Curator Malcolm Levy Builds Bridges Through CODE Live's New Media Art

“Within culture is the possibility to change. Within our world today is the possibility to bridge.”

Anytime coordinating an event tied to the Olympic Games comes into play, you know it’s going to be a lot of work, but it was a challenge that Malcolm Levy, Lead Curator and Producer of CODE Live, a component of the Cultural Olympiad and the Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition, in association with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, was up for.

While the position attracted many potential candidates with their eyes on the proverbial “Gold,” Levy had been involved in the conversation about creating this grouping of art and music many years before. His career in Vancouver has afforded him the opportunity to work and curate around media, sound and related visual art, so he was a likely choice for the job. Despite the cachè, Levy still had to endure a grueling interview process. “Anything of this caliber is competitive for sure,” he said. In spite of all his accomplishments, Levy feels incredibly fortunate to have made the grade.

So what does a “Lead Curator and Producer” do to make something so grandiose as CODE Live come to life? Well, Levy came up with the overall theme, determined the artists to be involved, and developed the overall artistic vision for the exhibition and musical performances. “It was a two-year process of working with my director, Rae Hull, and the Cultural Olympiad to envision the proper artists, contexts, locations, and all else that goes into the final output of the exhibition,” Levy said. First and foremost he looked at everything through the theme of the exhibition, which was ‘bridging’, looking at cultures, interactivity, and our environment as focal points. This theme fit into the larger thematic context of CODE, which was “connect, create, collaborate,” and lit the path to determining the elements which would follow.

For many, the question of what exactly ‘new media art’ is arises. Levy is quick to point out that, in his estimation, new media art doesn’t exist. “It’s about interactivity, robotics, visual art, sound art, and computer programming flowing together to create a whole,” he said. “We have entered a world of hybridity, which is where a lot of the work comes from.”

For those interested in understanding the overall theme of CODE Live, here is an excerpt:

"Bridges, as physical structures, likely represent the first instance of communication between different cultures. Since time immemorial, the idea of bridging has been a centerpiece to civilization. Instrumental in providing passage, geographical and then man-made, bridges allowed for movement from place to place across the world. In electricity, the term has been used for measuring the characteristics of energy flow, registering the impedance or inductance of a conductor. In science, bridging refers to the intermolecular spanning of atoms or groups of atoms as they form their different compositions in the universe. In the online world, bridging refers to new advances in connectivity on the Internet, and in contemporary terms, has no relationship to where in a network a particular address is located. The curatorial approach to CODE Live envisions a project that has become a combination of these meanings within our modern day cultural context. Ideas of immersion, culture, tradition, oral history and perception intertwine with the body politic, materiality, movement, environment, ecology, space, telepresence, community, artificial intelligence and participation.”

From this curatorial theme, perhaps what people will come away from the exhibit with will be a sense that “Within culture is the possibility to change. Within our world today is the possibility to bridge.” It could be argued that these 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, seemingly more full of good will than in years past, have served to do just that—give people hope that we can bridge gaps. We’ve seen that from opening ceremony to date, and in these tough times, it makes us all feel better about where the world is headed. 

With all this hybridity, as Levy refers to it, happening, how do new media art and culture in general intersect, and how will the Internet influence the future of contemporary art? Levy contends that while fine art will always be around, “the ways in which work grows, changes, morphs and is accepted will be just another chapter in art history that is currently being written.” Levy agrees that there is art out there that is influenced by technology or the digital age in which we live, but that in no way implies that that art utilizes new technologies. “There are a myriad of ways in which art intersects with our world today,” Levy explained. “The transdisciplinary nature of art today means it is becoming far more the norm. If you travel to Venice, Istanbul, Dokumenta, or any of the major art fairs, you can see this happening. We have entered an age when the Internet, digital technology and new media are not always the tools used in terms of making contemporary art, but often what is discussed and referred to.”

Levy, an artist himself, works in a variety of mediums, including installation art, experimental film, and documentaries. When asked how being curator of CODE Live has impacted him as an artist and his work, he said “It has taught me a lot about the industry, in an academic, festival and commercial context. Any experience I go through affects my own art practice, based on what I learn, gather or think of during the process.” While toggling between these fields is quite natural and easy for his mind, one thing posed a real challenge for Levy—the scope of this exhibition. Proudly, he admits that it really helped him learn how to curate on such a massive scale.

If public response were the measure used to gauge a person’s capabilities of coordinating an exhibition on this level, then Malcolm Levy is clearly a master. In addition to bringing together a wonderful selection of world-class art and music, his work has served to focus eyeballs on Vancouver’s cultural and artistic riches. This event has shown “how strong the arts scene is in Vancouver and B.C. and what we can offer to the world,” he said. “I hope that we continue to see funding aimed towards the goal of showing our incredible culture to the world.”

Since the Cultural Olympiad ends next week, Levy urges visitors to Vancouver and Vancouverites alike to take the time to check out the remaining events. The exhibits are easy to navigate and the venues are quite accessible. “The Library is quite central. Emily Carr is on Granville Island, and GNWC (Great Northern Way Campus) is easy to drive to,” he said. “But really, it’s about an adventure of finding more about art in these wonderful spaces.”

To learn more about Malcolm Levy, visit his Web site here. For more information on CODE Live events, schedules and venues, click here.

Being Martinez: San Ildefonso Potter Marvin Martinez on Maria and the Family that Made Him Famous

There are moments in life when you have to pinch yourself and be reminded that, indeed, you are there, living an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  In my forty years, I've been in the position to meet some extraordinary people, but they were in equally glamorous situations, surrounded by other people.  In the Southwest, it's the Native American artists who are the real celebrities, and real is what you get with them.  There's no glamour.  There's no glitz--just total heart and passion.  Profoundly, there is also the reminder of why we are here on this planet--to express the will of a higher power through the talents we have been given.

