Justin Lowman at Montalvo

June 25, 2015

I had no idea when I signed up my son for a treehouse camp at Montalvo that he would be learning from someone with not only a background in education but a real artist! Justin Lowman created this untitled sight specific installation in Belvedere Temple back when he was doing his residency at Montalvo in 2014. While Lowman had no intention of imposing his aesthetic on the camper’s self-directed project, (in which the kids greatly benefited from his respect for process, collaboration and site sensitivity) my son is keen on getting his hands on some colored plexi after exploring Lowman’s piece.

Set in and around Montalvo’s period Belvedere Temple, Lowman introduces materials, in a non-invasive way, which act to direct flow and focus, through light physical structures and vibrant transparent colors. These elements reframe and reinterpret views. It’s like a conversation between the past and the present, traditional and modern perspectives. Lowman employs a light touch which does not overwhelm the existing building but rather allows both visions to exist simultaneously and benefit from their relationship to each other.

Untitled (Belvedere Temple), 2014
Site Conditioned Installation (Redwood, Expanded PVC, Plexiglas, and Latex on Pine, Poplar, and Maple)

Trace : @Large

April 27, 2015

Trace was an installation of the Lego portraits of 170 political prisoners on the floor of the New Industries Building at Alcatraz. Artist Ai WeiWei designed the portraits and planned the layout using site schematics from his studio in Beijing then had the curatorial team from For-Site piece it all together in San Francisco. Lego is and interesting medium, a popular medium, all these little pieces that come together to make something big and colorful and powerful can be easily broken down into it’s individual pieces, but without loosing the potential to come together again and again. Our voice as a people or a group is like that too. Some may be silenced , but others will surface and continue to speak.

There were a number of binders available to learn more about the the individuals depicted on the floor, including this entry for Lolo.

So many faces… there are so many others. We are the Lego and we need to come together for change.

In Tune : @Large

April 26, 2015

That’s the penitentiary up at the top where the cell blocks and clinic were situated. Cell Block A, where Ai WeiWei had his audio installation In Tune, looks out of this side of the building.

Looking down the line at Cell Block A, where each cell has the music or poetry of imprisoned political dissidents piped in from the air vents.

A stainless steel stool was placed in each cell so one could sit and identify with the political prisoner while listening to the piece that either was inspired by the imprisonment or the sort that garnered it. Above was the cell devoted to Pussy Riot (from Russia) with their punk prayer, Virgin Mary Put Putin Away blaring away, here’s a taste below, click to listen: