Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

This Q&A series focuses on artists contributing to the #ArtisticVisionPgh project cosponsored by Most Wanted Fine Art and Penn Avenue Eyewear. This post profiles Jason Sauer, co-owner of Most Wanted Fine Art. 

Name: Jason Sauer

Website: www.mostwantedfineart.com

Twitter: @Mostwanted5015

 How old were you when you first had to wear glasses?  I was in 6th grade and was around 10 years old. I tried a fellow classmate’s glasses on and to my surprise I could see clearly through them. My mom took me to the eye dr and I wanted glasses like Darryl McDaniels from Run DMC but the closest they had were more Sally Jessie Raphael. So I rocked the Sally Jessie look till I was 14 or 15.

How old were you when you had to pay for the glasses you wear? I joined the army at 17 and they gave me what soldiers call BCG’s (Birth Control Glasses) because they are so ugly. I loved them. However the ladies didn’t like them. I needed something to wear to nicer events. I was around 19 then and just went to a place in the mall that was the cheapest.

Have you ever had to “fix” your own glasses with tape, string, glue, etc? I have only ever broken them beyond repair.

 Tell me about a character in literature, film, television or other popculture who wore glasses and how that resonated with you for good or for bad. I really wanted glasses like Darryl  McDaniels from Run DMC, but mainly because at the time he was the only cool person I knew of that wore glasses.

 Describe your relationship with your glasses now. I wear them every day from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed. I enjoy the Penn Ave Eyewear frames. I do general contracting so they are my safety glasses.

There’s a pervasive stigma about wearing glasses for young and old,but an equally pervasive idea that glasses indicate intelligence (or hipness.) Explain that duality. I think that glasses have become such a part of pop culture and fashion now that the stigma for people who wear glasses has decreased.

Can you describe how the cost of vision health services has had anegative impact on your life?  I have been very fortunate not to have been negatively effected horribly. From age 23-33 I wore contacts and they were inexpensive at the time.

Tell me about your work for this exhibit. I am making a small painting on metal with direct to metal paint. I am decorating the sunglasses with a checkerboard racing theme that goes with my whole car theme that runs through my art.

How can readers learn more about your work? www.pittsburghartcar.com is dedicated to the car aspect of things. You can see some of my art work here http://www.pittsburghartistregistry.org/accounts/view/jasonsauer