Dave Dembinski
buttfuck, Ohio
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dave founded the hold in July of 1998. he is also editor and occasionally writes poetry. dave has a habit of finding people with questions that need answers. if you fit the bill go to dave's Virtual Help Desk and toss your canary caca his way.founder of the hold
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• What do you do for a living?
Answer phones from demanding fuckers who don't know their ass from the USB port on their computer that's twenty times more powerful than the one I can afford. • Who are your favorite artists?
the ones that aren't. I define an artist as a person whose primary occupation is art. An artist is a sad thing. By devoting themselves so fully to their art, they're missing out on the rest of life, and the incredible experiences they could be having. These experiences, in turn, fuel art. So, a person who does nothing but art is destined to burn out and be miserable. Most of the reasons i would like an artist would be related to their personality. Matter of fact, i don't like art very much. I don't think i ever have. I just told myself i did for a while because i couldn't justify spending so much time around it if i didn't like it. But as far as artists i like, i'd have to say Androla, Cait Collins, Fillipski, Sarapunk, and pretty much anyone else i've ever talked to or spent time with that didn't turn out to be a complete asshole. • What influences you to write about/how you do?
I don't understand this question. • Where do you see the underground writing scene in 25 years?
Heh. See Ron Androla's answer to this one from way back when these interviews started. He, at least, has some perspective on the way the scene's changed in the past 25 years. As for me, I think the underground will always be around, and it will always be full of people who are pissed off and mean, as well as people who see the world through fluffy contacts. People are people, and they want. . .no, they fucking NEED to express themselves. They'll find a way to do it. • from cait - make up your own question and answer it honestly! ?
Cait, honey, if I could do that I'd be a writer. I'm the least creative fucker you'll ever meet.
• questions submitted by contributors (no names) •• Meat or Potatoes?
Fuck that. Cheese sandwiches. Ten bucks a week and you've got three meals a day. • Talk about what being an editor gives you that keeps you going from issue to issue despite the above and other challenges you face.
I'm not an editor. I'm a lazy bastard. • What goes bump in the night, lives in the basement and /or haunts your dreams?
What am I scared of? Scared how? I mean, sure, I have those natural mortal fears of things like being shot at. And lately i get chills every time a plane goes by close overhead. But that's nothing special. If you're asking for irrational fears. . .i'd have to hire a psychologist to pull those out. as far as i can remember i don't have any, but that's bullshit. just means i don't think about them. • How many pinwheels does it take to start a tornado?
Uh. . .well, probably a whole shitload. • Jump?
Sure, if it makes you happy. • Is there any subject/object not properly a subject/object of art?
Hell no. Art is expression. When people are afraid to express themselves, we've got some real trouble. Therefore, even though I generally hate art, I will support it. Fuck, if someone wanted to do an exhibition on how stupid and ugly I am, I'd support it. It's one of the most important things to keeping our souls alive. • What taboos, if any, remain for the artist in general and/or for you personally?
There's plenty. Extreme sexual deviation, for one. You just don't get people writing poems about their love of sticking goldfish up their asses. It's not that they don't feel strongly about it. It's shame. When they stop being ashamed of themselves they'll write about sticking goldfish up their assess and be praised for it. By me, at least.
Almost all taboos come down to shame, in the end. • What are your top three artistic priorities?
1)Not to be an artist
2)Not to be an artist
3)Not to be an artist • Tell us what makes you melt and why.
Well, probably about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm not too flame-resistant. • It's obvious that the idea of community is important to the editors of The-Hold. Talk to us about how this community developed over time and what you see as its future.
Which community? The community of the hold, or of underground art in general? If it's the latter, I don't know how this community developed. It was developing long before I was around. Where'd the word "chapbook" come from? I had it explained to me, once. Now I don't remember too clearly, but I think it had something to do with France in the last century and a half or so. As for the hold, it developed when people found they could send me something and i'd usually publish it, regardless of what i thought of it. Who am i to say what's worthy of seeing the light of day? I'm an idiot. I have no taste. Like i've said before, i don't even like most art. I do feel strongly about people's need to do it, though, and if by putting up with art i don't like i can encourage that, even just a little, it's worth it. Finally, I'd just like to thank you all for giving me a chance to shoot my mouth off, finally. It means a lot to me, really it does. Back when I was doing interviews in issue 3 for the 10 or so people that read the mag, i dreamed of the day when i'd get interviewed my self. and i'd always have these insightful, self-important answers. now, that day's here, and all i have is snide comments and weariness. And, honestly, that's what feels right. thanks. _dave ? |
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