Nicholas Carbonaro, an IHS Library Clerk, is a local visual
artist specializing in theatrical arts, mixed media fine art,
and cosmetology. I recently had the opportunity to interview
them and hear about their art and inspirations.
Ruby Zawel: What led you to becoming an artist?
Nicholas Carbonaro: Emotional survival as a teenager and young
adolescent.
RZ: For how long have you been creating and selling art?
NC: I’ve been creating and selling my work officially since
eighteen, and I am fourty-four now.
RZ: What media do you use?
NC: I started off in fine arts doing drawing and painting and
sculpture, and then when I went to the Fashion Institute of
Technology (FIT) in New York, I decided I didn’t want to spend
college learning a skill that only talked about my point of view and
my emotions of the world. So I switched from FIT to Ithaca
College for Theater Arts, so I could use all of those creative art
skills but … give them a venue that didn’t always have to be so
personal and gut-wrenching. I have gone from fine art to theater
art, so it’s sort of everything in between—I’ve done fine art, scenic
art, costumes, masks, wigs, makeup, prosthetics—because it
overlaps [different] skills, so I just try to keep learning how the
skills overlap.
RZ: What common themes can be found in your work?
NC: A lot of abstracted portraits, either with photography or
drawing. Emotional responses to the world, opposed to “What I
see with my eyes.” It’s sort of a combination of both, so it’s a lot of
observation. And emotional portraits of people, using different
textures to get a point across.
RZ: What work of yours are you most proud of?
NC: I’m really proud of how I started my career, and a lot of the
things I learned right away, so I can spend a long time trying to
build up to where I thought I wanted to be, so I could get to a
creative place and then make decisions. One of my first jobs right
out of college was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, working in
the studio. I got a view right away of celebrities and how people
respond to celebrities, and then the research of how you
look at somebody, and how that’s all developed, like for a pop star
or a political figure. I was able to really see that right away as a
view of the world and learn about it and study it, and have my
own laboratory at the top of Times Square and three hundred
figures to work on every day. And so that was a really cool way to
go, oh wow, all these things that people celebrate, whether it be money
or… I’m working in the morgue of celebrity and fame! And so it really
was very grounding right away to understand who people are,
because we have files of people, and all these pictures and
dimensions and history about all the figures in the museum, so it
just makes you realize how grounded everybody is—everybody
comes from some place really normal. I’m happy that I’ve been able
to continue as an artist this whole time and make my own
decisions, [that aren’t] necessarily all about money. I’ve been able
to stay being an artist my whole life. Even being here [in the IHS
Library], I’m using my creative energy at the high school to think
a little bit out of the box and try to connect people and connect
students.
RZ: How do you feel art impacts society?
NC: Art makes people think, makes people self-reflect, makes
people see people differently, calms anxiety, stimulates the brain,
teaches kids to learn, teaches babies to learn.
RZ: Any final comments?
NC: Growing up in New York City in the 80s and 90s, someone
like me wasn’t really allowed to be in education. And if they were
in education, they had to be a shell of themselves in the professional
environment. I’m working in a place that has rainbow flags and, as
far as I can see, no outward bullying—definitely not like what I
grew up with. I feel very blessed to be working in an environment
where this is the reality of where education has gone compared to
twenty years ago.
Nicholas Carbonaro also currently works at Mis Wu waxing
salon at 420 Eddy Street in Collegetown, where you can view
more of their visual artwork. Visit Lawson-carbonaro.square.site to
make an appointment. Visit Nlawsoncarbonaro on Instagram to
view their art and reach out, whether it be about their work in
general or setting up a private appointment for viewing their art.
For those at IHS, Nicholas is available for hair and wellness advice
when in the library and Community Closet.
