Flair Robinson is a Telluride-based mixed media and mosaic artist working primarily with ceramic tile, hand-cut glass, and recycled materials. She is informally educated, collecting knowledge from the traditional to the unusual, and is most influenced by visionary, self-taught and outsider art.
Your Name?
My real name is Susan. My maiden name is Flaherty. When I was around 12, a friend knocked the "ty" off of the end of my name and it stuck. It's been my name ever since.
Why Telluride?
I first came in 1976 with a crazy group of friends from the Navajo Reservation. Arrived in the dark for the Bluegrass Festival. Stepped out of my tent the following morning and fell in love. My friends and the view keep me here.
Your Inspiration?
Inspiration for me never stops. It's everywhere and anywhere. If I'm walking across a parking lot, chances are something will catch my eye -- over-spray from spray paint, a weird looking rock or broken plastic, it all makes me think about color or shape, and then there's the constant looking at images online, probably thousands per week.
Your Time?
In the late hours of the night and the wee hours of the morning.
About Glitter?
Do I have enough? Do you have enough? How can we get more?!
Break a Record?
Most use of the color orange within a 24 hour time period.
Cringeworthy?
When people apply rules to art.
Want More?
Nothing would make me happier than to see more public art--street art, contemporary art, weird art, guerilla art, anything and everything--more please!
Love Telluride?
I get good energy from my community. The wheels are constantly turning and people are always providing me with great inspiration. I love to talk about art with everyone--we have a lot of passionate art lovers here. I also feel supported in this community. People are kind when they approach me about my work, as well as enthusiastic and helpful. It's tough being a full-time artist, but the love from my friends and neighbors keeps me going.
The people of Telluride bring me gifts, Grandma's broken China, stretchy medical hosing and colored plexiglass samples, all of it finds its way to me, in the hopes that I can save it. I often hear the stories that are behind the treasures and sometimes the stories influence the art that is created from each gift. Almost always, I feel the love.