The Bio
Matthew Gilson loves puzzles. And bicycles. And words. He has run the Boston marathon six times and recently won his age group in a 50 mile trail race. His studio is in a 1909 storefront that once housed a concertina factory. Inside's a collection of 31 antique hammers, each produced for a unique task. And a collection of flipbooks, some Matthew made, some the spoils of a swap with a Swiss collector. His darkroom still exists, although it also houses backup media, books, and an old chandelier. He can fold an adequate crane from a dollar bill but produces a spectacular bunny from a cloth napkin. He has a VO2 max of 62.5. He's mudlarked the Thames. He has 27 teeth. He's slept in an igloo in the Arctic Circle. He speaks poor French but excellent Pig Latin. He's driven the family Volvo on a German Formula One race track. Fast. His bicycle stable: road, cyclocross, fender, mountain, vintage and a royal blue Dutch bakfiets. He will always think of film as image medium, and not the stuff milk leaves on the side of a glass. His School of the Art Institute of Chicago MFA is in experimental film, got as a merit scholar. He has a YouTube kitten video in the collection of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis (title: MO and Ginger) viewable here. His 12 year old sourdough starter has a relative living in Santiago, Chile. His grandfather was a flour miller. At age three, he had an enviable peacock imitation. He still does. Just call and ask.