Justin Lowman at Montalvo

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) Justin Loawman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 1 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 3 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 2 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 4 2015                        Justin Lowman and treehouse builder at Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 2015                     Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 6 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 10 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 8 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 9 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 12 2015             Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 13 2015             Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 11 2015

Untitled (Belvedere Temple) Justin Lowman - Montalvo - photo Marie Cameron 7 2015

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

 

 

Trace : @Large

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

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.

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

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

Trace Binder (detail)

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace  - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace (detail) - At Large - Ai WeiWei

Trace - Ai WeiWei At Large -throught the glass- Udaltsov

Trace - Ai WeiWei At Large -throught the glass - Snowden

Trace - Ai WeiWei At Large - through the glass

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

 

 

In Tune : @Large

Alcatraz Penitentiary

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.

Cell Block A - Virgin Mary Put Putin Away (Punk Prayer)

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:

 

In Tune - Ai WeiWei At Large on Alcatraz - Cell Block A - Pussy Riot Wall

 

Cell Block A - Toxika by Plastic People of the World

Toxika, Plastic People of the Universe (Czech)

Cell Block A - A Homesick Sparrow, Mahjoub Sharif

A Homesick Sparrow, Mahjoub Sharif (Sudanese)

Cell Block A - Raise the Tibetn Flag Children of the Snowland, Lolo

Raise the Tibetan Flag Children of the Snowland, Lolo (Tibetan)

Cell Block A - In this Dead-End Street, Ahmad Shamlu

In This Dead-End Street, Ahmad Shamlu (Iranian) had a heartbreaking line, “Songbird kebab roasts over flames of lily and jasmine”.

Cell Block A - Victor Jara, Manifesto

Manifesto, Victor Jara (Chilean)

Cell Block A - Sorrow Tears and Blood, Fela Kuti

Sorrow Tears and Blood, Fela Kuti (Nigerian)

Door to cell

 

One of the cells was for Martin Luther King Jr, I thought I’d close with this quote from his speech that was playing.

Martin Luther King Jr quote