ARTIST STATEMENT In my work I strive to build bridges and create connections between art and the broader community. I view art as a tool for active social engagement and as a universal language that has the potential to engage diverse sectors of society. I have initiated numerous community-based art projects independently, collaboratively, as well as with my Grant MacEwan and University of Alberta students. These projects have been exhibited in galleries, on the streets, at conferences, in schools, libraries, hospitals, and have engaged schools, social service organizations, foundations and business associations among many others. On a theoretical level, such projects alter the conceptual framework of individual art practice: they redefine artistic control, and reframe art as a community-based and community-focused activity. Projects, such as “Word On the Street” where poetry by area residents was sandblasted onto sidewalks, take art out of traditional gallery settings and integrate children, youth, non-arts based and marginalized communities with public art. My interest in art as a form of social action and community building that addresses youth and people on the margins of society, is founded on the experience of being a Polish child adjusting to school in a German Convent in Lusaka, Zambia, integrating into the British colonial society in Africa, and the experience of being an immigrant youth in Canada. A child- friendly, interactive art installation spray-painted onto sidewalks at the YEG market.
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ARTISTSTATEMENT
InmyworkIstrivetobuildbridgesandcreateconnectionsbetweenartandthebroadercommunity.Iviewartasatoolforactivesocialengagementandasauniversallanguagethathasthepotentialtoengagediversesectorsofsociety.Ihaveinitiatednumerouscommunity-basedartprojectsindependently,collaboratively,aswellaswithmyGrantMacEwanandUniversityofAlbertastudents.Theseprojectshavebeenexhibitedingalleries,onthestreets,atconferences,inschools,libraries,hospitals,andhaveengagedschools,socialserviceorganizations,foundationsandbusinessassociationsamongmanyothers.Onatheoreticallevel,suchprojectsaltertheconceptualframeworkofindividualartpractice:theyredefineartisticcontrol,andreframeartasacommunity-basedandcommunity-focusedactivity.Projects,suchas“WordOntheStreet”wherepoetrybyarearesidentswassandblastedontosidewalks,takeartoutoftraditionalgallerysettingsandintegratechildren,youth,non-artsbasedandmarginalizedcommunitieswithpublicart.Myinterestinartasaformofsocialactionandcommunitybuildingthataddressesyouthandpeopleonthemarginsofsociety,isfoundedontheexperienceofbeingaPolishchildadjustingtoschoolinaGermanConventinLusaka,Zambia,integratingintotheBritishcolonialsocietyinAfrica,andtheexperienceofbeinganimmigrantyouthinCanada.
Achild-friendly,interactiveartinstallationspray-paintedontosidewalksattheYEGmarket.
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