q+a: rachael tarravechia
Tchotchke Gallery: What feels better–starting a painting or finishing one?
Rachael Tarravechia: Definitely starting a painting! There’s a rush in the very beginning and it’s exciting to see how quickly the canvas begins to change. Blocking in large areas of color and beginning to see those relationships form is my favorite part!
TG: What are the top 5 songs on your painting playlist?
RT:
Dans la hess, by Lous and the Yakuza
Soul Makossa, by Manu Dibango
Little Fang, by Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks
Oui ou non, by Angèle
Reason, by KAI
TG: Best studio drink?
RT: If I want something warm then honey lavender black tea! I typically drink tea all day, but that’s my favorite, especially with a Stroopwafel or Biscoff cookie.
TG: What’s the worst question someone has asked you as an artist?
RT: This doesn’t exactly fit the prompt, but the worst interaction I’ve had as an artist was pretty recent. I was at the opening reception of a show I was in, and a man came up to me to talk about my work. Without asking, he forcefully grabbed my wrist and started pulling me to the piece he specifically wanted to talk about. I was so shocked and upset that I don’t even remember half of the conversation after that. I know if I was male he definitely wouldn’t have grabbed my wrist like that and led me around (and this was during COVID)!
TG: What part of the city (people, places, moments, etc.) have you fallen in love with the most?
RT: I have so much love for all the bodegas! Honestly, I love nothing more than walking to a bodega with a friend, getting a tea or coffee, looking at all the fun drinks and snacks, and walking to a park or rooftop with all of our spoils. It’s also nice when you have a few you go to more often than others, and they start recognizing you. The guy who runs the bodega across from my studio always says, “hello, my friend, how are you, my friend,” and it warms my heart to be able to build a rapport with him. Also, bonus points if they have a bodega cat.