{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/3b5w669s29/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Annalisa Iadicicco Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eThis interview is part of \"In The Artist's Studio,\" which is part of the virtual exhibition  \u003ca href=\"https://www.licartists.org/lic-present\"\u003eLIC: Present.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAnnalisa Iadicicco is a mixed-media artist who creates artwork out of repurposed materials. Iadicicco speaks with interviewer Jo-Ann Wong about her journey from working as a photographer in television and movie production companies to creating photographic and sculptural works that incorporate recovered objects such as corrugated metal, wood, rusty nails, and car bumpers. Iadicicco discusses how she founded The Blue Bus Project, a non-profit organizaton that brings participatory arts events into underserved communities throughout New York City. Iadicicco also discusses her work over the years in conjunction with Materials for the Arts (a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs), the LIC Arts Open arts festival, the Plaxall Gallery, and Culture Lab LIC.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRegarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Iadicicco describes her artistic endeavors as well as her involvement in food relief work during the pandemic, public events that she has taken part in at the Culture Lab LIC parking lot, and the positive impact that art can have during difficult times. Additionally, Iadicicco reflects on how her work as an artist speaks to social injustices and environmental problems and encourages social change.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2020-12-10 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Annalisa Iadicicco (Interviewee)","Jo-Ann Wong (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["2020 Interview conducted by Jo-Ann Wong as part of \"In The Artist's Studio,\" part of the virtual exhibition LIC: Present."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["Late 1990s - 2020 (temporal)","Long Island City and Jamaica, Queens, NY; New York, NY; Naples, Italy (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eThis interview is part of \"In The Artist's Studio,\" which is part of the virtual exhibition\u0026nbsp; \u003ca href=\"https://www.licartists.org/lic-present\"\u003eLIC: Present.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAnnalisa Iadicicco is a mixed-media artist who creates artwork out of repurposed materials. Iadicicco speaks with interviewer Jo-Ann Wong about her journey from working as a photographer in television and movie production companies to creating photographic and sculptural works that incorporate recovered objects such as corrugated metal, wood, rusty nails, and car bumpers. Iadicicco discusses how she founded The Blue Bus Project, a non-profit organizaton that brings participatory arts events into underserved communities throughout New York City. Iadicicco also discusses her work over the years in conjunction with Materials for the Arts (a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs), the LIC Arts Open arts festival, the Plaxall Gallery, and Culture Lab LIC.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRegarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Iadicicco describes her artistic endeavors as well as her involvement in food relief work during the pandemic, public events that she has taken part in at the Culture Lab LIC parking lot, and the positive impact that art can have during difficult times. Additionally, Iadicicco reflects on how her work as an artist speaks to social injustices and environmental problems and encourages social change.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/124/004/small/thumbnail_124004_1632945855.jpg?1632931456","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - LIC_Present_Annalisa_Iadicicco.mp4"]},"duration":2389.952,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/124/004/small/thumbnail_124004_1632945855.jpg?1632931456","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/124/004/original/LIC_Present_Annalisa_Iadicicco.mp4?1632930692","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2389.952,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: Hello everyone and thank you for coming to watch our interview with Annalisa Iadicicco, who is an artist who is based in Long Island City. So we're just going to jump straight into our questions for today. So first, Annalisa, what type of art do you create and what type of mediums do you work in?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=20.0,39.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So, hello everyone. Thank you so much for having me. I am a mixed-media artist and I work with found objects, objects that I find in my daily walks around the city, in a construction site, or even in a dumpster. And so I create from these objects that I just find, and I bring it to my studio where the transformation happens. So it's all related about—everything is related about these found objects, and the idea comes from the objects found.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=39.0,75.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: So that's a really cool idea. So I wanted to ask, when we're talking about found objects, what is the inspiration behind using found objects and why is it important to use materials, like you said, that are found in the city environment?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=75.0,93.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Well, to me it's just love at first sight, and it's a way to give a second chance to those objects, because I think there is more to it. So it is also a way to show how we can repurpose materials, how a material can be turned from one thing to another. And the beauty is really this transformation. And I see it especially when I show my work, how people interact with—you know, they feel close to it, they feel connected to it, and then they see, oh, wow, how creative it is to use it in this way. So I think it's inspirational at the same time.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=93.0,140.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so speaking of inspiration, I wanted to ask you, what are specific things that inspire you when you see an object? I know you say that the thoughts and the idea comes from that particularly, but what other the things inspire your artistic process?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=140.0,157.