The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival is delighted that ten acclaimed artists have graciously donated works of art to be presented to the directors who win this year's Festival awards. The ten works of art are on display through April 29 at Chanel Soho, 139 Spring Street in Manhattan. The Art Awards Gallery is open from 11 am to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 pm on Sundays.

In an effort to get to know these artists a little better, we asked them to submit their answers to some questions about life, art, films, and inspiration.
 

 
Sky III, 2008

Clifford Ross

Does life really imitate art?
Only if art is stranger than fiction.

How do locations inspire you?
I don't know, but if I can feel the inside of my shoes when I wiggle my toes, I know that something has knocked my socks off and I should get to work.

Where do you go to be inspired?
If I knew, I would be there and not in an Austin hotel room answering this question.

What film do you go back to repeatedly in your life?
Tri-X. But only three times. XXX...

What film has had an influence on your work?
Generally film noir et blanc, but sometimes color pushes me in good ways, too.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in fiction?
Viola in Twelfth Night; Hedwig; Dr. Frank'n'furter; Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels; and Fa Mulan.

In real life?
Rrose Sélavy.
 

Time Can Be a Villain or a Friend, 1984/2009

Hank Willis Thomas

Does life really imitate art?
Art imitates Life. Life Imitates Ads. Ads imitate Art.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in real life?
My favorite heroine is Ruth Willis, my grandmother.

What is your state of mind right now?
I'm in a liberated state of mind, though cautious if possible...
 

Campus Point, 2009

Fritz Chesnut

Does life really imitate art?
Yes, and I especially believe that sometimes art happens to fulfill a longing that often becomes reality. It reminds me of that expression, "Be careful what you wish for." Look at Warhol, to me, the most influential artist of the 20th century. He made art about fame and in so doing became the art himself, the ultimate collapse of "art" and "life."

How do locations inspire you? Where do you go to be inspired?
LA. I  just moved to California after spending 11 years in New York City. The landscape is so completely different. I find myself inspired by simple things like sunsets and mountain views, to be honest. In New York City you're constantly looking at the first 20 feet in front of you and forget about the landscape a lot.

What film do you go back to repeatedly in your life?
2001: A Space Odyssey. I think that's  the one movie that sticks with me to this day. The "touching the monolith" sequence, when the man/apes touch the big black stone is a very powerful metaphor. I see this movie every 5-10 years and it always feels like I'm seeing it for the first time.

What film has had an influence on your work?
I remember seeing Robert  Altman's The Player in college. That film blew me away with its critique of Hollywood. I think it inspired me to start making art about art. I look at the all the work I've done in the last decade, and they are all portraits of people either viewing art, performing "art", or consuming "art." Woody Allen movies from the '70s and Coen brothers movies are also up there as well.
 

 
A Map of NYC (with directions to the Tribeca Film Festival), 2009

Tom Slaughter

Does life really imitate art?
Yes, life imitates Art.     

Where do you go to be inspired?
I live in New York City. I rest my hand bag.

What film do you go back to repeatedly in your life?
The Godfather.

What film has had an influence on your work?
The Red Balloon.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Elmore Leonard's Chilly Palmer from Get Shorty.

What is your state of mind right now?
Nervous.
 

Learn more about all the 2009 Artists, and view their fruits of their inspiration at Chanel Soho today!

Read more Festival Extras