Philadelphia Magazine |
Chatting With Jay McCarroll
By Jessica Remo
PM: We’re used to disappointment in this town. Do you worry people look at your move as a step back?
Jay: Oh, they do. when I left New York, people were like, why would you go there, there’s nothing there. But that’s living in the New York bubble. And I’m not coming down on New York. It’s just totally different. I had a great time living there, but it’s not somewhere I felt creative or settled. I like Philly because I have space, I can afford my space, I can have a cat, I have a backyard, I have a car, I can get out of the city if I want, and those are things I didn’t have in New York, and I wasn’t happy. A lot of people I meet say the same thing — why would you come back here? — and it’s like, do you live here? Have a better attitude about it! I think when people in Philadelphia stop treating themselves like a second-rate city, then it’s going to change.
PM: That’s very The Secret of you to say.
Jay: I haven’t read it. I’ve heard about it though. I feel like it’s a blank canvas here. And people are saying it’s the sixth borough and coming here or coming back here. And frankly, in New York all the artists got chased out and got so pushed out into Brooklyn and it’s like you can’t afford a $2,000 apartment and be an artist at the same time. It’s tough. I mean, I’ve been there. So I’m here and to have opportunities is good. God, I’m so positive!
PM: You can be our Philly cheerleader.
Jay: Well, I’m open to it. Get me on a fuckin’ billboard.
PM: Where are your favorite places in Philly to shop?
Jay: I go to all the thrift stores. I like to peek around at the little boutiques in Northern Liberties and 3rd Street. I love Lush cosmetics on Walnut. That’s probably my favorite store.
PM: What can we expect from you next?
Jay: Well, I hope QVC will be a good thing and afford me some financial freedom to do other projects. I have a documentary coming out next year, Eleven Minutes. Hopefully it’ll play at some kind of festival near here. I also have two other projects I’m working on for fall but I can’t reveal them.
PM: Well, we don’t want to take up too much of your time, so we’ll let you get back to your Christmas present project.
Jay: Oh, I’m just making a wreath out of fleece.
PM: Wow. That’s intense.
Jay: Well, no. Not really.
PM: I’m not crafty at all. I just admire.
Jay: That must suck! Well, without admirers there is no true art, I don’t think.
Jay: Oh, they do. when I left New York, people were like, why would you go there, there’s nothing there. But that’s living in the New York bubble. And I’m not coming down on New York. It’s just totally different. I had a great time living there, but it’s not somewhere I felt creative or settled. I like Philly because I have space, I can afford my space, I can have a cat, I have a backyard, I have a car, I can get out of the city if I want, and those are things I didn’t have in New York, and I wasn’t happy. A lot of people I meet say the same thing — why would you come back here? — and it’s like, do you live here? Have a better attitude about it! I think when people in Philadelphia stop treating themselves like a second-rate city, then it’s going to change.
PM: That’s very The Secret of you to say.
Jay: I haven’t read it. I’ve heard about it though. I feel like it’s a blank canvas here. And people are saying it’s the sixth borough and coming here or coming back here. And frankly, in New York all the artists got chased out and got so pushed out into Brooklyn and it’s like you can’t afford a $2,000 apartment and be an artist at the same time. It’s tough. I mean, I’ve been there. So I’m here and to have opportunities is good. God, I’m so positive!
PM: You can be our Philly cheerleader.
Jay: Well, I’m open to it. Get me on a fuckin’ billboard.
PM: Where are your favorite places in Philly to shop?
Jay: I go to all the thrift stores. I like to peek around at the little boutiques in Northern Liberties and 3rd Street. I love Lush cosmetics on Walnut. That’s probably my favorite store.
PM: What can we expect from you next?
Jay: Well, I hope QVC will be a good thing and afford me some financial freedom to do other projects. I have a documentary coming out next year, Eleven Minutes. Hopefully it’ll play at some kind of festival near here. I also have two other projects I’m working on for fall but I can’t reveal them.
PM: Well, we don’t want to take up too much of your time, so we’ll let you get back to your Christmas present project.
Jay: Oh, I’m just making a wreath out of fleece.
PM: Wow. That’s intense.
Jay: Well, no. Not really.
PM: I’m not crafty at all. I just admire.
Jay: That must suck! Well, without admirers there is no true art, I don’t think.
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Posted by | Jan. 2, 2008 at 10:12 PM