Ambiposiosis Interview - Rosemary Barria

1. What does art mean to you?


Art, to me, is about expressing ideas and communicating those ideas through some kind of object or event. Art is all about the communication between idea, artist, object/event, and viewer/participant. It gets really interesting when we challenge the artist to object hierarchy and even more when the participant's role becomes more important.


2. Does art have spiritual resonance in today's society at large?


I believe art's purpose is to express things deep from the spirit of the people that can't be expressed in other ways. I am a strong believer in the collective unconscious. An object or performance remains fluid with zeitgeist of the people. We can't get away from experience, either personal, what we've seen in other art, and what context (time) we are making or viewing this work.


3. What is the most rewarding aspect of your creativity?


The most rewarding aspect of being creative has to be being able to share something that has been stuck in my head and my heart with other people. It's even more exciting when I see it connected to other ideas outside of my own work.


4. Do we lack cohesiveness as artistic entities whilst creating outside of any said "ism"?


To try to live completely outside of art theory or doctrine seems impossible when we make ourselves aware of any kind of art history. I don't think all artists consciously work within this boundaries, but I believe that someone somewhere will classify them and place them in an "ism", even if they have to create a new one. I just think that it is very difficult to escape history, culture, and even language. We are naturally collective. To me that is more important than striving for originality.


5. People are collaborating without ever actually meeting each other, are we spawning a neo-renaissance in art?


This is an exciting idea. I love collaboration and think that there is a lot of power in work when it is done this way. In a kind of obscure way, I believe all ideas are collaborations. Again I believe there is no way to escape the influence of others weather we know them personally or not. I would love to make more work that includes the participant as collaborator as well.


6. Class is insignificant when creative spirit is involved, is the artist beyond the class divide?


I would like to think so, but the art system is easily absorbed into the capitalist system, making art a commodity for those who can afford it. This isn't only objects. I believe performance also can be unattainable for those without education or language. As I make work and as I curate shows, I try to think of this. Although, I am conscious of this, I struggle constantly with being attainable to more people. My goal is to work in three main venues, the internet, events/parties, and in public agencies, such as schools or simply outside in the streets. I love the idea of creating work that is obtainable through the internet. We are so lucky that our internet is boundless and open. I am a big fan of the public library who provides internet and computers to anyone who comes in there.


7. What is most important to you?


Right now what seems most important is finding a way to fund my projects, curatorial and creative. From where my energy goes though, I'd have to say that community seems to be the most important thing to me. I am obsessed with putting people together and creating a sense of community. I love connecting people and to see what comes from it. There is a power in community.
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Rosemary Barria is an artist/curator and creator of the eclectic HYPERKEWL productions working from Kansas City/Chicago. She is one of those gifted people who can be in more than one place at a time and make wonderful things happen in other peoples lives. A true inspiration to say the least.

http://www.myspace.com/enmassechicago

NEW video called "Mist Throughout' ENJOY!

GHETTO CAVIAR (continued)

A back like a road map. Hands of leather at the end of iron arms. Wit that stings hotter than any barn-yard-nine-tails. We are leaders of nations, families, squads. We are excellent, with a cool imitated by all men. As children of such Greatness we must use our power for the betterment of all people. The black "struggle" ends in your own mind. The power to choose is the greatest of all. In the end, there need be nothing else. When faced with social ridicule, financial ruin, and in many cases death, choosing the right action is not easy. The simplicity of saying 'NO', or 'YES' is the gift given to each of us who can speak.

The new black struggle is real. I bite my tongue when using the word 'new', but only half way. It has become covert. It's a passive aggressive racism. Class distinctions separate black children into different social groups. 'Colorblindness' seems to have pulled the wool over millions of eyes. With the current state of "BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION" it appears as if we perpetuate our own suffering. Looks are not always deceiving.

Would Nat King Cole hold his head high with pride at the sight of his life's work in the hands of the likes gangsters and prostitutes? With his tenacious talent he paved the way for blacks by being the first man of color to host his own television show. As Lil' Wayne makes it rain I can only help but be afraid. I am afraid that black children will be convinced that monetary gain is the highest of achievements in life. While the music video plays another thousand times on the TV it is more than difficult to look away. The beautiful women, the money like flypaper, all expenses paid for, it all seems like fantastic reality to a child. Respect, brotherhood, health and basic love of self don't exist in my everyday life in between school and sleep. Only fast cars, easy money, and even faster and easier women.

So where does the brainwashing cease? The enlightenment begins in your mind. It starts with that power to choose to go outside and play. If you have children, choose to give them a book. The stress you go through at work will only be reinforced by the hyper-confused teenager that kid might grow up to be. The decision to turn off the TV, and talk to your kids is the best decision you have ever made. You've given that child a chance to grow past Lil' Wayne and his 'hoes' to something greater.

GHETTO CAVIAR

The street sounds like children playing and dice games. Crack rocks tightly tucked in pant legs hold no future for us all. The job application chokes at first, then the white man offers to much of a good thing to accept. The crack is faster. Cadillacs and coups rattle dilapidated window frames. The words are always the same, get money, get laid. What else is there to do in the world. The school books go unread, but then again what is there is to be read.

I am a black child. There is no solace for me. My peers run away from themselves, leaving their own families behind. My family cannot understand that I am changing into someone that I don't quite understand myself. Home is a roll-cage conditioned by many test runs. The street is my only refuge. The incessant migraines make the classroom bulge and split in disbelief and questions unanswered. My white friend have grand pianos and swimming pools. At my house the wallpaper scurries and multiplies a million fold. What do I do?

There is no solace for the black man child. He is not a king. He is not a scholar. He is not disciplined enough for either. He can only hustle and survive. His only prosperous endeavors involve the degradation of another, or many. Where does this hollow pit of despair and self-loathing stem from? How can so many men of color allow the continued disintegration of their own culture?

As the questions bottleneck the dams of reason one can only imagine what black life would be like if the cycle was broken. It is our men who say 'NO' to job applications. It is our men who say 'NO' to their mothers guidance and it is our place in this world as men to say 'NO' to the foot steps of our fathers. We are the next generation of kings.

We must begin to see the future as something larger than ourselves. Our children shall not suffer as we did. The only barrier we face as a nation of black minds is our own mental road blocks. We must uplift our brothers. The mistakes that were made must not be made again. How can you benefit from wronging a wrong-doer? Why is it that our shoulders are the ones that carry the most? Our load is the greatest because we are strongest...(to be continued)