with him to learn about how he works.
First of all, tell me a little about your background and your current work.
Moving back to Detroit from NYC was a strange but important time for me.
What I do now is not a job, its an absolute dream and pleasure.
My life consists of making art, helping others make art, and advocating for their continued efforts.
I couldnt be happier.
What apps, software, or tools cant you live without?
The only app I really pay much attention to isInstagram.
Its such an amazing tool for discovery.
Listening to truckers talk among themselves on the road is… interesting.
Whats your workspace setup like?
Coffee shop with laptop and headphones?
Home office with a standing desk?
Plus, its called a LAP-top.
In the summer, my front porch turns into my office.
A nice leafy outdoor space is my most productive environment.
Whats your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
is a close second.
Master the art of saying no.
Command + S. Every.
Whats your favorite to-do list manager?
Might be plain text, perhaps an app like Todoist, or simply pen and paper!
I use an ancient technique called guilt.
I catalog everything in my head and whatever starts making me feel guilty first gets done.
That, and a system I developed called Sharpie on hand.
I never forget anything that way.
The truth is really that I dont make lists much.
I dont use anything.
It makes for good brain exercise… right?
Ill have to say my wallet (Machine Era) and its contents, I guess.
It has tools and gadgets.
I make a pretty kick ass Chicken Schnitzel, too.
What do you listen to while you work?
Got a favorite playlist?
Or do you prefer silence?
That is by far the superior soundtrack for me in most situations.
If I need some extra energy though, thats a tough one.
I love podcasts likeHardcore History,RadioLab, andSnap Judgement.
I love all kinds of music from classical to cold wave and beyond.
Members include Ennio Morricone, H.R.
(Bad Brains), Gary Numan, Big Daddy Kane, Richard D. James, and Bruce Dickinson.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Yes, breakfast is work the best kind of work.
What are you currently reading?
Or what might you recommend?
My daily routine includes reading theBBCandNPRsites along withJalopnik,Gizmodoand Lifehacker (no joke).
I really enjoyedIndefinitely Wildwhile it lasted, too.
Plus lots of gear reviews.
I just finished readingStories of Your Life and Othersby Ted Chiang, a very enjoyable selection of short stories.
I particularly liked the first one Tower of Babylon and the lesson I thought it was trying to convey.
Also recently, Sidney PoitiersThe Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography.Interesting and talented guy!
I read all kinds of stuff from Ken Kesey to Stephen King (thank you Enid Blyton and J.R.R.
A book I always recommend isBlood Meridianby one of my favorite writers, Cormac McCarthy.
If anyone can describe even the most harrowing and bleak situations like soft poetry, its Cormac.
With the darkness one soul rose wondrously from among the new slain dead and stole away in the moonlight.
How do you recharge?
Sleep comes swiftly and gently outside.
Whats your sleep routine like?
Are you a night owl or early-riser?
I go to bed around 3am every single day and wake up at 7 or 8.
Between around 10pm and 3am are usually my personal art studio or digital work hours.
The rest of the day is dedicated to work with others.
Hammock naps are essential.
Im totally in love with iOS 10’s bedtime alarm and wake up sounds, too.
Fill in the blank: Id love to see ______ answer these same questions.
Carl Sagan,Hieronymus Bosch, orKrzysztof Kamil Baczynski… but realistically?Wangechi Mutuwould be cool.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
My mother once told me, Hope is the last refuge for people that dont plan.
This advice was promptly shelved for future useand I do plan on using it!
My mother is a genius.
Is there anything else youd like to add that might be interesting to readers and fans?
Just an observation that relates to my field of work and scope of interest, I guess.
Where we have been, where we will go.
The artist is the tool that connects dreams to reality.
Support them, understand them, be them.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
