By Yesenia Coello
Campus News
What exactly makes an artist tick? The answer, naturally, will vary depending on the artist in question. Still, we can all agree that when an artist exposes their work to the world, they’re exposing a pivotal aspect of their character. That’s what I learned when I interviewed New York-based artist and architect Sal Cosenza. I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Sal, a lifelong artist, as he looks forward to his upcoming show, “Domestic New York,” which will run from June 9 to August 9 at LaGuardia Community College. A CUNY alum himself, Sal is eager to display his art to the curious spectators who may be interested in the idiosyncratic and fascinating pieces he produces. Here’s our Q&A:
I must say that your artwork is rather intriguing and unique to look at! Aside from the cityscape of Manhattan, what else has inspired your style and the way in which you approach your art?
Well, I would say I would take a step back and look at other artists than inspire me. I would say the greats like Michelangelo inspire me a great deal. I would also say Georgia O’Keeffe with her 1920s New York images. Really she just captures the mood of the city. The idea of the isolated individual in the big city has always been appealing to me for some reason. I like the idea of just artwork creating a narrative, which is something I would love to keep pursuing. Also, anything that deals with characters. A character could be a human being, it could be a building — you know as long as there’s a story centered around a character’s problems or an issue, I think those are always inspiring. Basically everything inspires me. (Laughs.)
Your website says you’ve been an artist your entire life. How did you become interested in architecture? How did you combine your interest in art and architecture to create your own style?
I think I always had the art gene. After high school, with the encouragement of my family of course, I pursued architecture, and it was foreign to me. I think over time I’ve come to see the similarities between the two, but there are also incredible polar differences. Art is very selfish and can be a solo experience while architecture is very democratic, and it’s hard to piece together a coherent story with architecture because it is built and designed by so many people. So I’m learning that they’re quite different from each other, but the goal is the same because they’re both forms of creative expression. As to how you blend the two, that’s probably a challenge that I’m not really interested in doing anymore because I don’t see it happening. We’re not going to take a painting and turn it into a building, but we’re going to take the philosophies, the approach, the tactics of that world and apply it to the strategy of another? Architecture and art follow the same recipe, but they lead to different results. They serve different purposes. One serves the individual, the ego (laughs), but architecture is for someone else. It’s meant to house people, so the stakes are kind of different. But the intention is the same, I think.
Why did you choose LaGuardia Community College to hold your latest art show? Are you trying to appeal to a certain demographic in hosting your show there?
It chose me, I’m happy to say. I did apply. I saw a competition online, and it was an open call. I figured maybe I’ll have a shot, and I’m happy to say that I got picked. I’m also happy to say that it’s a CUNY school, and I went to City College. I got my Master’s in Architecture there, so it’s kinda full-circle for me.
As for the demographic, I always like when young people see my stuff. I guess a part of me, the ego part, is saying, “I can do something that others will be inspired by.” Maybe. That’s how I kind of learned. It was always through seeing something and then taking something out of it and producing something as a result. I’m kind of curious to see what the students, if they stop and are interested in my art, how they would react to it. I hope it’s not something they’ll just look at and forget about. It would be nice to get some sort of reaction out of them, even if it’s negative. I think art is always trying to provoke people in some way. I put a lot of years into these pieces, so I guess to have anyone look at it is an honor. I also have to do a shoutout to Dina Pizzarello, because she really helped get this going. She’s been really awesome to me. She’s the director of the art program at LAGCC.
What do you hope people will take from your show? Any certain emotions or thoughts you would like to convey to spectators?
I really hope they see it as a story. I wouldn’t mind if they actually laugh a little because it is kind of funny, if you step away from it. I have buildings talking and buildings engaging in very serious human issues. Also, I should mention there’s an artist called Madelon Vriesendorp. She’s a Dutch artist, she did a couple of pieces in the 70’s that have the same concept of buildings doing things. I saw those as a kid and interpreted that in this way, in a less social but more personal way. I don’t care if they look at it and laugh a little but then I would hope they would take a deeper look and understand that, “Oh! This is kind of like that Pixar approach!” where there’s an anthropomorphic object, but it has heart. It’s not just a postcard you would see in a corner store. It’s got more substance than can initially be perceived.
Domestic New York will run from June 9 to August 9 at LaGuardia Community College. Opening reception will be on June 7 from 6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.
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