>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY!

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE PROGRAMS WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET OVER THE YEARS, IS THAT THEY HOLD UP WELL OVER TIME.

THE STORIES AND THE PEOPLE IN THEM SEEM AS RELEVANT TODAY AND AS INTERESTING TODAY AS THEY WERE WHEN WE FIRST DID PROGRAMS ABOUT THEM 20 YEARS AGO.

FOR EXAMPLE, BACK IN 1988, I FIRST MET THIS AMAZING LADY, THIS ARTIST BY THE NAME OF SLATER BARRON, AND WE IMMEDIATELY HIT IT OFF.

WE SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER LOOKING AT HER ART--HER ART THAT WAS MADE WITH A VERY INTERESTING MATERIAL.

AND OVER THE YEARS, EVERY TIME WE'VE AIRED THIS PROGRAM, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

SO RIGHT NOW, LET'S GO WAY BACK IN TIME TO 1988 TO THAT VIDEOLOG WE DID WITH SLATER BARRON, WHO WE NICKNAMED THE LINT LADY.

ENJOY.

LINT--THE GOOD OL' HOUSEHOLD VARIETY KIND, THE KIND THAT IS USELESS AND WORTHLESS AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU EXCEPT GET UP YOUR NOSE AND MAKE YOU SNEEZE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT LINT--EXCEPT FOR MY NEW FRIEND SLATER BARRON HERE.

IN FACT, SLATER LOVES LINT SO MUCH, HER FRIENDS CALL HER THE LINT LADY.

RIGHT, SLATER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, HUELL.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SLATER IS AN ARTIST.

SHE ALSO TEACHES ART AT U.C.

IRVINE AND AT BROOKS COLLEGE IN LONG BEACH.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF HER LATEST WORKS RECENTLY ON DISPLAY IN THE MENDENHALL GALLERY AT WHITTIER COLLEGE.

NOW, IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT ART HAS TO DO WITH LINT, WELL, LOOK CLOSELY, BECAUSE THESE PORTRAITS ARE COMPLETELY MADE OUT OF LINT-- LINT TAKEN OUT OF REGULAR OLD HOUSEHOLD DRYERS AND CAREFULLY MOUNTED WITH SPRAY GLUE.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE IT UNTIL YOU SEE IT.

AND IF YOU'RE AT HOME RIGHT NOW SHAKING YOUR HEAD, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ANYONE COULD GET EXCITED ABOUT LINT, WELL, JUST LISTEN TO SLATER.

THIS IS YOUR PLAIN OLD, RUN-OF-THE-MILL, ORDINARY DRYER LINT THAT WE ALL HAVE GROWN TO KNOW AND LOVE OVER THE YEARS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

BUT THIS--BUT THIS ONE, THAT HAS A GREEN TINT TO IT.

AND SO THAT WOULD-- [INDISTINCT] THAT WOULD BE GOOD IN THE BACKGROUND WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF GREEN.

SEE, THIS IS EVEN MORE GREEN, BUT PALER, OK?

Huell: MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

>> AND AS YOU LOOK ..

LOOKING AT THIS PIECE NOW--THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, WITH ALL THAT TEXTURE ON IT, ALL THOSE WONDERFUL LITTLE FLECKS OF COLOR IN IT.

Huell: MM-HMM.

>> AND SO THAT MAKES..

IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING.

Huell: MM-HMM.

SO, EACH PIECE OF LINT HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY, SO TO SPEAK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, HAS..

QUALITIES.

AND GETTING THESE DARK ONES IS HARD, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA WHERE WE WEAR SO MANY PASTELS.

Huell: YOU EVER WONDER WHERE THIS LINT COMES FROM?

[LAUGHS] >> WELL--HMM.

SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PERSON DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH GREEN AS THEY USED TO, AND THEY HAVE MORE DARKS.

AND FOR A WHILE THERE, THEY WERE SENDING ME MORE ORANGES.

Huell: OH, SO YOU HAVE-- >> THE ORANGES ARE GONE.

Huell: YOU HAVE REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS?

