It’s a gorgeous June afternoon in downtown Buffalo when I meet Brian Nesline at Mulligan’s Brick Bar.  He’s fired up from coffee and creative inspiration.  He’s wearing a plain
t-shirt and jeans and even at 34, he looks like a career college student, which is fitting since he’s currently attending Buffalo State College for graphic design.  Brian’s a calm yet excitable dreamer- the Francis Ford Coppola archetype, full of very large plans and ideas that most people wouldn’t have the time, energy, or scope to come up with, let alone execute.

Current Project:  Faces of Buffalo, a massive city-wide project that involves all of us (those interested in forms can email Brian at facesofbuffalo@hotmail.com Basically, Brian is orchestrating a massive mosaic of Buffalonian self-portrait sketches and morphing them all into, well, a buffalo.  It’s a tall order, but he has that sort of mindset that could pull it off.  Enthusiasm that’s contagious.

How receptive has the Buffalo community been so far?  Very receptive.  A lot of people are excited about it.  As soon as they hear about it, their eyes light up.  They see the potential in it.

What’s your impression of contemporary art?  I think it reflects the individual.  It’s less judgmental and more empowered.  It takes on a life of its own like a kid from his parents.  People are more open.  Artists are more likely to look at themselves and present that true reflection.  Local art seems more real.  Life is crazy and everyone’s going for it.

How did you benefit from Buffalo State’s Creative Studies course?
I got a lot out of it.  (Pauses)  What that class did was help me to practice the creative problem solving model.  Seeing the professor carry out what he taught in the class was really helpful.  They taught us about a creative environment, and playing our part in it.  It was a non-judgmental forum, which is one of the main elements of creativity.  People put down their boundaries.  Creativity could just blow through us like a wind.  It’s a nice feeling.  One of the tools with generating an idea is to hold a vision and write down 40 or 50 ideas associated with it and not judge them while they’re coming out.  The reason that’s important is that it encourages a creative flow of ideas.

Did you participate in the poignant ‘80’s community project that was Hands across America?  I was younger and hadn’t really formed my ability to make choices.  I remember knowing that it was wrong to not attend, and feeling left out.  I recognized that it was going on.

On the whole, have the local media been supportive of the project?  Everyone I’ve talked to so far in Buffalo has been supportive.  The most supportive thing anyone can do is draw themselves and by doing so, support their community.  It would be good for the community if the media grabbed onto Faces of Buffalo and shed light on it.  I believe there are benefits to the media covering it because it will appeal to any and all readers of any paper or viewers of television coverage because it’s for everyone in Buffalo.  If you’ve got a face, you qualify.

What have you come across so far (with Faces of Buffalo) that you didn’t expect?  One thing I came across was that I didn’t expect it to be so hard, or for everyone to be so excited.  Children welcome the opportunity to participate so easily.

Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, or Jackson Pollack?  Pollack’s insanity, Dali’s dreams, and Warhol’s courage.

What does Buffalo mean to you?  It’s like a hungry kid who wants to go out and play and run forever. (all poetic and naïve.)

What was the inspiration for the project?  Mary, my girlfriend.  Our relationship.  Two people working together sharing a vision.  She believed when I couldn’t, and that love multiplied.  I always wanted to build a bridge that everyone could walk on and get to the same place.  A place that shows us our dreams.

Should conventional norms be enforced upon government funded art?  There should be something new like a mediation committee that’s formed from the diversity of the community.

What future projects do you have slated?  One project that I have is that I’m applying for Art on Wheels and the project is called the Wheel of Creation.  If chosen, the viewers will be empowered by the finished product.  The other thing I have to mention is my graphic design degree at Buffalo State.  There are tons of projects in school and I’m going to do some political cartoons next year for the school newspaper.

Does Buffalo have an inferiority complex?  I think we’re just starting to discover ourselves as a city and every new discovery is a little uncomfortable.  I’m sure that art is going to save Buffalo.

What was your impression of the Herd About Buffalo Project?  I think it was brilliant, and it allowed a lot of artists to put themselves out there.  Where Faces of Buffalo is different is that it’s going to put everyone out there.

Your definition of community:  Community is the respectful and open interaction between two or more people.  It involves a genuine concern for ones’ self and others.  Buffalo has that, but we need to concentrate on certain areas.  We can start doing things we believe in and find that we’re good at them and help everyone else.  It’s agreement or a vision.  Together, following our hearts and being true to ourselves.