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So my inspiration comes from things that—my personal journey in life, also the environmental issues, and especially social injustice. So I do create from the object that I find, but it's always related to what I am going through or what is going through around me. So I started as a photographer working for major production companies. So I was a location scout and photographer on set. Then I decided to focus more on my creative career and I started taking photographs and combining them with this material that I will find around.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=157.0,207.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And my let's say art-attack happened when I decided to go back to my childhood. I come from, like, a small village in Naples, Italy, and I had the need to go back and be in nature, be in the farm, walking around, you know, feeding chickens, or just lay on the hay. And I started taking photographs of those animals in the farm. So when I came back to New York, just like serendipity, I found these piles of corrugated steel metal. And each piece had a different pattern, right? So I felt like each one of them was talking differently to me. And it was then that I realized, wow, this is the same materials that you find in the farm, you know, for the animal sheds, right? So I combine those materials, these materials with the photograph, and I realized that connection between my subject and the object that I found.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=207.0,280.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And so the same thing then just happen all the time. Like, I took a photograph of a statue in a cemetery in the Bronx of a Madonna. And I was looking to create a frame—and I use a lot of wood also. So one day I was walking in SoHo. I had a friend in town from Italy. You know, when they come, friends come and they want to go shopping. So we walking around SoHo and I'm like, \"What? There's a nail. Look how beautiful it is.\" And it's just, you know, rusty nails on the floor, while [unclear] going through those big stores to buy just clothes and stuff. And then I keep walking, there is another nail, and then another one, and then I'm like, whoa, there are so many now. So we turn the corner and there was this truck, construction guy on top, and he's looking at me and he goes, \"Are you looking for nails?\" I'm like, \"Yeah.\" He goes, \"You have a bag?\" I'm like, \"Yeah, my friend has one.\" So I got the bag and he just fill up the bag with all those rusty nails.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=280.0,354.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So, same thing happened with another sculpture that talks about social and political issues. And it's a stop sign that was donated to me from one of my patron. Around the stop sign, I have eight guns that highlight with LED lights. It's called Second Amendment. And it was inspired after, you know, watching and hearing the news of all these mass shootings in the schools, Newtown, and all these issues about gun in America. So I created this anti-gun-violence installation. And the process was because I was hearing the news and my patron send me this gift. She was cleaning her garage and she's like, \"Oh, maybe you can use this stop sign.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=354.0,415.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So I had this stop sign laying in my studio. And then I was becoming an American citizen. I was trying to understand what was really the issue with this Second Amendment. And I also come from Naples, which also has, you know, gun violence has a big impact. And so this how I created—it's kind of like all the time, you know, everything comes together, the object and what I wanted to portray at the time that I create.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=415.0,456.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And same thing happened with the blue bus. The blue bus was parked by my house. And at the time, I was going to many protest about anti gun violence and I wanted to do more as an artist. So I was—I realized that going to protest is good, but you also had to go back home and do something about it, right? So I'm like, what can I do? I'm an artist. You know, I'm not really [an] activist, I'm more of an art-ivist. So why not use what I have, art, and create like a—it was a big idea—create like a movement of artists. You know, I always come out with like this big ideas.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=456.0,508.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And so I'm like, I want to create an art movement and I want to bring art to people. So, make it accessible to everyone and have the possibility to interact with people, using art to be able to bring change in communities. You know, I'm not looking up at the world, I'm really just looking up at my small communities. And so the bus was parked by my house and I put a note on the windshield and I am like, \"If you sell the bus, give me a call.\" And I received the call after like eight months or so. And so my big dream was happening. I had this big rusty—you know I love rust, and this is the biggest object that I could find.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=508.0,564.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So the whole journey with the blue bus started like this. I had to bring it to a mechanic, understand how the whole thing was working and, you know, put it safely on the road. And today I am driving to many communities with it.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=564.0,588.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: The Blue Bus Project itself, you know, what are specific types of projects that you've been working on and bringing to the community, and what is the importance of bringing art to a community?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=588.0,601.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So The Blue Bus is—the goal is to generate awareness of social and environmental issue through arts and culture. And how we do that, we do that by bringing art directly to people. It's a free participatory art event that happens in, like, public housing complex, in outdoor cultural spaces, public parks, senior centers. We create workshop on recycle and repurposing materials. Like, dance performances, theater, and also digital work.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=601.0,656.