As we transition to our new Director Furusho von Puttkammer, we have asked our alums if they have any advice, memories, or thoughts they would like to share with AiOP. LuLu LoLo, who is both an artist alumni and Curator of AiOP2019: INVISIBLE, and friend of both AiOP Founder Ed Woodham and our new Executive Director Furusho von Puttkammer, wanted to share this:
- 1. What’s a strong Art in Odd Places memory that you recall?
There are so many memories from over the past twelve years during which I performed in six AiOP festivals and also had the honor of curating AiOP 2019: INVISIBLE.
Thinking back, what is amazing is that in my first AiOP appearance as 14th Street NewsBoy in AiOP 2009: SIGN, the festival was four weekends in October! I was out there every weekend offering the public the newspaper: The 14th Street Tribune (four issues—a different one each week) that I researched and wrote about the history of 14th Street. I wore a vintage-inspired newsboy attire (this was before the play Newsies). As the weather turned colder Joshua Suzanne of Rags Au GoGo gifted me a tweed jacket to wear. I recall that I was working on each issue each week like a real reporter and was under pressure to get the issues to the printer. The public’s enthusiasm to collect each newspaper issue was amazing—they were even contacting AiOP for back issues. Years later when I did a short stint as NewsBoy for an AiOP event, a guy was excited to see me because he never received all four issues. Performing on the street one never knows the public’s response and getting people to take a newspaper can be tricky—one favorite interaction was with a man who was hesitant to take a newspaper—I could see him at the curb looking back at me—and trying to decide to take one or not, and I yelled to him “Oscar Wilde’s play was a flop!” and he smiled and said, “You got me.” And he took a newspaper. Another memory of NewsBoy is my looking across the street and seeing Ed smiling at me while I was performing.
In all my memories over all these years, it is the excitement and interaction with the public that has been most rewarding: from people wanting me to acknowledge them with a tip of my hat as the Gentleman of 14th Street in AiOP 2011:RITUAL; accepting blessings from Mother Cabrini in AiOP 2017: SENSE; nominating a woman for a monument in Where are the Women? in AiOP 2015: RECALL; the heartwarming conversation a man had with his deceased father in Remembrance of Phone Numbers Past in AiOP 2013:NUMBER; and with a seat strapped to my back Offering a Seat to the Elderly: the Invisible Generation in AiOP 2018:BODY; and of course the joyous moment when the brass band came promenading down 14th street for AiOP 2019:INVISIBLE.
- What would you like to say to Ed as he leaves?
Ed, your vision and dedication to AiOP has made it the premier public art festival in New York City. I am extremely grateful to the freedom and the support you have given me and all the artists in the festival. Your spirit will always be a part of AiOP. Ed, as you pass the baton to Furusho, I know that you are confident that she has the ability and vision to continue creating a vibrant exciting AiOP.
- What should Furusho know about Art in Odd Places?
AiOP is a juggling act of curators, artists, 14th Street, deadlines, and the bureaucracy of New York City. Furusho with her AiOP experience is aware of all of this and has navigated it successfully so far.
- Any advice for Furusho?
Furusho, always follow your instincts and have a supportive team that understands your vision. I think you already have that in place. I will always remember the moment we met, and our friendship began. I am so proud of you, and I know you will be fantastic leading AiOP into the future.
Photos Included:
LuLu and Ed, meeting to discuss LuLu Curating AiOP 2019: INVISIBLE Photographer unknown
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Group photo at the opening of AiOP 2019: INVISIBLE Photo: Paul Takeuchi
From Left to Right front row: Billy X Curmano, LuLu LoLo, Joshua Suzanne, Furusho von Puttkammer
From Left to Right Back row: Laura Droguol, Ed Woodham, Ron Kolm, Barbara Lubliner (partly hidden)
