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A Transition:
from Fort Point to Malden
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Meeting Sand T at artSPACE@16 in Malden
An
Interview Conducted Via Electronic Mail
By James Manning, Director
of Art Initiative, Inc.
Winter-Spring 2003
James Manning: How did losing your old space ( a gallery, art studios, office and living
space) in South Boston's Fort Point Artists' Community* affect you
and the decisions you have made in building and establishing the new gallery
space, artSPACE@16 in Malden? (*Fort Point Artists Community
is the oldest and largest artists' community in New England.)
Sand T: I put in a tremendous effort
in establishing and building S.T Gallery at Stillings
Street where I had art studios, an office, and gallery since 1997.
When the redeveloper decided to take down the Stillings Street buildings for
a 9-story parking garage, I experienced tremendous lost. It wasn't a pleasant
experience - for these 50 artists who had studios and small businesses at
Stillings Street for the past two decades, including myself. I only wish that
these changes could have been made in ways that considered the needs of the
community. A community that had culturally revitalized Fort Point, and has
brought in business and safety to the Fort Point area where no one wanted
to go more than twenty ago.
Instead of being a passive
victim groaning over the death of my years at Stillings Street, this major
setback had transformed into a cause, a positive motivation in continuing
what I've been enjoying doing. I gained a strong desire to make space for
art during my recovery from the loss of my old space. Shortly after I moved
to Malden in April 2000, I decided to rebuild a new art space in a converted
garage space with the kind help from Wesley Kalloch, my husband and friends.
This newly renovated art space earned its name artSPACE@16 from the street number and being operating as a non-commercial art space.
Besides curating and organizing exhibitions, I continue working in collaboration
with individuals and community organizations to promote art from artSPACE@16
and other venues. Our events include exhibitions, forums, music performances,
poetry readings and other collaborations in the community.
James Manning: Did you have any connections
to the Fort Point Artists Community in South Boston similar to what is being
established in Malden or did that develop after the transition?
Sand T: My time working with Fort
Point Artists Community was too short. I only wished that S.T Gallery (which
was established in Oct 1998) could be there longer to be fully established.
At the same time, if it were not because of that lost, I would not have created
artSPACE@16 and being part of building
an artists' community in Malden.
ArtSPACE@16 was built
and established after the transition. As one of the grassroots in helping
to shape a vibrant artists' community in Malden, artSPACE@16 provides an open
ground for artists to display their work. Many artists, residing in or outside
Malden who I have spoken or worked with, have been asking these same questions: Are there any artists in Malden? Any studio spaces, art related
businesses, art galleries and contemporary art centers in Malden? We need
an artists community in Malden.
I understand the needs
and concerns that are here. I can tell you that I represent myself as an artist
who has a strong desire in wanting to see a vibrant artists' community established
in Malden. I am a voice that has felt it important to call out to the artists
in our community to come together, let's play a role in building an artists'
community like many neighboring communities have successfully accomplished.
In the ongoing effort
of the City to revitalize Malden's downtown area, I co-organized a meeting Building Communities: Strengthening the Role
of the Arts with the Mayor's Office and the Malden Redevelopment
Authority. That meeting was an attempt to reach out to members of the artist
community to collect their thoughts on creating housing and art related small
business opportunities in the Malden Square area. Over 45 artists attended
the 2/26/2003 City Hall meeting and all expressed interest in partnering with the City to revitalize Malden
Square and creating artists live-work spaces. I'm thrilled with the turn-out
and their great energy for the city. One attendee said to me that the meeting
on Wednesday night left her so full of hope for being an artist in Malden.
I understand this attempt is a long-term endeavor and it needs more than one
mind to be achieved. As one voice in Malden artists' community, I can also
say, with certainty, that I want to continue to contribute to the art and
cultural life of our community.
James Manning: Has the community shaped the work that you do at
the gallery? Any examples of projects have been involved in this process?
