Carli Castellani, Artistic Director of Status Hat Productions
I am an artist, writer and designer. I work on conceptual, multi-disciplinary projects, particularly those which require me to learn new things. While I am not a specialist, there is a trail unfolding from my work and life, through which my work has evolved – an unwinding thread I follow, and which has led me to my current position.
Status Hat produces new works in varied media. We create and consult on participatory art and curriculum. We publish a monthly literary/arts webzine (Status Hat!), and a biannual publication ("Trigger") exploring narrative in the arts. We also develop digital comics (Status Hat's "Rat On A Monorail" and "Rock On, Genghis Khan"), and create and produce new music and musical theater pieces.
Status Hat has grown from the belief that the art experience is a primal human drive, and the ability to live productive, creative lives, doing work one loves, is essential for the betterment and evolution of life on this planet. Our internship program has given university-level artists and writers the opportunity for hands-on experience in a working arts environment, and our works development programs have given artists, writers and musicians opportunities to explore and refine emerging ideas. As artistic director, I am responsible for shaping the course of our works in development. I also help secure creative resources, manage our internship program, and work with community members world-wide to promote the art experience.
In 2004 I had the honor of being a resident artist in Russia (Kazan), where I was co-hosted by The Tatarstan State Puppet Theater and the Tatarstan Composer's Union. I exhibited work at Kazan University, gave talks about the arts at various schools, and media interviews on radio, television and for print publications during my residency. I was invited to return to Russia in 2007 as a team artist for the international project, The Volga is Our Home, in which we spent 10 days sailing down the Volga River, to create "new myths" and new works, with ensuing exhibitions in Kazan and Astrakhan. The rock opera I co-wrote, “Rock On, Genghis Khan,” has been staged with puppets and a live band in 2006 ("First They Were Puppets..."), and was recently developed into one of Status Hat's comic books. My participatory installations include a playable game room ("Games of Sticks and Stones” - Hugo House 6th Annual Cultural Inquiry, Seattle, WA; 2003) and an art-labyrinth (“Wheelhouse” - Troy Night Out, Troy, NY; 2007), both with musical soundtracks. "Falling Asleep On Earth", a prose piece, and the article "Small Talk with Robots" are among my writing works from 2010.
My work is particularly informed by the points where mythology, history and culture converge.
My portfolio is currently being updated, and is under reconstruction. It will return to these pages in 2011.
June 27, 2011