Last Friday, while waiting for another artist who was scheduled to arrive at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Albuquerque's Old Town, the most extraordinary opportunity found its way into my life, and I have to say that I am still a little bit in awe. San Ildefonso potter Marvin Martinez arrived out of the blue to sell gallery owner Bob Andrews some of his work that included smaller Avanyu (the iconic waterserpent) pots, as well as gunmetal-colored stone-polished medicine bear clay fetishes with a shine that would make you think they were anything but clay.  Since I am currently reading Alice Marriott's 1940s biography of Marvin's great-grandmother Maria Martinez, Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso, meeting him was a particular treat and connected me even more to the book.

Anyone familiar with traditional Pueblo Pottery knows that husband and wife artists Maria and Julian Martinez were Pueblo Pottery royalty and best known for their black on black designs.  Maria hand-coiled the pots and polished them, while Julian painted on the designs.  Marvin and his wife, originally of the Santa Clara Pueblo, where potters are known for their fine polishing work, create pottery together.  In general, Marvin and Frances share the duty of making the pottery with Frances coiling and polishing the red clay prior to firing. Next, Marvin paints the intricate and beautiful designs on the pots and they are fired.  Marvin is quick to say that while he learned a great deal about life from his great-grandmother, it was Maria's son Adam and his wife Santana Martinez that taught him what he knows about making pottery. Now deceased, they were pottery stars in their own right, and often lived in the shadow of Maria and Julian.  He honors Adam and Santana wholeheartedly because they were the people who raised him.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity to learn about Marvin's life as a Martinez, and, by serendipity, having brought my Flip camera along, we sat down at the old Spanish-style pueblo-made table at Andrews and chatted.   See my very special and candid interview with Marvin Martinez here:

Award-Winning Navajo Artist Sheldon Harvey Shares Thoughts on Art and Preserving Navajo Culture

Two words describe Navajo (Diné) artist Sheldon Harvey--Cool and humble. I've met him on several occasions at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Albuquerque's Old Town Plaza. If you're fortunate to be in the gallery while he is on one of his selling trips from Arizona, what you first notice about him is that he is quiet and subtly confident. Once you've talked to him, you'll discover that he's an overall good guy too.

At just 30, Harvey has already taken Santa Fe's Indian Market by storm. As a matter of fact, in 2008, he won "Best of Show" at Indian Market, and his star has continued to rise steadily ever since. It's no surprise, though, since he has worked with master Diné artists Don Whitesinger and Tony Abeyta.

The prices of his paintings and Ye’ii figures,which depict Navajo supernatural beings as Harvey sees them, are going up quickly. These carved wood sculptures, decorated with paints, macaw feathers, horsehair, canvas and yucca, are among his most creative works and his most popular. That means if you are in the market for Native art and want to own one of his colorful and spiritual works, you better jump now. While Harvey didn't even submit his work for judging at the 2009 Indian Market, he did receive a great deal of press and added more people to his loyal fan base that includes collectors from the United States, Europe and Asia. With a particular fondness for the Japanese, Harvey has painted numerous works that are part of a wonderful series inspired by his travels to Japan.

This week, I was lucky enough to have some time to chat with Sheldon Harvey while he was on a recent selling trip in Albuquerque. Check out my video interview here:

Sheldon Harvey is represented in Albuquerque exclusively by Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery. For more information, visit the gallery at http://www.andrewspp.com/.

Finding Art and Culture Fit for the Gold in Vancouver

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will soon be underway in Vancouver, British Columbia.  For the sake of the athletes competing, I hope there is a giant snowstorm in the next week or so. The weather has been balmy, rainy and the mountains remain green.  I understand that the city will be trucking in man-made snow so that show can still go on.

While you're waiting for things to cool down in the "Van," be sure to take in some of the public art that has gone up in honor of the Games.  Here are some images of some of the art that has been installed in the downtown corridor.

 This past weekend, I enjoyed a couple of days visiting with friends, including the witty, intelligent Vancouver artist Jennifer Mawby of Vantage Art Projects.  Jen and I spent some time at East Vancouver's hip little bar and cheese joint Au Petit Chavignol.  Since I was a poutine virgin, Jen insisted that I try this Canadian delicacy.  It was actually pretty tasty.  How can you go wrong with handcut French fries slathered in gravy, cheese curd and peppercorns. I washed it down with a nice sparkling white wine infused with cassis berry liqueur.  Add to that a hot "just gay enough" bohemian waiter and you have the perfect sleepy, rainy night in the Van!

Another treat was getting to see a colleague of mine Carolynn Faulkner of the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. The Inuit is internationally recognized for the high quality First Peoples' art that it carries. Carolynn took the time to talk to me about one of Joe David's glass pieces. Watch a brief video here:

 Joe, who is a Nuu-chah-nulth artist, is a contemporary of Preston Singletary.  If you spend any time in Santa Fe, you will know Preston's work from the Blue Rain Gallery and his collaborations with Blue Rain owner Tammy Garcia.  The Inuit Gallery is not to be missed if you happen to be in the Vancouver area during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. 

During the Olympics the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver will host the renowned Cape Dorset artist Toonoo Sharky. Sharky's carvings are transformational in nature, with an emphasis on spirit figures. The artist will be in the gallery Thursday, Feb. 11, 12 and 13 between 1 and 3 pm each day. Be sure to check it out!