Before fame met Stan, the humble and jovial New Yorker worked with some television channels and with a detective agency as well.
Not only Stan is talented , he is known for his great sense of humour which makes him inspiring, modest and a great guy.
Team Okiedoks wishes Stan and his lovely wife a great life ahead and we sincerely hope he mesmerizes and inspires the world like he has done all his life. To more about Stan and the world famous toothpick city, you can visit www.toothpickcity.com
Lets know more about Stan.
1) Kindly tell us something about the concept of 'Toothpicking'
The concept of toothpicking is simple: glue toothpicks together. Whether you have a plan or not. Just sit down in your favorite chair, turn on the radio, TV (whatever helps you relax), and just glue toothpicks together.
Freestyle toothpicking is probably the most fun because you never know what you’re going to make. You might even surprise yourself. The point is:
you’re making something. Maybe it turns out to be a gift for someone else, maybe it turns out to be something you want to keep. Maybe it turns out to be an entire city (OK, that would be crazy... don’t go too far).
2) From writing true-crime stories to being a reporter to being famous world over for your creativity, how was the transformation?
What transformation? I’m still friends with my editor at the true-crime magazine, I still do live morning shows for my old TV station, and for the past 30 years--I’ve never stopped toothpicking. It’s all been part of my life and will continue to be for some time.
3) How did it all start?
When I was 10 years old (almost 30 years ago) my art teacher told everyone to make a tower out of toothpicks that was at least 6 inches tall that could hold the weight of an egg. Mine held an egg easily, then a textbook,
2 textbooks, 3... We finally flipped my desk over and lowered it onto the structure. It cracked a little, but it held. All the kids were watching. A cute girl smiled at me.... the rest is history.
4) How do you manage being in sync with the actual dimensions of a monument?
I cheat. Whenever I can, I use actual blueprints or schematics. I enlarge the plans to the actual size I need them (using simple algebra) and “trace” my buildings. I don’t want them to be “artistic”, I want them to be “right”. My work is by no means perfect. I’m lucky if I can get half of the detail of the real buildings. What I’m trying to do is give people an idea of the architecture that is out in the world. Hopefully, people will be inspired to travel, create or just learn more about the culture of our world. But most of the time it ends up being: “Wow, that’s a lot of toothpicks.”
5) From start to finish, what is the toughest part in making a toothpick monument?
The toughest part of any toothpick structure is breaking new ground. Over the years I’ve tried to challenge myself with a “tougher” building. If I haven’t done it before... I don’t know how to do it. Sometimes I have to set a building aside for weeks (even months) until I figure out a way to do it. I’m sitting here looking at a picture of Akshardham in New Delhi, India, thinking, “how the heck am I going to do this?” I have dimensions, but are they accurate? Does it start at the bottom of the stairs, or the top? I can’t do all the details, but how much do I do. Yes, this stuff keeps me up at night. Wow, I’m a nerd.
6) This one is our favorite? How come you haven't dabbled in any other form of creativity after 'Toothpicking'?
Anyone who is creative, is creative in almost every aspect of their lives.
Before this, I was the wacky morning guy on a TV station. I put together a small show every morning for 3 years (very stressful). Every year (with the exception of this year) I make a Halloween lawn exhibit (visit www.halloweenlawn.com not so stressful) And I love to cook. I’m a good cook no matter what my wife says.
7) You have always told in your interviews that your wife has been a great support. What was her first reaction when she heard of your decision of being fulltime into your hobby?
Well, I was unemployed and unhappy at the time. She knew this made me happy, so she supported it. Over the years she grew to love it. Now SHE is the one pushing me to build “Toothpick World”--a huge endeavor that I would love to do, but it would take a lot out of both of us. She is my muse. I do this for her. Without her, there wouldn’t even be a toothpick town. Actually, I don’t think about what I would be without her.
8) You might have interacted with your fans. What is the most commonly asked question by them?
I can tell you the first four questions people in the museum ask me:
1.”Did you do this?” (yes)
2.”All of it?” (yeah)
3.”Just you?” (yup)
4.”Really?” (yes... who would lie about that?)
9) Any regrets in Life. (Personal or professional)
Absolutely none.
10) What are your future projects? Any particular plans for 2010 with regards to 'toothpicking'?
Again, my wife wants me to make Toothpick World. She’s always been right before (don’t tell her I said that), but it just sounds like a huge undertaking. I think we need investors or sponsors or something.... hate that business-sounding stuff. I would just like to make the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan. At my scale, it would be over 40 feet long and 6 feet high.
11) 3 things the world doesn't know about Stan Munro.
--I’m friends with a Drag Queen in Australia named: Stan Munro --I have 15 stitches under my arm from a squirt-gun fight in college --There is a tattoo on the bottom of my foot that says: “This is my foot”... really
12) What would be your advice to young creative artists?
Don’t take advice from old people like me.
Kindly send your comments/feedback to cs@okiedoks.com or d@okiedoks.com