>> YES.

Huell: WHERE EXACTLY DO YOU GET IT?

>> WELL, THIS IS A FRI.. A GRAPHIC ARTIST, AND SHE SENDS IT TO ME EVERY MONTH OR SO.

WHEN SHE HAS ENOUGH OF IT, SHE PUTS IT IN A BOX AND MAILS IT.

Huell: SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE SOUTHLAND SAVING THEIR LINT-- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: AND SENDING IT TO Y.. >> OR BRINGING IT TO A PARTY, DROPPING IT OFF AT A GALLERY WHEN I HAVE A SHOW.

MM-HMM.

YES.

[LAUGHS] Huell: NOW, SLATER USES ONLY LINT FROM DRYERS IN HER PORTRAITS, AND THEY'RE ALL NATURAL COLORS, TOO.

BUT SHE ALSO PUTS TOGETHER WHAT SHE CALLS INSTALLATIONS, OR ENVIRONMENTS--LARGE ROOMS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH LINT.

SHE USES WHAT SHE CALLS UPHOLSTERY LINT FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS.

THIS ONE AT THE MENDENHALL GALLERY WAS 16x16.

AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN A LINT INSTALLATION BEFORE, I CAN ASSURE YOU, IT GIVES YOU KIND OF A FUNNY FEELING.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE SOUND CHANGES.

IT GETS VERY QUIET WITHIN A ROOM LIKE THIS.

AND THEN, IT'S SO TACTILE, YOU WANT TO TOUCH IT.

Huell: YEAH, YOU DO.

>> BUT AS YOU TOUCH ..

ALMOST TOUCHES YOU BACK.

Huell: YEAH.

>> YEAH.

Huell: THIS CHAIR HAS A REALLY INTERESTING-- >> FEELING TO IT.

Huell: LINTY KIND OF A FEEL TO IT.

>> WELL, SEE, MOST CHAIRS JUST SIT THERE, BUT THIS CHAIR, THE LINT COMES UP AND GREETS YOU.

[LAUGHS] Huell: AND WE'VE GOT A LINT COUCH AND LINT FIGURES HERE ON THE COUCH AND A LINT WALL AND A LINT LAMP AND A LINT MANTLE WITH LINT CARDS ON THE LINT MANTLE.

I MEAN, THIS IS AMAZING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN...ANYTHING LIKE IT.

>> I CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH LINT.

THIS--THAT'S A PAINTING DEPICTION OF A PAINTING.

Huell: OH, THIS IS THE PAINTING OVER THE FIREPLACE.

>> THAT'S A SEASCAPE.

Huell: OHH.

>> OVER THE FIREPLACE.

AND THIS OVER HERE--THIS SCENE IS REALLY THE WINDOW.

Huell: OH, YOU'RE LOOKING OUT A WINDOW AT A TREE.

I SEE.

AND THOSE ARE THE CURTAINS, MADE OUT OF LINT.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

Huell: AND A TABLE MADE OUT OF LINT.

>> THAT'S LINT.

Huell: A LINT TABLE.

ON PEOPLE'S LISTS OF PRIORITIES, LINT MUST RANK TOWARD THE BOTTOM.

I MEAN, LINT HAS KIND OF A BAD NAME, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

IT'S VERY DUSTY, AND THEN IT DOES CLING TO THINGS.

AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT, SAY, ON YOUR RECORDS IS LINT, RIGHT?

YOU DON'T WANT LINT ON YOUR FURNITURE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE DUST.

YOU DON'T WANT LINT ON YOUR CLOTHES 'CAUSE THEN YOU NEED TO BRUSH TO GET IT OFF.

Huell: I'M COVERED IN LINT ALREADY!

>> YES, YES.

YEAH.

B.. BLACK.

THAT'S EVEN WORSE!

Huell: AND THIS LINT IS GOING TO STAY WITH ME, YOU TELL ME.

>> YEAH, IT PROBABLY WILL.

MM-HMM.

