​The Cartography Of Poetry At Art Produce
By Julia Dixon Evans / Arts Calendar Editor and Producer

Poet-in-residence Catherine Kineavy brings Julia Alvarez in conversation with local audiences, plus workshops to map community through poetry.

Artist residencies hit a little differently now. Space and solitude have taken on new meaning since the pandemic began over a year ago, and the public face of the art world has changed dramatically. But Art Produce is committed. The nonprofit gallery and art space in North Park has kept up a vibrant schedule of residencies the entire year.

"We were quite surprised last year with how well all the artists adapted and pivoted to being here, and how well suited the residencies turned out to be to support several artists at a time. Just the structure of the place and that we have the ability to have separate spaces and separate entrances," said Lynn Susholtz, Art Produce's executive director and founder.

​For the 2020 season, they had ten artists or performer groups scheduled for residencies, and for the most part, all were able to continue during the pandemic. For some, the space was essential, whether as a safe place to work or much-needed rehearsal space while dance studios were closed.

"Folks really kind of stepped up and decided that they wanted to be here," said Susholtz.

Artist residencies can offer a glimpse into the studio life and practice of artists — and at Art Produce, sometimes that's a literal glimpse, with passersby peeking in from the sidewalk as an artist is creating or installing, and sometimes it's through teaching or artist talks.

Writing residencies, however, tend to be a bit more private and inward. There's less to see process-wise, and traditionally less to participate in as a community. However, Art Produce is trying to turn that on end.

Art From The Sidewalk: Max Lofano’s ‘Ray’
Tuesday, December 29, 2020, By Julia Dixon Evans

​North Park's Art Produce Gallery has transformed their exhibition model throughout the pandemic, making more room for residencies for artists and even dance companies who need a place to develop, create and share art. Art Produce's storefront sits directly on University Avenue in North Park, with a large front window and glass doors to showcase works to passersby on the sidewalk.

Right now, the gallery window is home to current artist-in-residence Max Lofano's new, ephemeral work, "Ray." It's a series of sculptural lines that seem endless, spanning from their suction-cup attachments on the front window back to a vanishing point on the gallery's distant back wall.

Lofano worked with the gallery spotlights and intentionally created the work to be viewed from the sidewalk, at night.

A compelling, multi-site poster campaign commemorating the 100th anniversary of the amendment that granted women the right to vote will be exhibited by Gather, a coalition of partners from San Diego’s arts community, as part of San Diego Design Week, September 9-13, 2020. The posters will be physically displayed on the venues’ exterior walls and windows starting September 9 through election day, November 3, and will be viewable by the general public from a safe distance.

Get Out the Vote: Empowering the Women’s Vote poster campaign, originated by AIGA and ​in partnership with the League of Women Voters, commemorates the 19th Amendment, the first legislation for women’s voting rights. Not until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 were voting rights of ALL women protected and enforced. Campaign posters will be installed at Gather partner venues including San Diego State University School of Art and Design, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Bread & Salt, and Art Produce. Poster images will also be viewable online via the San Diego Design Week website

Art Produce, one of the exhibition venues, will exhibit several exhibition posters along its 40’ feet of storefront windows. “This exhibit aligns perfectly with our mission to build community, support public culture and promote civic discourse, said Lynn Susholtz, executive director. “We are happy to join voices with Gather partners and other citizen artists in assuming responsibility to participate in the civic and cultural life of the community.”

The Vinyl-Wrapped Worlds Of Artist Nassem Navab
-by Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS | May 21, 2020

San Diego emerging artist focuses on the inherited habits and needs of children of Islamic and Middle Eastern immigrants during her Art Produce residency.

"Visual artist Nassem Navab recently moved back to San Diego from Tucson after studying at University of Arizona. She’d built up some connections here, worked as an artist assistant, began applying for teaching jobs, residences and exhibitions and was accepted into the 2020 group of artists-in-residence at North Park's Art Produce gallery.

And then, before her 7-week residency even began, the pandemic struck.

Art Produce, with its doors closed to the public, has continued its residency program as creatively as possible. The building is divided into several segments, so two artists can work in a studio and never interact with the other artist.

​Navab's residency is in the gallery’s "Cooler Room," in the back and away from any University Avenue passersby. Under ordinary circumstances, the space is a dream: High ceilings, south-facing windows flooded with light throughout the day and access directly into Art Produce's lovely garden space, which encourages visitors to mingle and dwell in any exhibitions. But with galleries closed, the gardens are inaccessible, and Navab's in-studio residence is largely cut off.