North County San Diego Art Run

Part 2: California Center of the Arts, Escondido

This location featured the exhibit Leveled: an interactive experiment in art, featuring Doris Bittar (in collaboration with Diane Gage and Jonathan Glasier), Wes Bruce, Ingram Ober, and Marisol Rendon.

At the front desk we were given a brief description of the this was about, something about demystifying the contemporary art experience to the public. To the curator 

demystifying art means having the viewer interact with the work. I am not sure the act of interaction really demystifies contemporary art so much as it makes it fun.

We were told we could start anywhere, at the fort behind us shrouded behind black fabric or to our left in the open space. We went left bringing us to Tec-Tang-Tarab by Doris Bittar, Diane Gage, and Jonathan Glasier. The next area was Esperanto by Marisol Rendon, and then The Green Century by Ingram Ober.

The Secrets Surrounding the Mysterious Life and Psychology of Miss Augustine Greane by Wes Bruce was our last stop. We stepped through the black fabric into a subdued space with an 2 incredible structures. Walking around the structures we were not sure where to start our adventure into it, and then we went for it.

We spent hours in there, checking objects out, typing, leaving notes, and trying to take a rubbing off of two linoleum blocks. As we played around we heard people above us. I was not scared by my partner is play got a little freaked out. The noise above stopped and we forgot for awhile that anyone was above us. Then we heard them again and decided to check out this second story.

We talked to the two males on the second floor to find out how we could get up there and then we were there. We talked with the two and eventually found out one of them was the artist. I said it would be great to have a sleep-over here and it turns out there will be one. We talked, music, art, and smell, and Wes reminded me of the book The Poetics of Space. I had read it long ago in graduate school and had pulled it out to read again last year, now I must find it again and get to it. We found another second story room which would be perfect to sleep in, and relaxed a bit.

Upon leaving the fort we signed up for the Concert and Crash event in Nov. We were both very excited, just like two little girls planning a sleep-over.

The fort brought back memories of the past, an awareness of the present, and excitement for the future. It was magic, giving so much, including making a wish come true. In the guest book, close to were we first started our fort adventure, I wished I could sleep in the fort, and now I will.

What an incredible experience. I need to go and spend more time in the fort. I wonder if I will find out about Miss Augustine Greane, maybe I’ll find out more about myself.

Thank you Wes Bruce!