Inclusion/Exclusion Interview: Camilø Álvårez of Samsøn
On Friday November 30th, the Urbano Young Curators visited the Samson gallery in Boston. We had the pleasure to meet with and video interview Camilo Alvarez who is the owner, director, curator and preparator. While at the gallery we saw the work of Victoria Fu and met and visited the studio of Samson artist in residence Carlos Jimenez Cahua. For the Young Curators it was an amazing experience to learn from a professional point of view what it means to curate a gallery today and to work in promoting the work of contemporary artists. While interviewing Camilo Alvarez, we were able to hear his experience of inclusion and exclusion in the Boston area and also the ways he believes artists can address this issue. Camilo himself is already breaking boundaries for social justice through selecting artworks to show in his prestigious gallery and through his many connections with other art venues. We had a great time with Camilo and he kindly gave us seven of his art catalogues that inspired us to start a Young Curatorial Library. In addition of to our excitement of having new catalogues, the Young Curators were thrilled to begin collaborating with Camilo since he also offered to loan us pieces from professional artists to include in our exhibitions at Urbano. During our reflection of our experience of meeting Camilo, we realized that he does fulfill our definition of a curator but he also goes above and beyond in doing his job. One of the many things that impressed us very much was his attention to details such as creating a movement and excitement in the gallery when the audience walks around viewing the works. For Camilo it is important to create a path for the audience in which they stand up straight but they also bend down to see the artwork. We are very thankful to Camilo for the opportunity to meet and learn from him, and for his help to build up on our experience as young curators.
-by Yoselin Rodriguez
The Young Curators Inclusion/Exclusion Interviews videos are being scripted into a radio program, and are also being compiled into a video sculpture which can be installed in multiple locations though out the spring semester. The Young Curators
(Can you give an example of a project (yours or another’s) that activated this type of “boundary-crushing”? What were the effects?)
In your city or neighborhood, in what ways do you see populations being excluded?
Do you feel artists have a responsibility to battle urban exclusion? What is the responsibility of the artist to these ends?
What personal experience influenced these choices?
