Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Bullock.
Lara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am from Texas (I had a horse in the backyard growing up) and have lived in San Diego since 2008 (I realize a horse in the backyard here is a near impossibility). I have a B.A. from the University of British Columbia (though my first year of college was spent at the University of Miami), an M.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego all in Art History, Theory, & Criticism. In addition to these degrees, I also graduated from bartending school and am a registered yoga teacher. Despite what it might seem like, I was never a kid that loved school… except for that time in fourth grade when I got to bring my horse for show-and-tell.
I fell into art history by chance when I took an intro class to fill a general course requirement. I had been a creative writing major and felt that one professor’s grades, in particular, were based on their taste, rather than the quality of my writing. So, when I stumbled upon art history, I was immediately drawn to the fact that one could write creatively about art, but also that art is rooted in facts: dates, a specific history, medium, and so on. This meant that if the teacher did not like my writing style, at least my grade couldn’t be too low if I got the facts right! I know that isn’t a very scholarly reason, but it is the truth!
However, I had always been drawn to and appreciated art. As I studied art history, I was especially lured by conceptual art and its ability to inspire ideas, effect change, and challenge precedent. I went on to write my dissertation on street art, which was a genre I initially did not know much about. I became interested in my interest in writing, which led to my interest in graffiti, which I recognized as highly personal and individualized (like most writing), yet sited in public space. This desire to be heard resonated with me. Through this, I became more interested in street art and how most artists working in this realm are creating works of art with public space and audience in mind in a way that is intertwined with the concept from the beginning. They care about the viewer and are thoughtful about their message. One of my favorite artists working in this genre is SWOON, who is based in New York. Another is Os Gêmeos, based in São Paulo, Brazil, but they each work all over the world. There are many talented local street artists in San Diego as well, such as Celeste Byers whom I will be working with for an upcoming exhibition this February.
One thing that I think is important to say, is that before I took my intro to art history class, I was a psychology, music therapy, literature, and creative writing major. I still think I would have liked a career in any of those fields! I have taught art history at design schools, community colleges, extension programs, art schools, high schools, and universities, and I always tell my students that it is ok to not know what you want to be! It is ok to explore. Do not put so much pressure on yourself to define yourself by twenty-three. And if you do define yourself, just know that that definition can change. You can reinvent yourself in small or sometimes large ways throughout your life. And it’s ok to be more than one thing.
This last fact about me is a bit of a cliché in San Diego, everyone does it, but for good reason! I also practice and teach yoga. It was at the University of Miami that I discovered yoga and took my first ashtanga class. Yoga has remained a part of my life since UM, and during my Ph.D., I became certified to teach. I was so honored when the owner of the small ashtanga studio where I practiced suggested that I take teacher training. I later learned that they asked most people because they needed to make money! Despite that, I am so glad that I was asked because I needed that nudge. Teaching yoga has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. I love to see my students connect with the practice as well as progress over the years and see how it benefits their lives, as it has mine. Yoga is so much more than just a physical practice. It makes it easier to let things go, to strive to be satisfied and appreciate where we are and to not be so hard on ourselves if we do not succeed at these things. It is not easy and you can’t “master” it. Believe it or not, even those yogis who have their legs behind their head, while balancing on their nose have work to do! That is why it is called a yoga practice. To some of you, that might not seem super enticing, but trust me, it is super addicting! Take a class and see for yourself!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As I alluded to earlier, it has not been an easy road. People have been telling me I will not succeed in my whole life. I was told by my Master’s advisor that I would never get into a Ph.D. program because my writing was too experimental. My Ph.D. advisor said I would probably never find a job because Street Art is not appreciated by academics and always criticized my writing by saying I “write like a curator” (which I never thought was a bad thing and is a job I have always wanted). Maybe he was right because I have yet to obtain a position as a curator at an institution or full-time in academia, but I find ways to keep those passions alive. As part of my role as Civic Art Project Manager for the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, I am curating an exhibition featuring San Diego’s Civic Art Collection alongside SoCal artists entitled Fear no Art: Civic Engagement, Histories, Currencies (it opens February 15, 2020, at the Central Library Art Gallery and is free to see). I am excited about it!