Sand T: The artists, Malden community-at-large and my gallery have
been mutually shaping each other through the collaboration of art and community
projects. For example: I worked with local non-for-profit organizations, artists
and individuals on an Malden Cultural Council awarded community project, entitled
the Asian American Artists Roundtable Series.
This program included seven events, which were successfully implemented at
my gallery and several venues in Malden and Boston.
Another example of collaboration
in the community is that have worked with Malden
Access Cable TV on an art and community project. I curated the premier
exhibition entitled AMBIANCE featured 9
Malden and regional artists for this new exhibition venue, MATV
Gallery with funding, in part from the Malden Cultural Council.
I also approached the
City with an idea to create artist's live/work
studio in downtown Malden, revitalizing Downtown Malden through the
arts, establishing an artists' community in Malden, and creating
exhibition space at the Mayor's Office.
As for curating
and organizing art exhibitions at my own gallery artSPACE@16, I'd
invited guest jurors or curators from Malden or other communities to have
art events happened in Malden since the opening of artSPACE@16 in 2000. I
continue to inform artists and art organizations in Malden and other neighboring
cities of the latest art news from Malden. By doing so in hoping to reach
out to the community-at-large to bring people together to the common ground
of art appreciation. I invite anyone to look into Malden, a potential haven
for the arts. Malden is an exceptional choice for those looking to expand
the horizons of their art and cultural activities, for those looking for studio
or live/work space, and for anyone willing to get involved in this budding
artist community in Malden. Malden Center is a 15 -20 minute drive from downtown
Boston. The Malden Center Orange Line MBTA stop is a convenient public transit
route for those not driving.
James Manning: How do you think your gallery has made an impact
on the community?
Sand T: I've always heard these similar compliments from my peers
and people in the community with whom I have had working relationships with:
"You're a community builder!" "You're a public relation machine!"
You're a born net-worker!" From these positive comments I have been receiving, I know my gallery has made an impact on the community.
On top of that, the increasing artists participation, collaborations, and
attendees have shown the tremendous support they'd given to artSPACE@16. Local
newspapers continue to announce and write about our events, community centers
that I've had an opportunity to collaborate with continue to promote art after
the completion of our collaboration project, more people have recommended
me to other individuals or community organizations, more people revisiting
artSPACE@16 and more people recommending artSPACE@16 to others/artists.
James Manning: How do you think being
an artist, in particular an Asian American woman artist has shaped your role
as a curator, gallery director and your role in the community?
Sand T: Besides my role as an artist
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I also operated an art-consulting firm, working
on art projects in collaboration with the Malaysian
National Art Gallery, local art colleges, private galleries and individuals
to promote Contemporary Arts through organizing and curating exhibits. During
that time, this question was never asked while I was doing the same thing
in Malaysia as I am doing now in the States. My woman-ness and Asian-ness
has been magnified after my move to America. My role as an Asian woman, an
artist, and a curator who grew up in a multicultural country like Malaysia
and now living in another melting pot, the United States, has not changed
significantly. I perhaps have more to provide culturally and artistically
to the community here. I see myself as a person who wants to make a different
in the community, anywhere, no matter how small.
James Manning: Where do you think
this gallery will lead you?
Sand T: I have always wanted a gallery on the main drag to promote
contemporary art. I'm leading the gallery in that direction.
James
Manning's Profile: Organizer
of Art Initiative, Inc. founded in 2001, is a group of alternative /
nonprofit galleries and art spaces. As a group, art Innitiative, Inc.
works on ways to better promote communication and awareness of Boston's
diverse art scene. Program
Director|Curator of Gallery fx,
a nonprofit gallery dedicated to promoting and advancing student and
emerging artists working in all media in and around the Boston area
through exhibits
and
offering resources.
1999-2001. Founder
/ Director / Curator of ArtVigor Gallery in Maverick Square East Boston,
This experimental art space features group shows of artists working
in all media.
1997 - 1999
