Silent Barn: Brooklyn’s Latest Collective
Nathan Cearly- Dark Cloud Chef
-How long have you been living in Brooklyn?
on and off for 14 years. i joined an anthroposophical commune for a while but i like Brooklyn better than jesus, alchemy and secret rituals. sometimes I miss the orchard though. i also lived in Nashville for awhile but i can’t really say i liked much about that. hot chicken, maybe. the Springwater Supper Club, for sure.
-What brought you here?
i grew up in a small mill town that smelled bad. Brooklyn smells bad too but there is more to do.
-What do you find to be unique about the artistic community in Brooklyn?
unfortunately how “safe” it is…i would like it to loose that characteristic and get weirder. bad behavior is a no no.
-What are some of your inspirations—both in your art/career and just in your everyday life?
i am really inspired by people who do amazing things everyday but who are ignored by crowds and power. the honest creators. a good chef at a firehouse or a teacher that designs amazing curriculum. somebody who takes crazy short cuts or long and strange ways home. people who make music to a crowd of three. the three people who go to see a band to the see a band and not go to a party.
-Do you see yourself staying in Brooklyn?
i own a spot at Greenwood Cemetary.
-What’s a perfect Brooklyn day for you?
one i both don’t remember well and don’t feel ashamed about the next day.
-What are the challenges inherent to being an artist in Brooklyn?
money.