Spotlight on Visual Arts | Irina Patterson

BY VIVIANA BATISTA
Fri, Dec. 17, 2004

	Who are you? My name is Irina. It's like Irene but with an "A", Irin-A-A-A. It is a common Russian name. With a name like that, you would expect the last name to be Kournikov-A or at least Slutskai-A (notice the "A" at the end). But my last name is Patterson. You guessed it right - I'm married to an American. My American husband of 12 years is a psychologist, stock market trader and a poet ("Past the Galaxies of Stars" The Collected Work of Wes Patterson, ISBN: 1583481095) ... Phew! That's a lot. As any American man, he carries a big load of responsibilities. As a poet, he is better known in Japan for his highly sophisticated philosophical poetry. If you belong to elite intellectual circles, try reading his stuff. Otherwise, don't bother. It's not made for mass consumption. I do hope to get rich quick someday by selling his manuscripts at Christie's (auction house). God bless America, the country so hungry for original artifacts and people who have the money to buy them! How did we get on the subject of my husband? Ahh, Russian women, they always put their man first. What do you do? I have been a dedicated balloon art twister for a year now. If you've been in Coconut Grove or Coral Gables this year, you must have seen me at least once. I am easy to spot, as I often wear my trademark - a whimsical balloon crown. When I am not promoting Miami as a fun tourist destination by posing for photos on the streets, I work corporate soirees, charity galas and perform at private residences of local art connoisseurs. It is a hard way to make a living, but I love it. Sometimes, I have to twist balloons for three hours straight. Party crowns, monkeys, dragons, lizards, babies in diapers, bold men and beautiful women - I can twist just about anything. Well, almost anything.
	Why do you do it? At the end [of a party], I look around the room full of my balloon creations, flashing smiles and balloon tussles and think, "Ahh, I am in the right business." Where else you can create so much havoc and get paid for doing it. Not in a doctor's office. That's for sure. Where are you from? I grew up in Russia during the Cold War. Despite the communist rule, I honed my creativity under the influence of great Russian artists. In between my artistic pursuits, I earned an M.D. degree and practiced as an emergency physician in my hometown Izhevsk. But it wasn't my cup of tea. Too much white color and too many restrictions for a creative soul like mine. Where are you going? I want to make it big. Not because I have an affinity for money. It is the power game that attracts me. I am planning an act on a TV show, a line of merchandise, and books on creativity for kids and adults and a national public speaking circuit, for starters. Of course, I will always continue to entertain at parties. Where/how did you start? I landed in Miami in 1992 and tried my hand in different fields: Modeling (top score - a body double for Cindy Crawford in the movie "Fair Game"), computer graphics and public relations to name a few. Until about a year ago I saw a balloon sculpting at a private party. Here it was, the sea of color and an unlimited way of expressing myself. Instant gratification of creating something out of this world and continuous admiration of the public. I particularly enjoy walking around wearing a serious business suit and a balloon crown, just to make people gasp and laugh. I am an instant star in any place I go. Any present photographers clamor to take my pictures. Hundreds of my photos have been taken by professional and amateur photographers this year, tourists in particular. Hello, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, can you hear me? I am working the streets around the clock, personifying the fun spirit of Miami. Could you please send me a modest check for my efforts? Anyway, Don Slesnick, the Mayor of Coral Gables, where I live, met me on the street on several occasions and approved my look. It is nice to be approved by the local government. I promised to make him a crazy balloon hat when international dignitaries were in town. We want our city representative to look good in the eyes of the world.
	Who/what inspires you? I credit my Russian ancestors for my creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. My grandma Ksenia, God bless her soul, succeeded in being an entrepreneur all throughout Lenin, Stalin and long lasting Brezhnev regimes. At that time, the "entrepreneurs" in Russia were labeled "hostile elements" and "speculators". You could easily end up in the Gulag Camp in Siberia for running your own business. But my grandma Ksenia was unfazed. All her life she raised and sold vegetables on the local bazaar. Born before the revolution, she knew life before the Soviets. She might have secretly knew that the Soviet thing would not last. In the end, life proved that she was on the right track all along. When Perestroika came shortly before her death, everyone and his uncle rushed to do what my grandma Ksenia was quietly doing all her life, working for herself, not for the government. Who are your influences? In the US, I am influenced by many business personalities. Since I have neither the time nor patience to go through business school, I learn business underpinnings through glimpses I catch in the pop media. To me, Oprah is one of the great examples of how to take every advantage of what the American business world has to offer. She and also Madonna are two excellent "how-to" examples in my business book. Because of my respect for these two ladies, whenever their people call, I am available. I also like the CEO of Loews Hotels, Jonathan Tisch. Any man who is able to dress up as his mother, as he did when he tried to impress the Miami Beach City commissioners, has my respect. Mr. Tisch, in case you are reading this, a king's balloon crown with my compliments awaits you here. You get the idea. I draw my inspiration from the mavericks, unconventional thinkers, people who are not ashamed of being different. It's easy and safe to make a living as a doctor or lawyer. Try to make it in life by being a balloon twister and don't forget to smile. You get a bigger tip that way. How can you be reached? Qualified agents, party planners and little green men can visit my blog to learn more about me at mylifeandart.typepad.com.