continued from pg. 21 As far as the specific process, I reviewed images from all 103 applicants and then I reviewed proposals and support materials from all. From there, 25 artists that I responded to the most rose to the top, then 15, and finally ten. I conducted studio visits with the final ten, all of which possessed talent and contribute to the local cultural landscape. I selected the final five based on the quality of existing work, the strength of their proposals, and their ability to deliver a compelling, well-made, and timely project. Each of the five artists could be emerging artists in any US city and their work places them in good company nationally. I am structuring the exhibition based on five distinct bodies, thus there is not a thematic proposition nor does it reflect any regional interest. I see our working together as more of a curatorial collaboration. I want the collaboration to remain artist driven. Each artist has a clearly defined vision for what they want to accomplish with this partnership and exhibition; I will work with them on how to best achieve that vision. One thing I remind artists, is that curators come with their own ideas, interests, and tastes. The goal is to strike a balance through a democratic process without compromising expertise and quality. Art 365 is in its second incarnation. OVAC is cognizant of the particular strengths and interests of its curators. My project will differ from what Diane Barber did in the inaugural presentation and its third presentation will differ from what I do. Bringing in diverse professional perspectives to celebrate what is happening locally is important, but it will never please all, nor should it. JK: What happens when you go to a studio for a studio visit? SF: A visit is usually scheduled because an artist has made work or is moving in a new direction or has a body of work to share and talk about. Most studio visits, artwork is out. I usually start by looking. The conversation is
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Artist Frank Wick and Curator Shannon Fitzgerald look over plans for Wick’s project during a studio visit.
kind of quiet and opens up. My first questions are “What are you doing,” “What are you interested in,” ”Why are you making this?” I start with their explanation. That sometimes can be very articulate, clear and open. Other artists are more reserved or their thinking is not resolved. And after that it’s a conversation and I’ll want to literally know what the work is made of and the art making process. Depending on the purpose of the studio visit, if it’s for an exhibition or an introduction, I ask about ambitions. Is the work being produced for a specific purpose or for ongoing inquiry? JK: What have your studio visits for the Art 365 exhibition been like? SF: I knew about what they were thinking before I got there. Because of the parameters of the project, the studio visit is specific to that project. So there is not a lot of discussion of other work or earlier work, it is very proposal oriented. JK: Other than studio visits, what ways are you working with the Art 365 artists? SF: Most involves a conversation back and
forth, ranging from material, technical, and logistic recommendations, to more conceptual and formal discussions, and to practical matters of editing and narrowing focus. Each exchange varied, but over the year, all five of them have grown, are more focused and confident. Not because of me, but because of the support, an ongoing dialogue, and the time and space to work through a body of work. The visibility they are enjoying in the community and the experience of having their peers’ curiosity, and hopefully support contributes to that confidence. More interview questions and biographical information can be found on the Oklahoma Art Writing and Curatorial blog, write-curate-art.blogspot.com. Click on Fitzgerald on the right side bar. n
Julia Kirt has been Executive Director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition since 1999 and has been fortunate enough to get to know many discerning, articulate, and passionate guest curators during that time. She can be reached at director@ovac-ok.org.