Everyone has their unique, individual struggles. How people react to similar situations in life are different, and all are valid. Like most people, I could go on and on about struggles I have faced; some of which I have overcome and some of which I am still dealing with. The best we can do it to be empathetic. To ourselves and others. When we reflect on people who treated us poorly and situations that were unfortunate, we can try to acknowledge them and move on. It is not easy, but we’re all in this together as humans (this might be the yoga talking)!
Please tell us about your work.
Currently, I have three jobs! I am the Civic Art Project Manager at the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, I am Operations Manager for Independent Consulting Services, a tech company specializing in Oracle Software (I work remotely for this position), and I teach yoga. I am also the Chair of The Artist Advocacy Committee for the Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego, a committee dedicated to supporting local artists. For the sake of this interview, I will focus on my role as Civic Art Project Manager.
As it states on the webpage, The Commission for Arts & Culture is focused on supporting and promoting “artistic development, including high-caliber public art into the City’s built environment, and providing high quality artistic and cultural experiences. The Commission develops and stewards the Civic Art Collection, integrates art into capital improvement projects and public places, and ensures the inclusion of art or space for cultural use in private development projects.”
As Civic Art Project Manager, I manage several public art projects including the first iteration of a department-initiated project, entitled here comes the neighborhood. This project is really rewarding to work on because it is focused on bringing art to specific San Diego neighborhoods, the first of which is San Ysidro. Three art projects are being developed by artists Fallen Fruit, Janelle Iglesias, and Wendell Kling. As part of all public art projects, the Commission hosts several community engagement events, so that the community can give feedback on artist proposals. It has been so rewarding to see the artists and the community collaborate in the development of site-specific artwork. Another aspect of my job at the Commission is placing art from the City’s Civic Art collection on display for the public to see. I bet most people do not know that the City of San Diego has an art collection. It does! It can usually be seen at local libraries, fire stations, and even lifeguard towers as well as other City-owned public spaces. A great place to see a lot of the collection in the Central Library downtown: every floor features artwork from the collection. Most recently, we completed the Commission’s first professional development course, Public Art / Public Sphere: a 3-Day intensive, which was created to teach local artists the ins and out of applying for Public Art Projects, and to encourage them to apply. I am lucky to be at the Commission at a time when expansive, creative strategies are being employed to benefit local artists and to enable high-caliber artwork.
Before I accepted this role, I served as a member of the Public Art Committee for three years. Coming from an academic background, it was eye-opening to discover the intricacies of how artists are procured for public commissions with the City and the care that the Commission takes to gather input from the community regarding art developed for their City. There are some exciting ways that the Commission intends to bring meaningful and diverse artists and art practices to San Diego, and I am honored to be a part of this moment.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I always say I wouldn’t have gotten my Ph.D. After my M.A., I was living in Chicago and had a good job and lots of contacts. SAIC was rigorous as well and I was in a mindset of pursuing challenges. My experience at the institution where I received my Ph.D. was not as stimulating and at times toxic, which resulted in quite a few health issues. Because of the nature of the program, I missed out on several opportunities that I wish I had taken. A seven-year degree (and fourteen years of college in total) is a long time to devote to something you truly care about. And it is a huge blow to your confidence when you do not succeed at securing a job that allows you to continue to pursue and research that passion. That said, I know I would have regretted it if I stopped at my M.A. because I am that type of person. And though, hindsight is 20/20, had I not chosen this path, then I may not have stumbled upon other realms, such as teaching yoga or working with artists at the Commission, that bring value to my life.
Contact Info:
Image Credit:
Cover Image: Courtesy of Mockingbird Lane Photography
Image 1: Research trip to Somerville, MA
Image 2: Lara’s UCSD Street Art Students participating in JR’s Inside Out Project
Image 3: Build-a-Bike event for ICS
Image 4: Lara’s yoga class by the Bay
Image 5: Meet the Artist Event for here comes the neighborhood Public Art Project
Image 6: Courtesy of LCostaphoto
Image 7: Celebrating San Diego-based artist Roman De Salvo’s Beach Castles in Mission Beach
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