IT WILL COME OUT IN YOUR LINT FILTER.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: SO IT'S NEVER-ENDING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: YOU CAN NEVER GET RID OF LINT.

IT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T DESTROY MATTER, ANYWAY, RIGHT?

YOU JUST CHANGE IT.

UM, OTHER PEOPLE WORK WITH LINT.

I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY--UM, ANY HOLD OVER ANYBODY ELSE AND WHAT THEY WORK WITH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO OILS, RIGHT?

OR DO ACRYLICS, OR WORK WITH WOOD.

AND LINT IS JUST ANOTHER MATERIAL.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU AND HOW YOU USE IT.

Huell: NOW, I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THEIR WAY RIGHT NOW TO THEIR DRYER TO CHECK OUT THEIR LINT, ITS TEXTURE AND COLOR.

AND AFTER CLOSE EXAMINATION, SOME PEOPLE STILL WON'T BE VERY IMPRESSED.

BUT OTHERS, LIKE SLATER BARRON, WILL LOOK AT THAT LINT AND SEE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES.

I'M HUELL HOWSER FOR VIDEOLOG.

WELL, TIME HAS PASSED.

THAT VIDEOLOG, THAT INTERVIEW WE DID WITH SLATER BARRON, TOOK PLACE 20 YEARS AGO.

WE'RE TALKING 1988.

20 YEARS LATER, I'M STILL HERE, AND LOOK OVER HERE.

SLATER'S STILL HERE.

>> HELLO, HUELL.

Huell: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> HI.

I'M FEELING GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: WE'VE HELD UP-- >> YOU LOOK WONDERFUL!

Huell: WE'VE HELD UP PRETT.. OVER THE YEARS, HAVEN'T WE?

>> I THINK SO.

Huell: WE'RE BOTH OLDER, BUT WE'RE BOTH WISER.

>> AND WE'RE BOTH WORKING HARD.

Huell: AND WE'RE BOTH WORKING HARD, BECAUSE THE STORY IS, FIRST OFF, WE'RE IN YOUR BACK YARD HERE IN LONG BEACH.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BACK YARD YOU HAVE.

AND YOU'D NEVER GUESS WHAT YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IS.

[LAUGHS] >> PURPLE!

Huell: NO, YOU GOT PURPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE!

>> YES.

I LOVE PURPLE.

Huell: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR YOURSELF HERE.

OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ON THE PHONE.

WE HAVE COMMUNICATED FROM TIME TO TIME.

BUT WE'VE NEVER DONE A REAL UPDATE TO THE LINT LADY STORY.

EVERY TIME WE AIR THAT LINT LADY STORY, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF COMMENT ON IT FROM VIEWERS, DON'T YOU?

>> I DO.

PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE YOU AND ME TOGETHER, YES.

Huell: AND THE LINT CAPTIVATES PEOPLE.

THE IDEA OF LINT CAPTIVATES PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> AND IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WAS SO MUCH LINT, YES, MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

Huell: ARE YOU SAYING--NOW, THIS IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD LESS LINT TODAY THAN WE DID BACK IN 1988.

>> WELL, I DO FEWER ENVIRONMENTS WITH LINT, BUT I STILL WORK WITH LINT.

Huell: MM-HMM.

OH, I KNOW ..

STILL WORK WITH LINT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SEE, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO A LINT UPDATE RIGHT IN HERE.

THIS IS BARRON'S STUDIO RIGHT HERE.

IT'S CALLED A STUDIO.

IT'S ALSO CALLED LINT CENTRAL.

>> OK. SURE.

Huell: LET'S GO IN AND TAKE A LOOK.

>> SURE.

Huell: THIS IS EXCITING.

I FEEL CREATIVE.

I FEEL THE JUICES, THE ARTISTIC JUICES FLOWING.

AND LOOK, YOU WENT RIGHT FOR IT.

>> I WENT RIGHT FOR THE LINT THAT'S COLORED.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS!

NOW, THIS IS THE SAME LINT THAT WE--WELL, NOT THE SAME LINT.

THIS IS DIFFERENT LINT.

BUT LOOK AT IT.