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: We connect directly with the community by approaching the organization that work in that community, understand the needs of the community, and create a project according to their needs. Like, we work in Long Island City with Riis Settlement at Queensbridge. We did a workshop at Ravenswood Houses. We collaborated with AHRC. AHRC is an organization that works with adults with mental disabilities. We did different, alternative way of teaching art, so by combining different disciplines. So we use art, we use music, and we use theater games, and combine disciplines to create our workshops.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=656.0,720.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Another collaboration that we did here in Long Island City is with Hour Children. Hour Children is an organization that works with ex-incarcerated women and their children. We created a series of workshops, both for the children and for the women. And yeah, we collaborated in Long Island City also with Local Project Art Space. Actually, they commissioned The Blue Bus to create, a few years ago, a studio workshop in Jamaica, Queens. Basically, I was commissioned as an artist and also with The Blue Bus to bring garbage from Long Island City to Queens, and arrive in Queens where Local Project in collaboration with No Longer Empty, they rented a space, a storefront, and they were giving access to the community to the arts.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=720.0,790.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So I was commissioned to create a workshop with found objects, and the found objects were right outside the gallery that commissioned me the workshop. And it was basically car bumpers. So I work also with car bumpers. So I brought these piles of car bumpers from Long Island City to Jamaica and create a workshop in the streets of Jamaica, Queens, car bumpers that I transformed into, like, a superhero face. It was at the time the first series, started with the Transformer, and then I continue the series with Batman, Spiderman and, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=790.0,842.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So another collaboration is with the Plaxall, Inc. Plaxall commissioned five different artists to create work with their plastic materials. And I created another sculpture, Spiderman, but also a series of bags made out of their leftover plastics. So the whole idea is to recycle, repurposing materials. And through The Blue Bus, I had the opportunity to expand my vision to others by teaching how to recycle, how to repurpose, and have conversations about sustainability and also issues that affect the community.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=842.0,900.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And then, so going off of that, you've mentioned LIC a few times, so I wanted to ask, how did you get involved with the LIC art scene and how did you get involved with Plaxall Gallery and, like, all those organizations?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=900.0,916.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Okay. So I start working with the Long Island City Arts Open thanks to Richard Mazda. He's the one that was behind, the force behind it for many years, so I have to be thankful to him because he gave me different opportunities to exhibit my work. And so I started with LIC Arts Open, then continue my collaboration in Long Island City with Materials for the Arts. I was the 2018 artist-in-residence at Materials for the Arts. And I can tell you that that was the most amazing experience as an artist that works with found objects because, as most of you know, Materials for the Arts is this big warehouse where things, every object is donated. Instead of bringing it to the landfill, people donate it to Materials for the Arts, and Materials for the Arts donate it to artists and educators, that they can reinvent and repurpose those materials.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=916.0,989.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So I was a part of this. I was the artist-in-residence for three months, and for three months I had the opportunity to get to the warehouse every day, understand the waste that we produce, because there's tons of things that they are donated to the warehouse, but also see how people repurpose those materials. So I had a studio there for three months, and the beauty was also to interact with people. So people would come and visit the studio and understand the work behind, you know, an artwork that they will see after in the gallery.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=989.0,1033.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And I also collaborated with Plaxall Gallery, the Culture Lab LIC, especially during the pandemic where I collaborated with the artistic director Edjo Wheeler and in collaboration with Connected Chef, we deliver with the blue bus food to families in need in Queens. Um, yes.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1033.0,1074.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: So speaking of COVID-19, this is kind of a good point to start asking some questions about that. So you had mentioned that The Blue Bus had helped with donating food to families in need. Can you talk a little bit about that experience and kind of just more about that specific collaboration.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1074.0,1096.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So during COVID, in the beginning—I'm an Italian. I'm Italian, so I started—at the time, I was working in schools through Materials for the Arts, but I will come home and listen already to the Italian news. You know, Italy went in a quarantine two weeks before us. So I was already anxious. I'm like, wow, this is going to happen here as well. So I was kind of prepared in a way to go into this, but, you know, it's too much to say prepared. Let's say I anticipated, right? So as an artist I was, like, laying down and listening to the news like every one of us when we got inside and we had a lockdown, but I was like, oh my God, I cannot do this anymore. I gotta go outside. I gotta do something.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1096.0,1151.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: You know, I have this thing of, like, helping others. And I think this is in my DNA because I come from a family of artisans and also a missionary. Like, my uncle is a missionary in the Amazon jungle of Peru. And my aunt also, she went on a mission to help kids in the outskirts of Lima. So I have this inside me and I could not be in a pandemic and not do anything, right? So I decided to drive around New York City, messages of hope to people. So I created those big signs that I attached to the bus, signs like, \"Socially Distant, Spiritually Connected.