#87: Mario Zoots Mario Zoots is something of a phenomenon in the local world of emerging artists: A DIY Renaissance man and University of Denver MFA candidate, he dabbles in music with his band Modern Witch, digital collage online and video work-out in the world at large. This is a potent combination that connects him to a global village of artists who interact in cyberspace.

See also: - Denver artist Mario Zoots makes his Mexico City debut inside a big white cube - Live, From The Internet! - Witch House: A explanation of the genre from the warped mouth of Mario Zoots

On top of that, Zoots is now a curator as well: The Vital Illusion, an international collage and photomontage exhibition timed to coincide with Month of Photography, opens today at Vertigo Art Space for a run through March 30; concurrently, his own work will be seen in MoP exhibits at Gildar Gallery, the Colorado Photographic Arts Center and MCA Denver. And did we mention that Zoots also has work now on view at a gallery in Greece? And Zoots is young: He's just getting started, with nowhere to go but up. We asked him to give us his perspective on the artist's life by answering our 100CC questionnaire; read on for his answers.

Continue reading for more on Mario Zoots. Westword: If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?

Mario Zoots: Jack Smith, the filmmaker.  

Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?

Everyone is interesting to me. We are all beautifully weird people, in our own ways. We are all the same in the end. It doesn't matter what anyone does, we are all machines, and that's really great.

What's one art trend you want to see die this year?

Art trends are all pretty good. How many trends are there? Millions of trends, and they all are pretty good. How can you say one style is better than another? You ought to be able to be a new media artist this week or a collage artist, and next week be a photographer or abstract painter, and you shouldn't feel you've given up something, ever.

What's your day job?

I create un-functionable, useless images. I just make things I think are beautiful, things you see every day and never think about. I just do it because I like it.

A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?

I wouldn't buy anything of value -- no property, no art. I would go to Macy's and buy a lifetime supply of boxer shorts. Then I could wear a new pair every day and throw away the previous ones.  

What's the one thing Denver (or Colorado) could do to help the arts?

Oh, gosh, I don't know. I want Colorado to have big dreams for the future.

Who is your favorite Colorado Creative?

Mark Sink.

Throughout the year, we'll be casting our radar on 100 superstars from Denver's rich creative community. Stay tuned to Show and Tell for more, or visit the 100 Colorado Creatives archive to catch up.

Who rocks your world locally? Do you have a suggestion for a future profile? Feel free to leave your picks in the comments.

• 100 Colorado Creatives
• Arts and Culture