|
Imagine, an environment in which creative thought and self expression take on many forms, titles, definitions and as a whole share a common language. In this place there exists very few boundaries. Art is an intimate, inviting and accessible experience for individual observation, interaction and collaboration. A place for all genres and disciplines to engage in research, experimentation, performance and social exchange. |
Mayling Martinez installation
|
Between 1998 and 2004, I curated a number of projects that transformed public and private spaces. These events provided interdisciplinary artists with exciting and unconventional venues. They were exhibitions that also doubled as mobile performance and visual art project spaces. Where artists and viewers were invited to interact and engage with art in the context of an experiential living theater. Each project embodied a variation of my conceptual life stage that blurred the boundaries of art, kitsch, and familiar social constructs.
I wanted to create an environment of experimentation, voyeurism, and intimacy. A space in which the viewer and the artist were all actors compelled to encounter art in new and uninhibited ways. It was through this lens, I had hoped to connect artists with each other and the broader community. My goal was to bridge various conventional divides, by encouraging cultural inclusion, accessibility, as well as, exemplifying Josef Albers’s idea of “visual and social empathy”.
Vi Nguyen installation
These projects all varied, and took on many forms. Beginning with my first major initiative in 1998, entitled “Student Aspirations”. |
|
When I organized a three-day exhibition and fundraiser for visual and performing arts students from every community college in San Diego. This also included an alternative process for the jurors that emitted competition, emphasizing productivity, learning, and individual achievement. It also encompassed portfolio-building workshops, critique, and provided students with a number of scholarship opportunities. With the active participation of the students, support of the community and local colleges, the exhibition was an overwhelming success! Every student who contributed to the process received scholarships, and many were accepted to their school of choice with a merit scholarship.
|
Since then, I have had a number of successes bringing artists and communities together in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Mexico. Providing hundreds of artists with exciting alternative venues. I’ve established partnerships with businesses and organizations such as Sushi Performance and Visual Art, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, LA Theater Works, Insite 2000, The World Beat Cultural Center, San Diego Art Institute, RIQ Gallery, Giorgio Santini Gallery, The New Bohemian, The 7th and Broadway Partnership, San Diego Children’s Museum, Motel 6, Travelodge Motel, San Diego Center for the Moving and Performing Arts, and various High Schools and universities in California.
Some Images dating back to 1998
Life Stage: The Blurred Line Between Art & Life @ Sushi Performance and Visual Art July 26, 27, 28, 2002.
Life Stage: Los Angeles, San Diego, and Mexico (Beyond Baroque Literary Art Center, Sushi Performance and Visual Art, Giorgio Santini Gallery) June 27, 28, 30, 2001
A collaborative traveling exposition that included artists from all over California and Mexico.
A collaborative traveling exposition that included artists from all over California and Mexico.
"Rhythm, Verse, and Composition" May 2, 2002
Interdisciplinary artists, professional, instructors & students explore "Rhythm, Verse & Composition" through text, image, video, performance, exhibition, and demonstration. Hundreds of artists, professionals, and students (from East Lake High School), in a varied exposition combining poetry/prose, literature, journals, visual art, and much more, in the form of books, papers, and portfolios. The concept of the event was also manifested through various performances, including, spoken word, performance art, theatrical monologues, video screenings, installations, dance, and music by both students and professionals. In addition, the event took shape as a lecture series, presenting works by San Diego based artists and professors.
Interdisciplinary artists, professional, instructors & students explore "Rhythm, Verse & Composition" through text, image, video, performance, exhibition, and demonstration. Hundreds of artists, professionals, and students (from East Lake High School), in a varied exposition combining poetry/prose, literature, journals, visual art, and much more, in the form of books, papers, and portfolios. The concept of the event was also manifested through various performances, including, spoken word, performance art, theatrical monologues, video screenings, installations, dance, and music by both students and professionals. In addition, the event took shape as a lecture series, presenting works by San Diego based artists and professors.
The Lab Exhibitions 2003-04 (Three pop-up exhibitions at @ 923 Sixth Ave, 634 Broadway, and Sushi Performance and Visual Art, in downtown San Diego.)
Wheels of Steel @ Sushi Performance and Visual Art August 17,18,19, 1999
Wheels of Steel, was a diverse collage of cultures and urban subcultures presented almost entirely by way of performance. The event tirelessly advanced through nearly eight hours per day for three straight days. Combining genres of dance, performance art, spoken word, street art and music. Each performance was timed and lighted to occur in a different location within the theater. Creating a push and pull of emotion and literally of movement within the audience. Graffiti artists from Northern and Southern California and Great Britain painted two trucks at the entrance of the space. In addition to crossing genres in performance, the event also presented a very unique DJ competition. One that composed categories of mixing not commonly included relative to each other. Wheels of Steel, was an experiment inspired in part by the movie SLAM. The event examined multiplicity, collaboration, hybrid culture and new genres derived from urban street culture.
Wheels of Steel, was a diverse collage of cultures and urban subcultures presented almost entirely by way of performance. The event tirelessly advanced through nearly eight hours per day for three straight days. Combining genres of dance, performance art, spoken word, street art and music. Each performance was timed and lighted to occur in a different location within the theater. Creating a push and pull of emotion and literally of movement within the audience. Graffiti artists from Northern and Southern California and Great Britain painted two trucks at the entrance of the space. In addition to crossing genres in performance, the event also presented a very unique DJ competition. One that composed categories of mixing not commonly included relative to each other. Wheels of Steel, was an experiment inspired in part by the movie SLAM. The event examined multiplicity, collaboration, hybrid culture and new genres derived from urban street culture.
Hotels/Motels 2000 & 03, encompassed a breadth of genres, exhibiting, performing, and making art in hotel rooms. A transient backdrop in which selected artists were invited to occupy thirty or more rooms. The artists were challenged to transform their room into an alternative gallery space. Some artists constructed full scale installations that employed the entire use of space. Each room was distinctively characterized by the artist’s creative presentation of work and medium. Performing artist’s suites included, experimental music, knit-ins, performance art, poetry collaborations, and a number of interactive projects. These activities were complimented by two rooms reserved for music and spoken word participation, in which guests were invited to bring instruments and collaborate with performing artists. Many guests were seemingly disarmed, and yet, simultaneously inspired by their encounters. The curated environment, evoked a number of extemporaneous actions and performances in the hallways. Hotels Motels was truly a thought provoking and immersive contemporary art experience. The events fostered voyeurism and intimacy within a complex network of contemporary art hotel rooms.
