Name: Matthew Charles Edward Siegfried
Profession: Credit Manager - Wine Importer
Location: Mount Vernon, NY

Where did you study? SUNY Purchase, SUNY Westchester, Adelphi University
How was your experience there? Fantastic, Surprisingly Challenging, Meh

When and why did you start to do collages? I made my first collage with an ex-girlfriend of mine back in 1999. We had a slew of media strewn across the floor of my apartment one day from the various projects we had been working on and through a box of wine and candlelight persuasion, we were lulled into deconstructionist paper dream state. She was and still is a passionate surrealist who I have to admit, rubbed my soul the right way and got me started on this addiction to razors and rubber cement.

What sources do you use to find the images? Most of the imagery I use in my work is drawn from full color vintage magazines from the 60s-80s. It's been said a thousand times, but New York has some of the best trash on Earth. Nearly everything I use is found curbside, from stock photo books to classic, oversized Geo mags.
Please, throw your garbage at me, I insist.

What does your inspiration come from? The unexplained mysteries of our universe.

I know you like to rave and to party... best rave you have attended so far? I suppose it would be the warehouse party that Ylyptyk & the Soundlab crew threw some years back in DUMBO. Free beer + Minimal lighting + virgin warehouse space + virtual reality hookah (!) + live A/V mashup = wild times.
Also the sweat er...ambiance of the Matthew Dear set at 3rd Ward last year was pretty magical.

The best records in your room are...
1. Starship 727 - All Depends On You
2. Alton Ellis - What Does It Take
3. E.A.R - Falling/Tail Chaser

What are you reading right now? The World Atlas of Wine - Hugh Johnson

What are your plans for the future? Push myself. I would love to get one of those new MIDI Video sequencers and mash up some Redd Foxx/The Mole with classic Soul Train footage set against flashing moon landing illustrations. I suppose my plan is to induce waking dreams if that makes any nonsense. I think I'm moving to Canada, too.

What's this triptych all about? The mystery of spirits walking among us, alone with time, memories of shadows and underwater views, and/or where no human has seen light. We create the illusions we trust and fear.