Full interviews here:
for the sake of the article and these answers, the four people involved in ICE Gallery are Thomas DeMello, Lee Lavy, Michael James Armstrong, and Joseph Huppert. There's also the website: www.icegallerysd.com that is updated anytime there's any new news about ICE.
Why did you open a gallery / art space?
Prior to our first show, the space had been in use as an artist studio. In fact two of us (Thomas and Lee) still use the back of the building as an art studio. That building has been used by artists for many years now, even before we were occupying it. Perry Vasquez used it as an art studio and an exhibition space a few years back. Although, no one that's ever rented there has ever renovated it like we have. To answer the question, it's simple, we had access to the space because two of us were already renting the building. It began by Thomas wanting to fix up the front space to have a place where he could view his own work outside of his studio, which is in the back. Once he did some very minor cleaning up in the front, he realized it might make a nice exhibition space and asked the other three of us if we would want to do a show. The first one to say they had an idea was Joseph. Shortly after he began work on his show, we all made a schedule for the rest of the shows. We were to all do a solo exhibition, one right after the other, and just for fun we'd start a website and promote each show. Just before Josephs show was to end we thought of shooting the documentary, and not long after that we started shooting. since then we've documented the entire process of making each show.
How long have you guys known each other?
Joseph and I have been friends for over 10 years. We moved to San Diego from Tempe, AZ in late 04. In 2005 Joseph began working at The Art Store (later became Blick) in Little Italy, and that's where he met Thomas and then Lee. Sometime in late 2005 the four of us along with a few others started getting together every Sunday night to talk about art - we call it "art night". In 2006 the 6 core art night members (the four of us included) had a group show together. We had 2 additional group shows with those 6 in the following years. The four of us have also worked together at the museum of contemporary art san diego as preparators. We still have art night every sunday night at cafe bassam in hillcrest.
How long have you been making art?
I'd say all of us have been artistic since we were kids, but I don't think any of us started to get really serious about art until the early aughts.
How old are each of you?
Early thirties.
Were your shows last year your first solo shows?
First for all but me. I had a solo show in August of 09 at Objct Gallery in Pomona.
Has the experience of showing art in SD met your expectations thus far?
I don't think any of us have any specific expectations about showing art. I think the most we hope for is just that people come to see it. Which sometimes seems like an uphill battle.
Would you recommend this DIY approach to exhibiting your art to other artists?
Sure. there's no sense in waiting for others to do the work for you. If you want people to see your work, make it happen. all of our shows, including our 3 previous group shows have all been completely accomplished and promoted solely by us.
Have any opportunities come out of your solo shows? Projects or other shows outside of SD?
No.
How can we entice collectors from outside of the downtown area to adventure to new spots to buy art?
Pfff. We wish we knew. That's an article all it's own. One we encourage you to research and write. :) Do people in the downtown area buy art?
Who do you look up to in the San Diego art world?
Us...and anyone else in the scene that's trying to make something from nothing. That is, trying to make a scene/market from the art apathy of San Diego. It's coming along, though.
If you could relocate your gallery to any city in the world, where would it be?
We wouldn't.
How has the SD art scene improved in the last 5 years? What are 3 ways we can continue to make it better?
It seems as though SD has had much of it's current improvement just within the last 2/3 years. some major art spaces have opened up, like Space For Art and Glashaus. and smaller spaces like The Bakery, Periscope Project, and The Habitat House. As far as how to make it better? i suppose just by keeping that diy spirit. Like the saying goes, "be the change you want to see".
Do you make art / sell art full time?
make? of course. sell? no.
If not, what else do you do?
as far as day jobs? well, 2 of us are preparators, and the other 2 are an artists assistant.
Do you aspire to make this a life-long, full-time career?
In one way or another, yes.
If you could describe the community of North Park in 3 words, what would they be?
We have no idea, i don't think we really pay attention.
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Agitprop. Interview: David White Why did you open a gallery?
I opened the gallery because I had been frustrated with finding opportunities and frameworks to do the type of work I had been interested in doing. I wanted to be involved with work that engaged people at street level, work that was somewhat performative, and to provide a venue for people interested in similar strategies. I also wanted to be able to engage as many types of practices as possible. So I started the space on the premise that the entire neighborhood could be a “gallery”.
Why did you choose North Park?
I like its’ medium density, diversity, that it is walkable, and the variety of small businesses in the area. The burritos from Saguaro’s on 30th are the best. I probably eat one at least once a week.
Has the experience of showing art in SD met your expectations thus far?
