Artist Profile: Greta Gullak

Greta Gullak's first solo show is a one-day event Sunday, July 31 at Lynden Tree in the Arsenal. The exhibtion includes “strange creatures, medical oddities and horrifying depravity”. Gullak has been studying art for eight years working in a variety of media including; watercolor, felt pen drawings, acrylic paint, sculpture, cartoons, books and altered clothing. Gullak is already a unique artist, but even more amazing, she is just 16 years old.

Having grown up in Benicia, Gullak's passion for art has been fostered by her father, John Gullak, an artist and guitarist for the punk band The Mutants. “He inspired me in an emotional sense,” says Gullak. As a toddler, Gullak was expressing herself on paper before she could talk. Her family never looked at her art as a frivolous pursuit. “Most parents say 'put down that colored pencil, you're destroying your future',” she said in a playful New York accent.

This fall, the spirited young artist will begin her senior year at Pathways Charter School, based in Vallejo and the Benicia Arsenal. Gullak hopes to pursue a career as a medical doctor. She says “Doing medical things just gives me a sense of satisfaction.” Diagnosing illnesses is like a game to her. “I love the human body. It's a work of art.”

Gullak humorously presents the bizarre and morbid, favoring androgynous humans forms to avoid what she calls gender politics. She is very open about being an androgyne. She doesn't identify with either gender and wants other androgynes in Benicia to know that they are not alone.

Her whimsy and dark sense of humor shine through in her provocative art. She takes inspiration from her own dreams and things she finds aesthetically appealing. “I look for old medical illustrations and art by people with similar interests. That inspires me because of the unconscious image bank that you draw from when you make up ideas.”

When told she has an amazing imagination, Gullak now takes that as a compliment. “So much of the time, that is a code word for you're weird or a psychopath. 'Oh yeah, he has a great imagination but we're gonna keep an eye on him so he doesn't shoot up the school',” she said in character. Gullak experiences bouts of depression and a phenomenon called Synesthesia, which can cause the brain to see sounds or hear colors, which only adds to her creative process.

It's no surprise that Gullak has been told that she is an old soul. She spoke of characters from author H.P. Lovecraft, that have tentacles and beaks and cause insanity if gazed upon. “In my heart, I've always felt like I might be something like that.”

Other favorite books include Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Fergusen, works by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris and A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, who happens to own artwork by Gullak. She also fancies Japanese invention books and Ripley's Believe or Not books.

Giving credit to her mentors, she mentioned her second and third grade teacher Mrs. Nelson as well her teachers at Pathways. Gullak has exhibited her work at Arts Benicia, City Hall and won awards the Reflections art competition.

Aside from making art, Gullak is into social networking with other artists and swimming in the Benicia Bay, but lamented about the industrial waste in the water. “Every time I go swimming I come out with bruises and cuts on my legs.”

A true Benician, Gullak's favorite places are and for clothes, the for it's lamb burger, for “weird little Asian things”, for buttons, for Chinese food and the for sandwiches. Finally, “because that store is kind of weird and I have dreams about it.”

Gullak hopes people who see her show will leave with more images for their own imaginations. A reception for the artist will be held at 4pm.