Winter-Spring 2003
A Transition:
from Fort Point to Malden
_______________________________________________________________________
Meeting Sand T at artSPACE@16 in Malden
An Interview Conducted Via Electronic Mail
By James Manning, Director of Art Initiative, Inc.
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