LOOK AT THE COLORS OF THIS LINT.

THIS IS JUST LIKE THE LINT THAT I FIRST SAW 20 YEARS AGO.

>> YES.

Huell: WHEN YOU--AND IT'S JUST AS DUSTY AND JUST AS ITCHY AS IT WAS BACK THEN.

LINT HASN'T CHANGED A BIT, HAS IT, SLATER?

>> NO.

IT'S STILL FULL OF HAIR AND KLEENEX AND DUST AND-- Huell: LOOK AT THIS!

>> ANIMAL HAIR AND DIFFERENT COLORS.

Huell: NOW, WHERE DID YOU ..

THIS LINT, AGAIN?

YOU SAID BEFORE THAT YOU HAD FRIENDS KIND OF CLEANING OUT THEIR DRYERS AND SAVING THIS LINT FOR YOU.

LOOK AT THIS LINT.

THIS IS-- THIS CAME OUT OF A-- IT WASN'T MIXED LIKE THIS.

YOU DID THIS.

>> NO.

NO.

SOMETIMES W..

SAVED, IT JUST GETS-- [INDISTINCT] TOGETHER.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> BUT MY FRIENDS ARE AL..

PROUD OF THEIR LINT, AND SO, THEY DO SAVE IT FOR ME.

Huell: HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER THAT LINT WAS A MATERIAL WITH WHICH YOU COULD WORK AND CREATE ART?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THEY SAY IF YOU'VE GOT LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE.

AND THE DRYER WAS BUZZING AT ME CONSTANTLY WHEN MY TEENAGERS WERE CHANGING THEIR CLOTHES SO OFTEN.

SO I STARTED TO MAKE IT WORK FOR ME INSTEAD OF AGAINST ME.

Huell: SO THIS WAS, LITERALLY, ALMOST AN ACCIDENT THAT YOU STUMBLED UPON, THIS WHOLE IDEA OF LINT.

>> UM, I DON'T KNOW SO MUCH ACCIDENT AS ALLEVIATING FRUSTRATION OF THE DRYER BUZZING.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SO IT WAS FROM NECESSITY?

>> YES, IT WAS.

Huell: AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING--OR I DID, IN THAT ORIGINAL VIDEOLOG, THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE LINT AGAIN AND NOT THINK OF IT IN THE CONTEXT OF ART.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU-- CROSS MY HEART, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, EVERY TIME I GET CLOTHES OUT OF THE DRYER AND I SEE THAT LINT THAT HAS BUILT UP IN THE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, PLACE THERE, I THINK OF YOU.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU'RE-- I THINK YOU'RE SENDING GOOD VIBES TO ME.

AND SO MANY PEOPLE DO.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE SUCH A HAPPY LIFE.

Huell: BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE THIS PROGRAM, THEY REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH LINT OVER THE YEARS, AND THEY SEE THE LINT IN THEIR DRYERS, AND THEY THINK OF IT AS AN--IN AN ARTISTIC WAY.

>> YES.

AND SOMETIMES, THEY THINK OF IT AS BEING VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND "I'LL SAVE IT FOR SLATER."

Huell: SO YOU'RE STILL GETTING LINT?

>> I AM.

I AM.

PEOPLE AR..

BRINGING IT TO PARTIES AND SOMETIMES MAILING IT TO ME.

[LAUGHS] >> SO... Huell: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT.. YOU'VE BEEN DOING SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU.

NOW, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.

I THOUGHT, WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE, YOU HAD FIXED LUNCH FOR US.

YOU GOT THE SUSHI ALL OUT HERE, BUT LOOK CLOSELY, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS NOT SUSHI.

THIS IS... >> THIS IS LINT.

AND IT COULD BE YUCKY.

Huell: THIS IS LINT.

LOOK AT THIS.

LINT SUSHI.

WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA TO DO LINT SUSHI?

IN FACT, A LOT OF THIS THAT YOU HAVE FRAMED BACK HERE IS SUSHI.

>> WELL, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IN YOUR FOOD IS HAIR AND GRIT AND LINT.