\" I was into [Andrew] Cuomo at the time. And then, \"Stand Strong New York,\" \"Keep on Trucking.\"","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1151.0,1214.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And so I was going around and I was having also reaction from people. Even though my first sign, because of my approach to the pandemic in anticipation through the Italian news, it was \"Stay Home. Stop the Spread.\" And in the beginning, that sign was, I think, too much for people to receive. They were like, well, who are you to tell us to stay home? That was the first reaction. So then I changed the messages, and those messages were, like, more positive. I'm like, no, I had to bring positivity to people, right? So people were, like, cheering, you know, and putting their thumbs up and so on and so on.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1214.0,1256.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And then I decided to—I saw that at Plaxall Gallery, the Culture Lab LIC, they had food, they were delivering food to people in need. So I called Edjo and I offer my vehicle for delivery. And so we started doing this delivery of food. And it was for me, it was, you know, a way of—during this time, the first thing I think that everybody wanted to do, they wanted to offer their help. So I think I had the vehicle and I was bringing those messages and food to people. And people were kind of like receiving this food and also kind of shock because they couldn't understand what the vehicle was about. So I was bringing also, you know, a type of art to the community with this delivery of food.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1256.0,1318.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And, yes, and then also I was part of the parking lot experience that was happening at the Plaxall Gallery. In the beginning, the parking lot was just this empty space. There were no cars anymore. There was only my bus because, you know, the bus is parked at Plaxall and it was a donation from the Plaxall family to The Blue Bus for the work that I do. So they donated the parking lot for the bus so I have a base. Thank you so much for that. You don't even know how thankful I am.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1318.0,1357.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So I was there going and check my bus, you know, going around my bus and I see this lot empty. But then I saw the transformation. People were, like, going there to hang out with their kids, you know, teaching the kids how to go on a bicycle. Or, like, playing tennis, you know, one day there was a couple playing tennis. And then I saw the transformation of, like, starting to have those small gatherings with Rockaway Brewery and then with Edjo and then the music started happening. And I decided at the time to open up the bus to the community and I had, you know, a few people coming in or just staying outside and create, like, a small little art project, always maintaining the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines. And so, yeah, that's what was the experience, my experience, during pandemic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1357.0,1432.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so, that's amazing work that you guys are doing. I mean, like I was telling you before we started recording, I would see pictures of the blue bus that were being submitted to the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project, so your messages of positivity are getting out there to the larger group. And so, [unclear] we were talking about Blue Bus Project, I wanted to also ask you, how has COVID-19 affected your personal life and your day-to-day experiences during this time?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1432.0,1467.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Well, all the projects for The Blue Bus were put on hold. We received three grants from the Queens Council on the Arts and one—two from the Queens Council on the Arts and one from Citizens Committee for New York City. Both projects were—you know, we do engagement projects, so we go and we need to engage with people and create art all together. So, one of the project was in collaboration with different artists and the Museum of the Moving Image where it was—it is, it will be soon—a mobile media lab workshop and discussion on digital humanities. The other project was with the Jacob Riis Settlement at Queensbridge where, in collaboration with four artists, we will work on, like, decorating and showing, you know, how to use different type of art, garbage bin, and talking about waste and recycle and sustainability. So they were, like, both of this put on hold.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1467.0,1545.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: And like I said, I was able, you know, to limit my events. Like, I was also thankful because we had another project with Court Square Civic Association and the family approved to have a small project at the Court Square Park. So I was able to do that. And we also, since the Halloween parade was canceled, Plaxall allowed us to create a workshop on the day of the Halloween parade with material donated by Materials for the Arts. We had kids, they creating skulls and making their, you know, boo houses and so and so.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1545.0,1610.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So, for my personal work, you know, also everything was—is on hold. Like everybody else, we had to turn into this digital world, which—I don't know, I want to say the silver lining of COVID, I think during this time, we had a lot of material, as artists, we had a lot of material to work on. You know, this is a year that we had a pandemic, we had the Black Lives Matter, then we had the elections. So I think art had a big loss of course, loss of income, but also we understood the importance of art because in a way it brought us together. We've seen it during the lockdown where all the storefronts had to board up their windows, right? And then we saw this explosion of art on this plywood. So people just walking, they will feel connected, then it was also something that it was happening at this time. So I think art during COVID brought people together, connect people, and that's what art does, right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1610.0,1701.