In July 2019, New Orleans-based artist Zarouhie Abdalian led a four-day workshop for young adults curious about making art in public space. Six participants were guided through the process of designing temporary site-specific artworks for various locations in downtown York. Today we’re following up with a conversation between Abdalian and student artist Brunell Smith.
Smith is a graduate of Sumter Central High School, a poet, and musician. During their conversation, Smith shares his creative writing process and reflections on the workshop.
Zarouhie Abdalian: What made you decide to take the Making Art in Public workshop this summer?
Brunnel Smith: Because I like art. I’ve always been interested in things like that because I was writing poetry for quite a while and it’s just something I was interested in.
ZA: How long have you been writing poetry?
BS: Since eighth grade.
ZA: You seem to have a lot of ideas. I was impressed during the workshop that you came up with ideas very quickly. Can you describe the piece that you made during the workshop?
BS: The piece, it was called Rarity. It was about the beauty of a person. I wrote [the poem] about a friend and it was about how beautiful that person was and the things they did for other people — that’s their nature.
ZA: You made the poem [included below] into a sculptural installation. Can you talk about how the workshop informed what you did or how you got that idea?
BS: I got the idea by us walking around the location and seeing different sites. When I noticed the little park with the flowers and the benches, I remembered that I had a poem talking about flowers, so I came up with that. I just got the poem, I typed it up and wrote it on cardboard and painted it. I added feathers and things because I was talking about fantasy creatures [in the poem], and the feathers could help bring that out.
ZA: Before we went for a walk to choose sites, had you spent time in that park or noticed it really?
BS: No, I hadn’t before. I knew it was there, but I’d never been there and looked at it.
ZA: Yeah, that was one of the first times that I spent time there. I think the poem installation you developed would make the park more inviting. Your installation is interesting to look at but also gives someone something to read and think about alongside the flowers.
Before the workshop, had you made a sculpture? What were some things that you took away from the workshop?
BS: I had never made a sculpture before. I liked working with everyone, helping everyone with their ideas, helping people find sites, being able to help others paint their work and anything else they need help with.
ZA: Yeah, it was really great to see how y’all supported each other during the workshop.
BS: It was great energy.
ZA: It was! I could see each of your pieces get better because you were sharing ideas and skills and everything else. Do you think that you would make sculpture again or put your poems into public space?
BS: Maybe, everyone’s always told me that I should make a book of my poems. I already have the poems written, but I haven’t found anybody that would help me publish it and get a cover and do these things that would help me with my book.
ZA: That would be amazing. A book would be a great way to share your work in a more public arena. For the workshop, we made temporary pieces. If there was more time, would you be interested in doing something more permanent?
BS: Yes, if it helps bring positivity to a place and brings more people together. I would be willing to help with that, making it a better community for everyone.
ZA: You are very community-minded. Was there anything you particularly liked about the site-specific process and its potential relationship to place and community? Anything that could be improved upon?
BS: I liked it. We learned about other artists and sculptures around the world and how they were made to help places. They can be temporary things that bring people to the area. It was very enlightening.
ZA: Thank you for being part of the workshop.
BS: Thank you.
Rarity
In my world flowers don’t too often bloom but when they do there aren’t any as rare as you. A heart so pure it’s worth more than diamonds, rubies, and gold. A heart so pure if you wanted darkness to come in, it wouldn’t dare to even come close. A heart so pure when it loves and beats towards you, you see unicorns and rainbows. A heart so pure it loves within the soul and that brings me back to a rare flower I rarely see grow. A flower that grew in a very cold place and has yet to stop shining all through the place. In my world flowers don’t too often bloom but when they do there aren’t any as rare as you. I haven’t seen many unicorns and rainbows but when your heart beats there are things from unicorns to dragons and from dragons to a Phoenix. You love so deep and hard it can have anyone feening. So in my world flowers don’t too often bloom but when they do there aren’t any as rare as you.
This workshop is offered in partnership with the Educational Foundation of America and ArtPlace America.