AND SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT SUSHI IS ALMOST AS BAD AS GETTING LINT TO EAT, SO... [LAUGHS] >> A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WON'T EAT IT, BUT I LOVE SUSHI, SO IT JUST MADE SENSE TO MAKE IT IN LINT.

Huell: WELL, IT ACTUALLY ROLLS UP WITH THE DIFFERENT COLORS, SO IT'S KIND OF MADE TO ORDER TO MAKE SUSHI OUT OF LINT, ISN'T IT?

>> YES.

AND THE PART.. LIKE RICE ACTUALLY COMES FROM MY COUSIN WHEN SHE USED TO WASH ALL THE TOWELS AND SUCH FROM HER HOUSE CLEANING BUSINESS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> SO ALL THAT LITTLE PA.. WOULD COME OFF LOOKED LIKE RICE, AND SO I THOUGHT, "OH, SUSHI!"

Huell: WOW.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT SUSHI DISPLAYED HERE.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT CANDY DISPLAYED OVER HERE.

>> WELL--AND THIS ONE IS REALLY FUNNY, 'CAUSE THIS IS TASTER'S CHOICE.

SO IF YOU TOOK A TASTE OF IT AND IT TASTED LIKE LINT, YOU WENT TO ANOTHER ONE.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: BUT YOU'VE MADE CANDY.

>> I'VE MADE CANDY.

Huell: HERE'S A BOX OF CANDY-- >> YES.

Huell: OVER HERE, SO YOU DID A NICE JOB NOT ONLY ON THE CANDY ITSELF, BUT ON THE BOX.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY A ROMANTIC AT HEART, SO I LIKE TO DO VALENTINE-TYPE THINGS, TOO.

BUT IF YOU GET THE VALENTINE CANDY FROM THE WRONG PERSON, IT TASTES LIKE LINT.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SEE, THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS PROJECTION OF LINT INTO THE ACTUAL SUBJECT ITSELF, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET CANDY THAT TASTES LIKE LINT OR SUSHI THAT TASTES LIKE LINT.

>> WELL, I'M ALWAYS VERY AWARE OF WHAT MY MEDIUM SAYS TO ME AND TO OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S LINT HAS A CONCEPT ALL OF ITS OWN.

Huell: DO YOU THINK LINT, OVER THE YEARS, HAS BEEN GIVEN A BUM RAP, THAT IT HAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY DESERVE?

>> IT'S A THROWAWAY MATERIAL.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

MOST PEOPLE JUST TAKE IT OUT AND THROW IT IN THE GARBAGE, SO YEAH.

Huell: SO YOU'RE ONE OF THE EARLY RECYCLERS AS WELL.

>> I RECYCLE EVERYTHING 2, 3, 4 TIMES, YES.

NOTHING GETS THROWN AWAY HERE.

Huell: WELL, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN LOOKING AT YOUR LINT AGAIN TODAY.

THIS IS VERY EXCITING RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE CANDY, DOESN'T IT?

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

SEE, YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW WHO COULD LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, "THAT LOOKS LIKE CANDY, DOESN'T IT?"

>> WELL, IT'S BRIGHT AND PRETTY.

IT LOOKS LIKE PINK FONDANT.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WELL, THE LINT IS STILL HERE.

SLATER IS STILL HERE.

HER ARTWORK WITH LINT IS STILL HERE.

BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST PART OF THE STORY.

THERE'S ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE SLATER BARRON LINT ART STORY.

AND FOR THAT PART OF THE STORY, WE'RE GOING TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

WE'RE LEAVING YOUR STUDIO HERE IN LONG BEACH--YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME, YOUR BEAUTIFUL BACK YARD.

AND NOW, WE'RE GOING IN SEARCH OF THAT SECOND, VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER TO THE LINT ART STORY.

AND AS WE LEAVE, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

THIS SAYS IT ALL RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S THE LINT.

HERE'S THE ART.

