The Golden Gate Bridge is not within sight, nor the clanging cable cars within earshot of the southeast corner of San Francisco where weeds fill the sidewalk cracks near the corner of Robert Burden’s second floor warehouse space. Walking through his studio are shelves of memorabilia, including the hockey skates from his youth in Canada. On the walls are massive menageries in progress, detailed paintings that link legends, toys, animals and more, works you do have to see to believe. And we did see them at Heron Arts—just before the gallery had to move into shut-down phase. Plans are being made for a closing reception, so we hope this interview with the artists will give you some insight into his colorful vision.
Gwynned Vitello: On a scale, how much has your routine changed since sheltering in place?
Robert Burden: In some ways, not much. People ask how I’m handling self-isolation, and I tell them that I’ve been self-isolating for the past fifteen years! I make absurdly labor intensive paintings, which has required me to be alone and disciplined for many years. It’s a kind of monastic existence. But now, for whatever reason, even though I have all the time in the world right now, I don’t know if it’s anxiety and uncertainty about the future, but I haven’t been as productive as I would like.
Do your surroundings look or feel different?
I live and work in a warehouse space in an industrial pocket of the City where there would often be toxic-smelling odors coming out of the workshops below me, so I will say I don’t notice as much of that now, which is nice. It’s a little quieter in my area, although there are a lot more RVs parked around here—and a lot more cars doing donuts on the street!
Has there been a kind of singular reaction you've felt as a result of the pandemic, say in terms of your age and stage in life, or in terms of being an artist?
I don’t have a spouse or kids, and even though my studio is very austere looking, it’s quite large, so I have a lot of space. I can only imagine how difficult it is for families of four living in a condo or small apartment. For me, the biggest disaster related to the pandemic is the loss of my part-time teaching jobs, which I’ve been doing one or two nights a week for the past 12 years. This provided a little extra cash, as well as a much needed dose of social interaction! No classes now, no classes this summer and maybe none in the fall—so that’s a worry! 
Has this all caused you to alter anything in progress or inspired any new work?
I don’t know why, but whenever I’m under a lot of stress I start new work. I have 50 more giant paintings that I’m really hoping to make before I run out of time. I started 5 new large ones at the start of all this, which is crazy because I still have 2 other huge pieces that are each about halfway finished and really need my attention. There’s this ten-foot tall bear painting that I started in 2017 that I’ve ignored for too long, and I really need to focus on it. But starting new work does reduce a bit of my anxiety.
Have you noticed a different reaction to these times after talking to family and friends in Canada.
It seems to be pretty similar. My parents are in their 70s, and my sister is a doctor, so she’s making absolutely sure that they don’t go anywhere other than a daily walk. She brings them food regularly, and I think my parents feel like they’re inmates and she’s the warden! It all seems to be the same when you talk to friends throughout North America: a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, with some wanting to talk about the politics, about Trump, Cuomo or China. They wonder about the economy or when sports will come back. Should beaches be closed? When will barber shops open? All that stuff.
Will this alter how you market your art?
I’ve started posting more regularly on instagram, but I’m not going to change the kind of work that I really dream of making because of all this. I have to believe the world will return to some kind of normal fairly soon, as opposed to me inching toward a Matrix-style pod that I plug my brain into. Then there really won’t be much purpose to any kind of painting, right?
Do you think artists have an advantage in terms of self-worth, given that many in other professions are unable to practice their skills?
Hard to say as “Art” is a very broad spectrum. I had a solo show that opened right before everything was shut down—my first solo show in three years and its closure was very deflating. I make work that I want people to see in person. Given the scale, density and medium of what I make, it’s not art enhanced by social media. Artists who make stuff more accessible on social media will certainly fare better. But one thing that gives most artists an advantage right now is that they like being alone!
So, with all this extra free time, what do you binge in?
Cereal, a l-o-t more cereal these days.
Stay tuned with our Art In Uncertain Times series here!
