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Gary BasemanLos Angeles-based artist and creator of the Mythical Creatures project
Date of Birth: 27.09.1960
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Gary Baseman: Unraveling Mythical Creatures
- The Shadow of the Past Revealed
- Uncovering the Hidden Truths
- The Birth of a Hero
- Fragments of a Magical Tale
- The Mythical Narrative
- The Path Forward
Gary Baseman: Unraveling Mythical Creatures
The Origins of a Mythical QuestGary Baseman, the Los Angeles-based artist and creator of the "Mythical Creatures" project, is currently seeking funds to bring his artistic vision into reality. Driven by the compelling story of his father's daring escape from Poland during the Holocaust, Baseman is ingeniously weaving together animation, theater, and fantastical installations to create a unique space between life, art, and extraordinary dreams.
The Shadow of the Past Revealed
"My parents were Holocaust survivors, and all their friends were survivors... They all looked at me as being the next generation, so they didn't tell me any of the horrors they went through," Baseman explains. "They kind of kept me removed from the real facts, just telling me the broad stories. I was just a little Hollywood kid... Disneyland, the Dodgers, Warner Bros. cartoons. I had no idea the depth of the Holocaust."
Uncovering the Hidden Truths
Fueled by love and reverence for his parents' lives, Baseman embarked on a journey to preserve their history and uncover the "unvarnished truth" as best he could. Through a Fulbright fellowship that took him to study art in Eastern Europe, Baseman ventured into the hometowns of his parents in Poland. There, he delved into the "ugly details" intentionally omitted from the stories spun by his parents.
The Birth of a Hero
Baseman discovered that both of his parents' towns had been nearly decimated by mass murder. He had previously equated his father, Ben Baseman, to Fred Flintstone, a typical everyman. But the revelations in Poland led him to reconsider, contemplating, "Wow, this guy was more like John Wayne."
Fragments of a Magical Tale
Piecing together fragments of his parents' story, Baseman wove a tapestry of unearthed documents, family lore, and his own boundless imagination. Recognizing the missing pieces of the narrative, he deemed it fitting to interject his whimsical artwork into the fabric of the tale.
The Mythical Narrative
As described in the outline of "Mythical Creatures," Ben was one of a hundred Jews from Berezne, Poland, who narrowly escaped a Nazi onslaught that murdered thousands, including Gary's grandparents. But Ben did not flee into the surrounding forests. He spent four years fighting the Nazis as a partisan, eventually returning to his hometown seeking revenge. One by one, he assassinated those responsible for killing his family, but his actions eventually led to his arrest and a death sentence. Miraculously, he escaped for a second time, breaking out of a Ukrainian prison. Soon after, he met his future wife, Naomi, Gary's mother. In 1948, the family embarked on a new life in North America. Ben worked as an electrician, while Naomi took up a job at the legendary Canter's Deli Bakery. They raised four children, making their home in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles.
The Path Forward
Joining Baseman in the realization of his vision is director David Charles, with whom he previously collaborated on a related project, a short animated piece for mocaTV that featured Baseman's artwork set to music by South African band Die Antwoord. Baseman and Charles have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $74,000 to bring "Mythical Creatures" to life. To date, they have raised nearly $50,000. Perks for supporters range from T-shirts to original drawings to limited-edition works by Shepard Fairey. For a $10,000 donation, Baseman offers the enticing prospect of turning a donor's home into a living canvas, painting the house's exterior or another designated space.