AND HERE'S THE ARTIST RIGHT HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: OK. WE ARE NOW BEGINNING THE SECOND CHAPTER, THE SECOND PART, OF OUR SLATER BARRON LINT ART ADVENTURE.

AND FOR THAT CHAPTER, LYNN CRANDALL IS HERE TO TELL US EXACTLY WHERE WE HAVE COME, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS OVER HERE.

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW, LYNN?

>> WELL, HUELL, YOU'RE RIGHT HERE AT THE U.S.C.

INSTITUTE FOR GENETIC MEDICINE ART GALLERY.

Huell: AND WHERE IS THIS LOCATED?

>> WE'RE JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES ON THE U.S.C.

HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS.

Huell: OK.

SO U.S.C.

HAS A WHOLE HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS OVER HERE EAST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE OVER HERE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

WE .. 2 CAMPUSES--OUR VERY WELL-KNOWN UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS, AND TO THOSE WHO NEED HEALTH SERVICES, THIS IS ALSO A VERY WELL-KNOWN, EXTENSIVE HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS.

Huell: AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL GALLERY YOU HAVE HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GALLERY.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME, SLATER, FOR US TO--KIND OF FOR YOU TO SET THE STAGE TO THIS PART OF THE LINT ART STORY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE LINT STORY.

KIND OF SET ALL OF THIS UP FOR US.

>> WELL, BACK IN ABOUT 1977, I WAS FEELING THAT MY MOTHER WASN'T QUITE HERSELF.

AND FROM THE RESEARCH THAT I DID, I THOUGHT THAT SHE PROBABLY HAD ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

NO ONE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THOSE DAYS, BUT EVENTUALLY WE REALIZED THAT NOT JUST MY MOTHER HAD ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, BUT MY FATHER ALSO HAD DEMENTIA, WHICH TURNED INTO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AS WELL.

SO IT WAS DEVASTATING TO MY SISTER AND MYSELF AND MY AUNT.

AND WE FINALLY HAD TO PLACE THEM IN A SANITARIUM, WHICH BROKE OUR HEART, BUT FINANCIALLY, THAT WAS THE BEST SOLUTION AT THE TIME.

Huell: SO YOU STRUGGLED WITH THIS ALZHEIMER'S THAT BOTH YOUR PARENTS HAD FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

IT WAS A VERY LONG PROCESS.

>> IT WAS A LONG PROCESS.

MY MOTHER LIVED--EVEN IN THE SANITARIUM--SHE LIVED ANOTHER 8 YEARS WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

MY FATHER PASSED AWAY AFTER 4 YEARS.

BY THAT TIME, MY MOTHER'S SPEECH WAS MORE GIBBERISH AND WE COULDN'T TELL WHETHER SHE MISSED HIM, BUT THEIR WHOLE LIFE WAS BASED ON A LOVE STORY, SO AT LEAST THEY WERE TOGETHER IN THE SANITARIUM.

Huell: WELL, YOU WENT THROUGH WHAT COUNTLESS OF OUR VIEWERS GO THROUGH AND WHAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH WHEN THEY'RE FACING THE PROSPECT OF FAMILY MEMBERS GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE ALZHEIMER'S EXPERIENCE.

AND PART OF THE WAY THAT YOU DEALT WITH IT WAS THROUGH YOUR LINT ART.

AND WE ARE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF THIS AMAZING ART.

SOME OF IT, YOU DID IN THOSE EARLY DAYS WHEN I FIRST DID THAT INTERVIEW WITH YOU IN 1988.

BUT I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN.

TELL US WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MEDIUM.

>> WELL, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE LINT IS FADED, SORT OF LIKE THEIR MEMORIES ARE.

IT'S A THROWAWAY MATERIAL, AS IF IT HAS NO VALUE.

AND SOMETIMES, PEOPLE THINK OLD PEOPLE ARE LIKE THAT.

IT JUST LENT ITSELF, I THOUGHT, TO DOING PORTRAITS OF A SAD SITUATION.

