Meet John A Rice | Artist, Actor, & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with John A Rice and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John A, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The truth is, it wasn’t a choice. I have been producing art, whether it be acting, writing, or visual art, since I can remember. Growing up, I would spearhead all the creative projects in my school and community groups. Nonetheless, when I came to New York City, I never cracked the code to enter the gates of “Art” with a capital A. I had to find my own way and make my own opportunities. After many years of lamenting this, I finally realized that perhaps this is the right path for me. My temperament allows me to really thrive as the “CEO” of my artistic life — not working for a company or studio to fortify someone else’s dream, but creating my own work to inspire others. This journey seems like the most natural fit.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If you haven’t gathered this already, my artwork spans a pretty wide gamut of mediums. As an actor and filmmaker, I gravitate toward projects in the horror and thriller genres. As a visual artist, I produce colorful oil pastel paintings with a spiritual component. For years, I have tried to identify the common thread, the uniting theme among the different works, and I think what I discovered at the heart of it all is “mystery.” I like the gray areas of life, where things are not quite clear, because there is the possibility for something extraordinary to happen. We live in a time that often seems monotonous, depressing, and mundane — even bleak. Yet, there is freedom in the unknown. Magical things can happen when we look at life from a fresh perspective and with an open mind. All my artistic work hews to this premise, I think.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love playing tour guide in New York City! It really do believe it is the best city in the world. I would tailor the itinerary to the visitor’s interests and budget, but two of my favorite places to bring guests include Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel (quintessential New York) and Marie’s Crisis (underground piano bar in the Village) — very high-brow/low-brow! In the morning, I recommend a pastry and hot chocolate from Bel Ami Cafe before strolling the paths of Central Park until you get to the Met Museum. The Met is my sanctuary in the city, and I know it like back of my hand, so my guests tend to get a free guided tour. On another day, we might stroll the shops of the East Village, get taste of 80s glam at Indochine, then see a Broadway star up-close-and-personal at Joe’s Pub. Can’t miss foods include a huge everything bagel with cream cheese from Brooklyn Bagel, a delicatessen lunch (with cheesecake!) at Sarge’s, dinner at Minetta Tavern, and dessert at historical Venniero. I also love the soothing (free!) ride on the Staten Island Ferry that gives you a great view of the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am very fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible support system of friends and family, but the ones who have most influenced my artistic life are my best friends Adrienne Acevedo Lovette and Joe Moran, and my partner Kevin Stevens. Their fingerprints are all over my creative projects, and nothing would be the same without them.

Website: www.jarstudionyc.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/john.a.rice

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@john.a.rice