Space Maker

Space Maker centers on the idea that those who shape spaces—architects, designers, set designers, landscape architects, and other creative practitioners—can also sustain independent artistic practices that both inform and are informed by their professional work. It is not so much one or the other but rather an interplay between multiple practices that allows these makers of spaces to explore other avenues of creativity where they are less limited by the nuances and rules that define the more technical roles they also occupy. Featuring a blend of historic works and contemporary pieces by local artists, the exhibition highlights wide-ranging interpretations of form, geometry, color, and place. Examining where design, art, and architecture meet, Space Maker traces how creative practices rooted in design influence the shaping of spaces, objects, and communities, revealing the reciprocal relationship between artistic expression and architectural thinking.

An essential component of this exhibition design process was to collaborate with a space maker whose practice moves fluidly across disciplines. We identified Miki Iwasaki as the ideal artist/architect for the project. With deep expertise and a nuanced understanding of both worlds, Iwasaki helped guide and connect a network of regional creators working at this intersection. Together with Militello and Clifford Yahyai, the curatorial team set out to bring these space makers into conversation in a thoughtful and compelling way. This is where our work begins.

Our curatorial team found that within our own San Diego and Tijuana region, there have always been a  rich community of space makers who work in this cross-section, creating work that spans a variety of mediums and time periods. Among these practitioners who traverse this line of creativity are many notable figures both historic and contemporary. These creatives have studied and worked in these in-betweens as true space makers. Their compositions demonstrate how deep their artistic roots go.

This exhibition is made possible through the generosity of Suzanne Conlon, the Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, Ann Craig, Abby and Ray Weiss, and Meredith and Matthew Baratz.