Huell: AND IT WAS A WAY THAT YOU COULD KIND OF RELIEVE YOURSELF, OR IT WAS AN OUTLET FOR YOU TO CHANNEL YOUR ANGST AND YOUR GRIEF AND YOUR DEALING WITH THEIR ALZHEIMER'S.

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT WAS ALSO A TIME IN THE STUDIO WITH MANY, MANY HOURS WHERE I COULD REMEMBER HOW MUCH THEY LOVED ME AND HOW WELL I WAS RAISED AND HOW GOOD MY PARENTS WERE TO ME.

SO IT DID RELIEVE A LOT OF MY ANGST.

I THINK AS AN ARTIST, I'M VERY FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE THIS OUTLET FOR AN EMOTIONAL DOWNHILL JOURNEY THAT I WAS ON SO THAT I COULD DO THIS WORK AND BRING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR SITUATION.

Huell: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

THIS IS YOUR--THESE ARE ALL PORTRAITS OF YOUR MOTHER.

>> WELL, EACH TIME I VISITED, I WOULD TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HER, AND THEN I SELECTED THE ONES THAT COULD BE DONE.

AND THIS TOOK YEARS.

THE FIRST PORTRAIT OF HER WAS WHEN WE FIRST PUT HER INTO THE HOSPITAL.

Huell: WHICH ONE IS THIS?

>> IT'S THE FIRST ONE .. AND SHE LOOKS UNTIDY.

SHE LOOKS MESSY.

SHE WAS NOT VERY WELL-NOURISHED BECAUSE MY DAD WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE AS GOOD CARE OF HER AS HE SHOULD HAVE.

BUT BY THE SECOND ONE, YOU SEE SHE'S BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A YEAR AND SHE STARTS TO LOOK BETTER.

SHE'S CLEAN.

SHE'S HAD A HAIRCUT.

SHE'S GOTTEN EXTRA NUTRITION.

SHE'S--SHE'S IN CLEAN CLOTHES.

SHE'S WALKING AND WALKING AND WALKING IN THE GROUNDS OF THIS FACILITY THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: JUST TALKING ABOUT THE MEDIUM AGAIN HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT--THIS WONDERFUL WAY-- LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON--THAT YOU HAVE INCORPORATED THIS COLORFUL, BEAUTIFUL LINT AS A PIECE OF ART AND A BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT OF YOUR MOTHER.

THIS--IT'S REALLY VERY POWERFUL.

>> WELL, UM, I THINK THAT THE LINT ITSELF IS--I'VE USED IT ALMOST LIKE PAINT BECAUSE I AM BASICALLY A PAINTER.

AND SO, I LAYERED SOME OF THE LINT OVER OTHER LINT TO GET THE EFFECT THAT I WANT, ESPECIALLY IN THE SKIN TONES.

Huell: IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AND OVER HERE, JUST THE DESIGN ON HER DRESS AND THE LOOK ON HER FACE--BECAUSE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TIME WHEN SHE'S DEGENERATING MORE.

>> EXACTLY.

THESE--ALL 7 OF THESE PORTRAITS SHOW THE DECLINE THROUGH THE YEARS.

AND THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH--THEY'RE LIFE-SIZE, SO THAT'S THE WAY SHE WOULD LOOK IF SHE WERE COMING TOWARD YOU.

Huell: WAS THIS MADE FROM A PHOTOGRAPH, OR JUST FROM YOUR MEMORIES?

>> IT WAS MADE FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

I NEEDED TO WORK WITH PHOTOS OF HER.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, WHAT IS THIS, A LITTLE STUFFED ANIMAL SHE WAS HOLDING?

>> YES.

AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS VERY CARING.

AND SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE A BABY, BUT SOMETIMES, SHE HAD A DOLL AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND THIS IS A PANDA THAT SHE CARRIED AROUND THAT SHE CUDDLED.

AND WHILE SHE'S IN THE WHEELCHAIR, SHE'S SITTING DOWN, JUST PLAYING WITH THIS ANIMAL.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF THE GROUP.

Huell: AND THIS--JUST TO SEE THESE EVEN TODAY--BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY WHEN?

