Today we’d like to introduce you to Sander Wolff.
Hi Sander, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had multiple creative interests since I was quite young. I became obsessed with photography when I was 6, after attending a workshop where I made a pinhole camera from a shoe box. I started playing music at a young age, too, first with violin, then trumpet. I studied music production, synthesis, and audio engineering at Long Beach City College, and joined my first band shortly thereafter, singing, playing bass and keyboards, and writing sad songs. Parallel to the band thing, I was also experimenting with various forms of ‘pure sound’ recording, noise, and electronic music.
My first camera was a 35mm Pentax K1000, which I still have. Lately, though, I’ve been using digital cameras, and non-ai image manipulation tools to create floral mandalas. I also recently returned to pinhole photography to create abstract and evocative images that feel like faded memories.
Another parallel pursuit was arts journalism. I started writing for the CSULB student weekly, the Union Newspaper, in the mid 80s, covering local bands, touring artists, and the many local venues that were operating at the time. I’ve always been fascinated by the creative mind, and the processes that artists use in their work, the challenges of making art, and sharing it with the public. During my tenure as an arts journalist I also worked for the Grunion Gazette, the Long Beach Post (where I published more than 600 pieces in 8 years) and, more recently, for the online audiophile journal, Positive Feedback, where I focused on Scandinavian progressive rock artists,
I’m currently in two music projects. Toaster Music is a long running improvised electronic music duo with my good friend Sumako. We have a residency at the Expo Arts Center in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood, performing there nearly every First Friday. In December, I med Edward Giles at the 17th Annual Santa Ana Noise Fest, where I was performing. We started collaborating as Dystopian Book Club, which blends our love of noise, dark ambient music, found sounds, and dystopian literature. We’re having our first performance on Wednesday, July 29th, at Collage: A Place For Art & Culture, at 731 S Pacific Avenue in San Pedro. Doors open at 7 PM. We will have some surprise guests sitting in with us, which we’re both quite excited about.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is full of challenges, but I’ve been profoundly fortunate to have some stability in my life. I’ve never been homeless, and I’ve always had some sort of employment, even though it might not have been directly connected to my creative work. Ultimately, I’m deeply grateful for each moment, and try to be fully present for each moment, so that whatever seeming challenges present themselves, I can learn and grow from them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, I have two part time jobs. I work at Shannon’s On Pine as an A/V tech, running sound in the small basement Tiki bar, Secret Island. I also serve as Community Outreach Coordinator for the Long Beach Creative Group, a 501c3 non-profit that operates the Rod Briggs Gallery, located at 2221 E Broadway in Long Beach. The Group has been operating since 2018, presenting fine art exhibitions in a building that was once the studio of the beloved and prolific painter, Rod Briggs. His son, Cameron, had the vision to share the space with the Group, and create a community gallery where emerging artists can see their work professionally presented alongside mid and late-career artists. I am exceedingly proud of the team we’ve built, and the work we’re doing.
Our next show, which runs from August 15th to September 19th, is Reinterpreting Rod, where 10 paintings by Briggs will each be shown with two new paintings by artists selected by Cory Bilicko, a local artist and event organizer. Cory has assembled a diverse group of very talented artists, including Tracy Allen, Tony Barrera, Cory Bilicko, Aria Bradfield, James Brooks, Kadie Dicarlo, David Early, Susan Hawkins, Nate Jones, Calvin Konen, Jeff McMillan, Jacqueline Nguyễn, Vince Ruez-Abdo, Jamie Russom, Julio Salgado, Anna Schoendorfer, Morgan Stahlkuppe, Emily Tanaka, Bernard Vyzga, and Ivan Zuno. We always have a few paintings by Rod in the foyer of the gallery, but this will be the first time since 2021 that we’ve shown his work in the main room.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I have an extensive, and ever growing, collection of music on Bandcamp, and even more on Youtube. If you search using my full name, Sander Roscoe Wolff, it is fairly easy to find.
Contact Info:
Suggest a Story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.