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Gertrude Stein Questionnaire: Peter Bruun

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Peter Bruun is an artist, educator, curator, and community activist in the arts. He likes to say his art “evolved from being individual works, to being suites of work, to being component pieces of community-based projects.” His trajectory as an artist bringing educational, curatorial, and advocacy aspects into his practice can be seen in such projects as Conversation Piece (2000), Being Seen 1-2-3 (2001), Reasons to Believe (2003), and Music, Art & Beautiful Things (2005). In 2005, Bruun founded Art on Purpose, dedicated to using art to bring people together around issues and ideas. Bruun remained involved in Art on Purpose through 2011, and since then has returned his attention to his ever-evolving practice as an artist, now operating under the aegis of Bruun Studios. His first public event as an artist under Bruun Studios, Anonymous Requeim, is taking place Sunday, January 13, 1-3pm (RSVP required).

Name: Peter Bruun

Age: Not quite 50 yet.

Occupation: Artist and all-around art/community person.

Baltimore Neighborhood: My studio is in Station North, but I’m a little all over the place.

Obsessive Collections: I’m sure there’s something unhealthy I’m collecting, but I’m oblivious as to what that might be.

Currently Reading: Liz Lerman’s “Critical Response Process.”

Coolest Place You’ve Ever Lived (or Travelled To): Ramallah, West Bank. Very moving. Did a cultural envoy gig there.

Hobbies or Leisure Activities: Running, so long as my body holds up. Reading The Onion on line. Spending Sunday reading the New York Times and watching the Ravens.

Favorite Food to Eat at Home: Just about anything my wife cooks. She loves to cook and makes things with good ingredients from scratch. Yum.

Favorite Food to Eat Out: We once indulged by going to The Charleston. It’s a tasting menu, meaning you get several small servings of things one after the other. Their lobster bisque, with lumps of lobster filling out the center. And indulging in a mocha milkshake with Taharka Brothers ice cream at Uncle Wiggly’s in Mount Washington during the summer. They’re closed until March :(.

Beverage of Choice: Cafe Mocha from Artifact Coffee or Spro in Hampden. Either place will do.

Political Leanings: Pragmatic liberal.

Favorite Baltimore spot to hang out: Almost any coffee place that’s happy to have me hang out with my laptop.

Pets: Too many: two dogs (Ruby and Freddie), two ferrets (Weezie and Columbus), and occasionally my daughter’s cat, Ludicat. I’m not the pet lover in the family, but I put up with it.

Favorite Artist, Living or Dead: Paul Cezanne

Movie that Sums Up the Current State of Your Life: “Moonrise Kingdom”

Favorite Bad Habit: The one I’m willing to share is my love of chocolate.

Mantra or Favorite Quote: Change your attitude, change your life.

“Untitled” (from recent watercolor series) 2011. watercolor on paper, 10″x10″

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