Artist Spotlight: Fileve Tlaloc
Artist Spotlight: Fileve Tlaloc
Meet one of Olean’s First National Bank Art Studios & Lobby Gallery’s Artists
Photos / Fileve Tlaloc
If the walls of First National Bank in Olean, NY (circa 1914) could tell tales, one can only imagine the stories we would hear. One hundred and ten years is a long time for a building to absorb stories, even when it lay empty for twenty years. The good news is, thanks to the tenacity of the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Olean, funds were found to at least keep the building standing by repairing damaged terra-cotta cornices of the seven-story building while seeking a developer to invest in this Olean landmark. Samuel Savarino came in to develop the building into 22 market-rate apartments and commercial space. Had it not been for these actions, the building may have been razed. Imagine that important corner in Olean with a big empty space, or a modern condominium or mall.
Today, thanks to the combined efforts of the Tri-County Arts Council, New York based ChaShaMa (it provides free and subsidized space for artists to live, work, and present, partnering with developers and property owners to transform their vacant buildings into centers of creativity with the added benefit of increasing local foot traffic and supporting area businesses) and Savarino Properties, things are happening on that intersection in Olean. One day, Paula Bernstein from TCAC, Luke Cusack, VP, Savarino and ChaShaMa shared an email, and as so many of these miraculous things that happen, this partnership co-created the First National Bank Art Studios and Lobby Gallery which provides five local artists studio and gallery space until the end of this year. The first one-person exhibit will feature the work of resident artist Theresa Heinz of Cuba beginning Friday, September 13th (6:00-8:00pm) through October 5th. You are invited to attend the opening of her show, named “Expansion. How a Space Alters the Creative Process.” Her bio can be found in last week’s issue of ellicottvilleNOW. (Editor’s note: Last week’s article gave the incorrect date for the opening of Theresa’s show. The correct date is confirmed for Friday, September 13th.)
From October 12th through November 9th (mark your calendars) three artists will be sharing a display of their work. They are Fileve Tlaloc, Eva Potter and Tara Walker. This week, let me introduce you to Fileve Tlaloc and her work. Tlaloc, from Great Valley, holds a day job with Southern Tier West as Project Program Coordinator for Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development grant which helps the Cattaraugus/Allegany region develop economically. An example of that work is a grant for St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Olean to create more office space for counselors, thereby creating more opportunities for access to mental health services in the area.
A multi-generational, creole South African American artist born and raised in NYC, Tlaloc has lived and worked in China, South Africa, and Latin America. Throughout her artistic journey, she has studied photography, painting, and ceramics, enjoying experimenting and engaging in new media. She earned a doctorate in anthropology from Indiana University-Bloomington while continuing to create art. Inspired by a visit to the Wanamaker archive on Native American photographs, she and her partner were inspired to reunite those images with their living descendants at the Tuscarora Nation in the Niagara Falls region. The resulting exhibition, "Stirring the Pot" is a series of 25 photographs (displayed throughout Indiana and NYS) depicting the original image with their descendant(s) in sites of their choosing. In the Olean studio, you will find several pieces of this thought-provoking collection which unpacks race and government policy as related to her family histories.
Moving back to NYS, Tlaloc discovered that “new places force people to redefine and find themselves.” Tlaloc has had the privilege of displaying her work in Art Centers across the U.S., the latest of which was at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo this past year. She states that she was delighted to learn that three of her works were purchased by Burchfield to rotate in their permanent collection. Kudos!
Tlaloc is delighted to be part of this First National Bank Art Studios and Lobby Gallery project. Said she, “Last week, I visited and worked in the studio 3 times and one time on Sunday (the ambiguous day that can be considered part of either week). The point is though that I am going, I am working, and I am channeling my energy in positive and creative ways.”
Aside from the scheduled showings, the studios are open to the public Tuesday 10:00am-4:00pm, Thursday 3:00-7:00pm, and Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm. They are located on the first floor of the First National Bank Building, 108 N. Union St. in Olean, NY. Be sure to visit his delightful addition to the Olean Arts scene!