By Enzo Acquaviva, contributing writer in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Always ready with a pun, Pat Olezsko has tackled many issues with her own unique brand of comedy. Be them social, economic or historical, Pat is able to flip controversy on its head and deliver laughter and insight to her audience. We got the chance to speak with Pat and get a better understanding of who she is, what inspires her, as well as some more insight into her current projects for this year’s AiOP Festival!
What was your reaction to this year’s theme of invisibility?
As always, a moment whose time has come but that has always been there: women, noticed but not recognized, seen but not heard, acknowledged but not rewarded.
What are your projects for this year’s festival? Tell us how it all came together.
There are three different pieces, each typifying my current concerns, and all literally a-dressing the topics: the horrifying separation and incarceration of children and families on the border, the climate crisis, specifically with the plastic death sentence we are leveling in the ocean, and lastly, all the acknowledgement of death from a woman of a certain rage. None of this is a laff riot but there is an element of lightness and humor inherent in the pieces.
Were your choices in performance location based on practicality, or are they tied to the themes and messages of each performance? If so, how do they connect?
They are indicated by the message of each piece. The incarceration piece is located under a scaffolding and will be enclosed within to be as close to the concept displayed on the border as possible. The oceans piece starts by a seafood restaurant and may wander the avenue after that. The last piece, the chattering skull, will wander the avenue with an accompanying band, a kind of Day of the Dead celebration.
Where are you from? What was your upbringing like? Did it inform your art?
I am from Detroit, from a family of Polish and German immigrants who spoke many languages, were incredibly self-reliant and accomplished in creating or constructing whatever they wanted or needed. We were all encouraged in the arts and sciences. Consequently my sister became a microbiologist, my brother is a fireman. I was the wild child and became an artist, not the kind they expected by any stretch of the imagination— my mother thought i should design hallmark cards—but we were all totally supported. We were exposed to as much culture as they could bring to us and yes, it informed my art. My father had a wily sense of humor with much pun-tification in diverse languages and my mother had an enthusiasm for life and creativity that was unparalleled.
Who or what inspires you as an artist?
Inspiration comes from inequity, absurdity and happenstance. When there are wrongs, I have to correct them—in my own particular way. When there is profound peculiarity, I am happy to point it out—with my certain vocabulary. If there is a plethora, a unique moment, or my muse points me astray I am happy to use and bemuse myself. Social, economic and historical events are unceasing fodder for my muddle.
How has your art changed over the years, what kind of themes have your returned to and what is of most interest to you at this moment?
Early on I worked through the various roles that I saw women roiled into while using the street, stage and film to present the work. Now I am more compelled by inadvertent or totally unexpected situations, those that don’t have a history of performative engagement; the field, mountain and glade, the rivers, oceans and lakes, and structures with a past unusual or a future uncertain. These are far more challenging situations than the stage although more fie-nancially bereft. I am interested in making moments with little history and with luck, making a memory profound. I am always compelled by absurdity.
There seems to always be a sense of jocularity running throughout your performances. How do you feel this adds to your art?
The realm of performance goes from tragedy to comedy. I primarily work thru humor despite occasions of bitter seriousness. Of all the means of expression, humor is one that can capture unawares. You laugh and then you think, or wonder, or contemplate what you laughed at and why. In the beast of circus-stances, humor is the ultimate two-edged sword.
What value do you feel that performance art has over other modes of expression?
Performance is a medium like none other. It can alternately glorify our humanity and horrify. It can walk down the street and astonish and attract; it can flounce across the stage and in measured means, awe and distract. It is a medium like none other. To perform is as terrifying as life can be. No matter what you do, if it is a failure, the world hates you because in this circus-stance, you are your work. If they love you, it is unearthly praise. There is no remove from your work. Certainly you work in the studio but then it must be put on display, and no matter what, the pressure is enormous because you are not dis-playing around.
Any current projects or exhibitions? What should we look out for? What’s next?
I will be doing a big piece at the Neuberger Museum at SUNY Purchase on November 6th, am finishing a new film about a huge piece I did at Civitella Ranieri in Umbria for their 25th anniversary, will be having an exhibition at the Howl! gallery sometime in the spring, am working on a book and desperately, disparately trying to make a living.
Are there any ways that we can keep updated on all of your current projects?
Info is usually on my website (https://www.patoleszko.com/).
Look out for Pat Oleszko on 14TH STREET!
Thursday, October 17, 12:30-2pm Caged Migration Under the scaffolding across from Trader Joe’s at 133 E 14th between Third Avenue and Irving Place Street
Friday, October 18, 5-8pm The Writhing Seas in front of Restaurant Bait and Hook at the corner of Second Avenue (231 Second Avenue) then walking to the Opening on14th Street (downtown side) between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Saturday, October 19 in Promenade of Visual Flâneurs/Flâneuse 2-4pm along 14th Street from Avenue C to the Hudson River, East to West ending at 14th Street Park at Tenth Avenue.
