Who is Andrew Hersey?

He's a 62-year-old self-taught artist and writer who has exhibited his work around the country at shows and in galleries. Starting in 1982 and over the course of his creative career, he's worked in painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, digital media, collage, and writing. He's a runner, cyclist, low-budget traveler, music appreciator, and lover of the ocean. A survivor of both testicular cancer and clinical depression, he lives in Virginia.

How long has this website been around? What's the history?

Andrew has had an artist website since 1996, always designed and built entirely by him. While the site is sort of meant to be a showcase for his work, it's really more of an art project in its own right. Various content on the site is usually updated around the first of each month.

There's also a sister site that's even more minimal. And random.

Can I see Andrew's work in person? How can I buy something?

Occasionally current works can be seen at various exhibitions around the country, but he doesn't show a lot. Your best bet is to contact him about sales and private showings. All of the photos and many of the drawings are available.

Who are some of Andrew's biggest influence?

The list changes. In no particular order: Charles Mingus, Francesca Woodman, Wilco, Amy Hempel, Howard Hodgkin, Sam Abell, Angie McMahon, water.

What does "Reveries" mean? Where were the photographs taken?

A reverie is a state of dreamy musing, sort of an inspired daydream. They're made mostly in Virginia, but anywhere really. There are interesting settings all over the place, if you take the time to look.

What's with the drawings?

They're just fun little exercises in figure drawing, and expand on the characters who live in Andrew's imagination. You can find the stories behind some of those characters at andrewhersey.art.

Yeah, but who are all these people, and why are they all naked?

Do you mean who do they represent? They're sort of like the imaginary friends you had as a kid, except that they grew up too, and also grew into more interesting and complicated people. And they live in Andrew's head, not yours. And usually the less people are hidden, the richer their testimony becomes, don't you think?

Or do you mean who models for them? Most anybody.

Is "In the Distance, Oblivious" like a photo blog or something?

Sort of. It's not meant to be functional in the ways blogs are, just a place to record random little moments seen here and there. All the photos are taken with an iPhone, with little or no editing.

What's the criteria for the playlist? How are the songs selected?

It started a few months into the pandemic, when Andrew (Big Al Hammond) and his girlfriend (Phoebe Fowler) would pass the days sending each other music, so they decided to curate a monthly Spotify playlist of songs they've been listening to recently. It's been going on over two years now... the focus seems to change as they both find and follow different artists and genres and moods. They're picked each month in an elaborate ceremony involving a fancy processional, candles, wigs, the ringing of bells, flaming torches, and decorative headdresses. Oh yeah, and a ceremonial ceramic gourd.

You think we're kidding, but we're not.

What's next? Any plans coming up?

Some travels this summer. Camping. Probably a beach or two. There's always a lot of new drawing. New music for sure. Hopefully some new photo work, too.

Why eleven?

Well, it's more than ten. But less than a dozen.