expounding a little on the bio page

All of my "work" is seen through a self-placed filter formed by my experiences. This statement can be said of any person. All people make decisions based on their life up to that point. My life was not far off from most kids these days; broken home, abusive father, fucked schooling. It was enhanced a little in its strangeness by living in Orange County. The town I live in, Huntington Beach, is a hotbed of right-wing conservatives, skinheads, and religious fervor as well as being a beach community filled with surfers and skaters and all attendant props. Somehow, I became this person living in the middle of it but observing from the outside. I feel that way at least. I always take great pleasure in seeing it all.

The book "teenage smokers" is my first book, aside from making many 'zines. It is a collection of photographs and Polaroids of teenagers smoking. I am now 27 years old and as a professional skateboarder my access to the teen world is quite fluid. Once again I feel like an outsider looking in. I took these photos all over the world, most of the kids are 14 years old, some younger and some older. It amazes me the way they act with cigarettes. The way they dress and hold themselves hits me in some way. I hope the images hit you the same way. I purposely left out text so the viewer can form his own opinions about the collection. I personally do not smoke, and I feel sorry for the kids sometimes, although its probably just a phase. But the ones who get hooked...

My last solo show, "The Golden Age of Neglect" at the Alleged gallery was a personal revelation to me. It was the first time I really joined my painting and photography together. I feel that they go together, and the show illustrated an example of the possibilities to which I could take that marriage. In the show I had one wall dedicated to Teen Smokers, and the remaining 3 walls were blanketed with over 200 paintings and photographs hung on a backing of paper. The paper was there to fulfill the idea that it should be a massive sketchbook you are looking at, instead of an "art show."

I am currently working on a written book of stories from childhood, that film maker Mike Mills is interested in for a possible film. He made a short documentary film with me entitled Deformer in 1995. Deformer is the word I use to describe someone's life experiences.

- ed templeton