>> SHE DIED IN 1991.

Huell: SO JUST TO SEE THESE, IT MUST BRING BACK AMAZING MEMORIES TO YOU, BECAUSE THESE WERE ALL BASED UPON TIME THAT YOU WERE SPENDING WITH HER DURING THOSE YEARS.

>> YES.

AND SOME OF THE VISI.. TIME WOULD BE PLAYING MUSIC, SCOTCH MUSIC, JUST TRYING TO GET SOME REACTION FROM HER.

OTHER TIMES, JUST SITTING THERE PATTING HER HAND--BUT AT LEAST BE TOGETHER 'CAUSE ALL OF US VISITED AS OFTEN AS WE COULD.

Huell: NOW, OBVIOUSLY THESE LAST 2 PORTRAITS REFLECT THE LAST DAYS OF YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE.

>> YES.

THESE ARE PORTRAITS FROM THE LAST 2 YEARS OF HER LIFE, WHEN I KNEW SHE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO DEATH AND SHE WAS BEDRIDDEN.

Huell: WHAT IS THIS?

>> SEE, UM, THE IMAGE OF A FROG IS TAKEN FROM A DESICCATED FROG THAT I USE IN MY STUDIO WHEN I'M DOING SOME PAINTINGS.

AND IT SLOWLY BECAME, TO ME, THAT IT WAS LIKE THE ANGEL OF DEATH APPROACHING, AND SO I USED IT AS AN IMAGE TO SHOW HOW IMMINENT HER DEATH WOULD BE.

Huell: THESE ARE VERY POIGNANT, AND I THINK VERY SAD TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE SHE REALLY LOOKS LIKE A TORTURED SOUL IN THESE PICTURES.

EXCUSE ME FOR SAYING THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S TRUE.

I TH..

THE END, SHE WAS FRIGHTENED.

AND ESPECIALLY THIS LAST PORTRAIT OF IT, I SAW THE FEAR IN HER EYES TOWARD THE END.

AND AT THAT POINT, MY PRAYER BECAME, "LET GO, LET GO, AND GO BE WITH DAD."

AND THAT WAS--THAT'S THE WAY I PICTURED HER AT THE END.

Huell: AND WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS TEACH US?

WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF THIS ART?

>> I THINK THE LEGACY IS THAT WE ALL DEAL WITH GRIEF IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IN OUR OWN WAY.

AND FOR ME, THE FORTUNATE THING IS BEING AN ARTIST AND BEING ABLE TO USE MY ART TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN THEIR GRIEF.

I THINK THAT'S MY LEGACY.

TAKE WHAT YOU'VE GOT AND TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL OF IT.

Huell: ISN'T THIS INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT YOU'VE TAKEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LINT, AS SIMPLE AND AS OVERLOOKED BY MOST OF US AS LINT IS, AND THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME, YOU'VE USED THAT LINT FOR FUN, MAKING SUSHI AND CANDY AND HAVING FUN WITH IT.

YOU'VE ALSO USED IT FOR A VERY SERIOUS PURPOSE, FOR SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS ART ABOUT YOUR PARENTS AND ALZHEIMER'S.

>> YES.

WELL, IT HAS ITS DICHOTOMY.

IT HAS FUN TO IT, BECAUSE IT IS HUMOROUS.

BUT IT ALSO HAS A SERIOUS SIDE, BECAUSE I CAN USE IT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

Huell: AND YOU KNOW, JUST FROM THAT LINT THAT I PICKED UP AT YOUR STUDIO THIS MORNING, I'VE GOT IT IN MY CONTACT LENSES, I'VE GOT IT UP MY NOSE.

>> OH!

AND YOU NEVER GET RID OF IT.

IT'S STILL IN GALLERIES AND IT'S ROLLING DOWN IN DIFFERENT GALLERIES I'VE SHOWN IT.

Huell: YEAH.

LINT NEVER REALLY GOES AWAY.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

Huell: LINT IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

AND SLATER BRINGS IT TO ALL OF US IN HER WONDERFUL WAY.