By training I am an Art Curator, and in spite of the current widespread use of the term "curated" to describe everything from lists of pop songs, to pinterest pages of shoe styles, the term curator is rather misunderstood. What DOES and Art Curator really do?
An Art Curator is a lot like a film director. At times she faciliates projects created by others lending the final visual choreography, that is, where in the gallery each artwork will be placed to look at its bes. At other times the Art Curator is the creative force herself, deciding what art will be displayed; by artist, or theme, and then selecting the artist(s) and the art works. There is a good deal of "directing" of people, and budgets, and media, research, writing, and of course administration.
One important duty an art curator undertakes is to perform studio visits with artists. This is by far one of the most enjoyable duties an art curator has and one of the most important. By going out into her local community to discover who is making art, a curator plays an important role in supporting, acknowledging and helping to share that art with others. A studio visit gives a curator a chance to meet and learn about an artist by viewing their created artworks. A studio visit is also a chance for a curator to see what new things a known artist is working on, and it is a chance for discussion between curator and artist when a curator's observes which works of the artist will be most interesting to display, and offer experience based insight that can help direct and strengthen an artist's practice.
This month I had the privilege to visit the home and studio of established Smither's artist MARK TWOROW. The visit was not done in my role as an art curator but as Host of CICK radio show ART BEAT. The visit was inspired by my work as an Art Curator with the hope that listeners will have the chance to experience what it is like to visit an artist in the very private place where artwork is made, and through that insight, to gain an appreciation and understanding for the complex thoughts, time, and processes that goes into making the artworks one sees in a gallery.
My visit with Mark Tworow confirmed for me that he is an artist capable of creating wildly diverse styles of art. You may know him for his expressionist landscapes but he is also a confident portrait artist, and an abstract painter.
Beyond the two dimensional paintings on a gallery wall there is a layered and fascinating context to discover about any artist. I hope you will enjoy this visit with Mark Tworow and that whether you know his work well, or not at all, you discover new insights that enchant and inspire.
Inside an Artist's Studio with Mark Tworow will air on ART BEAT Friday 26 August at 3pm - 3:30pm, repeat on Sunday 28 August at 11am - 11:30am and can be heard online in the ART BEAT archives at http://www.smithersradio.com/program/art-beat
As you listen to the tour through Mark Tworow's home and artworks on display, you may want to look at the attached photos to help you visualize some of the art we speak about.
Bon ART-petit and I hope you enjoy,
To learn more about Mark Tworow visit his web site http://marktworow.com
From my little Art Heart
Colleen Sharpe
Host, ART BEAT
CICK 93.9 FM