^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

Interview with Gail Mancuso

Luca Curci talks with Gail Mancuso during FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, second appointment of BORDERS festival, in Venice on August 2016. Gail Mancuso is a fine art photographer living in Chicago. A former model, she began her career on the opposite side of the camera. Surrounded by all forms of aesthetics in the fashion industry, her interest in art and photography grew and found expression.

Luca Curci: In which way is your artwork presented in our exhibition connected with the festival’s theme?
Gail Mancuso: With my Synchronicity series, I visit major urban cities and photograph its people. Identity is formed and recognized through common threads in humanity. Through our thoughts, much of our world is lived inside of our heads, and what we reveal to others is only a fragment of the true complexity of who we are as human beings. We are all woven into each other’s lives, sometimes unknowingly, sometimes with predictability. We value independence, yet we can’t survive without each other. We create each other, as we share our paths that connect our futures. Our individual worlds may be vastly different, but the world we share is uniquely the same. What affects one,ultimately affects us all.

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

 

L.C. – What do you think about the concept of this festival? In which way did this experience inspire you?
G.M. – I think the concept is appealing, especially given the variety of visual art forms exhibited.

L.C. – Did your style change over the years? How?
G.M. – Each of us ultimately carves out our own individual path to creativity. I think as artists, we are always developing our style, our voice. There is great value in experimenting, playing with creative flow and not trying to figure everything out before you begin. When a new idea presents itself, it’s important to simply start the process and see where it takes you. It most always leads down an uncharted path with delightful surprises along the way.

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

 

L.C. – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
G.M. – At its core, my Synchronicity series is a celebration of life as it represents the individuality of humanity and how our differences and distinct attributes meld together to create a universal story. It’s a presentation of how we all walk together in life. Our personal interpretations influence each other and our dreams are driven with each other in mind. This is how we rule the world, how we set things into motion.

L.C. – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
G.M. – With my Synchronicity series in particular, what is most challenging is the labor and time involved to create the art. There are several steps in between photographing the individual city and the actual creation of the piece. As an artist, I have vision of the completed work in mind, but have to be patient to let it unfold and manifest in the present. I sometimes have to remind myself not to try and force it, to just relax and let it flow.

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

 

L.C. – What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
G.M. – That there’s no right or wrong way with art, that there are no rules, to trust my inner voice, to trust my eye and go with my instincts. This truth provides me with the freedom to create without boundaries and a willingness to learn in the process.

L.C. – Would you suggest cooperating with us? What do you think about our services?
G.M. – Your exhibitions open the door to provide opportunities for artists to show their work, to have it appreciated in new international markets. The venue spaces are in beautiful locations and richwith cultural influence.

L.C. – Did you feel comfortable cooperating with us?
G.M. – Yes, I find it to be a very professional organization.

L.C. – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
G.M. – Provide a way for artists to get updates or view the venue, perhaps with a webcam to make the experience more tangible.

 

more. gailmancuso.com

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

 

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}

 

 

^{Image courtesy of Gail Mancuso}