Blog – Art in Odd Places

Art in Odd Places is very pleased to announce its “Open Call for Artist Submission” for the upcoming festival, CHANCE, in October. In lieu of such announcement, our blog will be featuring artists who were part of Art in Odd places in the past to share their experiences and catch up with their latest projects.

First stop, Art in Odd Places recently caught up with artist Agata Oleksiak, or Olek for short. She was one of the artists during the 2009 festival with her dynamic work called “Thank you for your visit, Have a Nice Day”. Olek has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, Village Voice and Fiberarts Magazine for her work on mixed media, creating sculptural environments using her amazing crocheting skills. Olek was kind enough to share her thoughts about being part of Art in Odd places.

Aiop: Tell us about Olek, creator of “Thank You For Your Visit, Have a Nice Day”

Olek: I was born Agata Oleksiak in Poland. My English teacher told me “Poland is not ready for you, move to NYC”. I was always a good student, so after spending 22 years of my life in a gray, industrial, close-minded city in the South of Poland I escaped to Brooklyn. I rediscovered my ability to crochet and my crocheted journey/madness started. I cover objects and people as I go or as they enter my space, my life. The crocheted connections are stronger as one fabric, as opposed to separate strands, but if you cut one, the whole thing will fall apart. I like choosing ephemeral materials as a statement of the limited life of an art object, as well as an art concept. Unraveling plays a major part in my performance pieces. I can’t really speak to what I want to reveal—to know that, you’d have to find the end of the string and unravel it.

Aiop: How was your Art in Odd Places experience?

Olek: Overwhelming, exhausting but, most importantly, rewarding and satisfying. I planned to present a one day, 3 hour action that grew into a 4 weekend crocheted full body suits public life installation. I am very pleased with the great publicity that followed the AIOP festival and, in particular, my artistic statement for this venue. I couldn’t have done it without help from my friends, friends of friends and… Joshua Suzanne. She invited my piles of signs and yarn to take over her “Rags and GoGo” store on 14th Street where I was able to outfit my species and store the “props” between the performances.

And I cannot forget about the very close and extremely helpful communication with the curator Radhika Subramaniam. Nothing gives you more energy than a curator that believes in your proposal…then the final product.

I wish AIOP festival had a budget for the artists. I am strongly against the fact that we are constantly asked to produce public art, actions without any artist compensation. Actions like “Thank You For Your Visit, Have a Nice Day” needs performers, suits, coordinators, photographers, videographers, food and drink, washing machine, materials, prints, transport…pain killers…
I wish this venue good luck with making it even more successful and powerful. Raising funds would be the next step!

Finally, as an artist I must say I am especially content with the comments I’ve received from viewers. It is a public work and without the strangers who enter the space of my actions, my work couldn’t be completed. All of the five senses are always heightened as the audience develops new means of interacting with the piece, realizing that their response greatly impacts the art and the ways my forms are moving over time. Their response is the art, and my work is a mirror.

Aiop: Any words of wisdom for artists who are interested in becoming part of this year’s Art in Odd places festival?

Olek: Everything takes longer then you think. Weather is unpredictable. Count mostly on yourself. Everything is possible.

Aiop: What projects are you currently working on and where can people reach you?

Olek: I am currently participating in a show at ABC No Rio on the LES. I was able to accomplish my project that was on my mind for 5 years. Please go to 156 Rivington Street and enjoy it. It is a public installation and is waiting for viewers to complete it with their energy.
I am an artist in residence at AAI-LES Rotating Studio Program, where we will have open studio in May.

I am also going to need your clothes for an action “Bring Your Clothes” I am preparing for Brooklyn Museum on June 16th. If you are interested in being a part of my work there by donating your garments, cutting them with me or even crocheting a new piece out of “old”, please send me an email to olek@agataolek.com

And there you have it! Thank you Olek and we look forward seeing your projects.

To check out her show at the ABC No Rio, visit http://www.abnorio.org/
To see more of her art work, visit her website at http://www.agataolek.com/
To contact Olek or to participate in her upcoming piece for the Brooklyn Museum, email her at olek@agataolek.com

Our last entry was about James Kuntler’s take on the importance of public spaces in defining our community. Following this line of thought, today’s entry offers the importance of sustainability in creating a public space. With Art in Odd places’ “Call For Artists” announcement just around the corner, it is important to begin a discourse on how we use public art in sending a strong message.

A touchy (and perhaps, trendy) issue nowadays is the Green Movement. Words such as “carbon footprint” and “recycling”are thrown around to stress the impact of our actions to the environment. The movement has made great strides in putting the message across with the “green” label. However, it does raise the question whether words are enough to make a difference?

Luckily, a group based in Canada STEPS, or Sustainable Thinking and Expression and Public Space, understands the need to address issues surrounding sustainability. Their mission is to “engage public space enthusiasts in a collaborative effort to promote sustainable and community-centered public spaces by using art as a medium for dialogue on liberating the urban commons.”

The beauty of this group lies not only in its principles, but the understanding the power of collaboration . From community health organization to urban health research centers, STEPS work with different groups to encourage people to use their space as hubs in addressing issues about the environment. It is a form of activism that is more than just a “writing on the wall”. Now we can see how art expression can be a strong form of action, that can turn into legislation.

For more information about this group and on how to get involved, visit their website.

With this year’s AiOP theme “Chance”, we hope to see projects taking chances in sending messages that create dialogue for change. Remember our mission: public space is an “epicenter for diverse social interaction and the unfettered exchange of idea”.

The STEPS initiative is just one of the group making this world (or public space) a better a place, and the world (or public space) needs to see more them.

IF PUBLIC SPACES COULD TALK, WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

Featured Artist: Olek

Sustainability and Public Art?