I didn’t know what to expect when I started. I think the response to the strategies taken with Agitprop have been met with great support from multiple, differing, groups. What is good about San Diego is that it is not an art center so it offers an opportunity to not “preach to the choir”, so to speak. What is bad about San Diego is that it is not an art center so it’s difficult to get critical feedback in a public forum, whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, or blog. Most coverage doesn’t go beyond promotions. Critical dialogue and debate about multiple types of practices is integral to a healthy art community.
How can we entice collectors from outside of the downtown area to adventure to new spots to buy art?
Make and show interesting work. Although, I might not be the best person to answer this question. The Agitprop space is not a gallery in the usual sense. At times it works like a project space, but, as time goes on, the space functions more and more as a “meeting point” of various interests. The space then operates as a starting point to do things out in the neighborhood, out in the city.
I think the collectors need to think of themselves as patrons and not think of works of art as investments or as decorations for your home. Investing in art is investing in a public good, like supporting a library.
Who do you look up to in the San Diego art world?
Petar Perisic was an architect who past away just two years ago at the age of 42. He was the original founder of the Periscope Project in East Village (now run by James Enos). He also had Flux gallery downtown before I moved to San Diego. He was extremely supportive when I started Agitprop and was an excellent model in terms of him being an engaged, thoughtful person who was open to working with, and making time for, everybody he came in contact with.
If you could relocate your gallery to any city in the world, where would it be?
Sao Paulo, Brazil. I studied there for three months and loved it. It’s an amazing, crazy place.
How has the SD art scene improved in the last 5 years? What are 3 ways we can continue to make it better?
I’ve only been in San Diego for about 5 years now so it is difficult to say how it was before. In the last 5 years there seems to be an intense desire to move beyond a “provincial” status in terms of the art community. I think there are a lot of people working hard to try to make this happen.
Three ways to make the San Diego art scene better in my opinion: Create forums for experimentation that take into consideration the innovation of the work before marketing strategy; As mentioned earlier, some critical writing on artists and their work that will get noticed outside of San Diego; and to shift the conversation/s onto “art” in general and not just “San Diego art”.
Do you make art / sell art full time? If not, what else do you do? Do you aspire to make this a life-long, full-time career?
The Agitprop space is a major part of my art. It acts as an umbrella for everything else I do. The point of the space is to call into question the delineations we make with aspects of art making. What happens when you ask: can a gallery itself become the work of art? How does that change its function? How does that change my role as an artist? What happens when, as an artist, you take into consideration all of the support structures that allow you to be an artist? What if these structures become the work itself? These are some of the fundamental questions I hope to examine with the space. If I could do this full time, I would. On the other hand, I enjoy teaching as well.
If you could describe the community of North Park in 3 words, what would they be?
Threatened by homogenization.
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Thumprint Gallery Interview: Paul Ecdao + Johnny Tran Why did you open a gallery?
Instead of complaining and pointing fingers, I wanted to contribute to the San Diego art scene and simply cast some light on the artists I like.
Why did you choose North Park?
The opportunity to start up a gallery with very little presented itself and it just so happened to be in North Park. It was a very spontaneous decision.
Has the experience of showing art in SD met your expectations thus far?
It has and it hasn't. I'm constantly raising my expectations to keep things fresh and to challenge myself while maintaining a certain standard.
How can we entice collectors from outside of the downtown area to adventure to new spots to buy art?
Constantly promote the new spots on every level to everyone and form some kind of art gallery syndicate to cater to every demographic while functioning symbiotically.
Who do you look up to in the San Diego art world?
I look up to the artists because they're are the ones actually creating value, some being extremely talented and having no regard for selling their work.
If you could relocate your gallery to any city in the world, where would it be?
I wouldn't want to relocate at all. I'd want to have another gallery and that would be in either LA or SF.
How has the SD art scene improved in the last 5 years? What are 3 ways we can continue to make it better?
I think it's improved in that people are always finding new creative ways to present work and insert art into their scene through frequent and thriving collaborations.
3 ways to continue to make it better:
- Stop censoring art
- Having a more unified art scene in each neighborhood of SD rather than certain groups trying to "own the movement"
- Creating an SD version of the LA Downtown Walks website. They have an art & culture podcast tour I really like.
Do you make art / sell art full time? If not, what else do you do? Do you aspire to make this a life-long, full-time career?
I haven't produced much artwork since focusing on the gallery but I guess I sell art full time. I also work full time wearing multiple hats at a private college. I never really put much thought into how long I'd be running a gallery. I just knew I wanted to invest in people through my values in art and education. Managing an art gallery and working at a college pretty much handles both and I'm just trying to enjoy the journey.
If you could describe the community of North Park in 3 words, what would they be?
work in progress