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So I was, of course, my project work, my personal work, were put on hold, but I was nominated to receive an award for the Creative Climate Award by the Human Impact Institute. The Human Impact Institute use art and culture to inspire environmental action for social good. And so artists that work with reusable material were selected for this award. So we had a show in, actually still happening, in different storefronts throughout the city. So three of my sculptures right now [are] on view in Brooklyn. And also a series of conversation, online conversation about art in action, how art impact sustainability and also empowers underserved communities. So yeah, I was pretty active during the pandemic. Not as much as I would have been without it, but I forced myself to do things.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1701.0,1794.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: Like they always say, it's always good to be busy. And so, you know, you've been out on the street a lot with, like, The Blue Bus Project, other projects you've been working on. You've been very active. So I wanted your perspective on how Long Island City has changed—when you're walking down the street, how has it changed from March to the summer to now? What have you been seeing on the street itself?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1794.0,1820.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Well, it was interesting. We—I feel the community, during the COVID, everybody had to stay in their community, so I guess they appreciate the space in which they live more. Long Island City had, because of the beautiful park that we have, you know, we had some issues about littering. And also that was a big deal for me, so I started this small campaign that, I don't know if it went somewhere, it was Leave No Trace. So I was posting those beautiful signs around. Some of them were taken down. Some of them stayed up. But yeah, I guess that the big change during pandemic was this [unclear] of people come in and the littering and how, you know, the—I understood what was the problem. You know, we have too many people controlling a small little street.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1820.0,1887.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: So, I saw this issue that the community faced. And also there was a lot of chaos with the scooters. People just disrespecting the space. People from outside, I believe, did not respect the spaces too much. But I also saw a lot of beautiful things happening, you know, like what happened at the parking lot with Culture Lab LIC where people were coming, respecting social distancing, and enjoying their moment. And so, yeah, that's what I have seen in Long Island City during the pandemic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1887.0,1946.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so you've talked about how COVID-19 has affected the art world with loss of income, but also bringing artists together. I'm just wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more on specific ways that COVID-19 has affected the art world. And do you think those changes are going to be long lasting?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1946.0,1968.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Well, like I say, yes, they experienced a lot of loss, but it was also a time for—a time to be creative because we had a lot of things happening. As artists we had—as artists, but also everyone—we had to stop. So we've been shaken, put upside down, and now we had that moment of, like, really connecting with ourself, with what is around us. So during this time, I think it was, for some people, was productive also. Yes, we lost, everybody lost, you know, not only the art world, but I think things are gonna happen slowly. I believe that—I don't know, I saw it in my community. You know, the community got together. So I think that—I hope that that's what COVID did during this time.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=1968.0,2037.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: We've seen it, actually, you know, people making noise out of the windows. You know, it was a way to say, hey, we [are] here and we are together into this. So I hope that this stays, you know, that togetherness, that, yeah, that way of experience the same pain in a way, so we all can relate to this. And, you know, artists had an important role because the arts can help us cope in hard times, and I think it did that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2037.0,2082.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so speaking of art, you know, you've been so active, you've been so busy. And so I'm wondering, do you feel that COVID-19 has had any effect on your personal artwork during this time?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2082.0,2095.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: I'm going through some transformation. I'm going through some transformation. I cannot answer that yet. I was focused on kind of surviving, you know, for this emotional turmoil that we were put into. So, affect me, made me want to go out there and do—bring my art out to people. But yeah, I don't know how to answer to that yet. I'm still developing everything.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2095.0,2140.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so another quick question I have is, you know, besides The Blue Bus Project, what are ways that you're able to stay connected with your community despite the need for social distancing?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2140.0,2156.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Other ways of staying connected in my communities besides The Blue Bus? I guess by—during the pandemic, I went around cleaning up the garbage. I went around, like, writing some signs about littering. Sometimes I put art outside my studio just for people to enjoy when they pass by and connect to art. And, yeah, I guess that's—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2156.0,2200.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so, you know, you've talked a lot about how your artwork deals with the environment and sustainability. So I'm curious, do you think that COVID-19 has affected how we as a community think about the environment, sustainability, and being kinder to our earth?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2200.0,2220.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: I think so, otherwise we have to be blind not to realize, you know, the waste, especially that was happening during the pandemic. I don't know, like, all these plastic bottles of detergent that we use. You know, we were more in the house, so we had to use more of those products, so we generate more waste. So I do hope that was a wake up call for people to realize, you know, but then sometimes you never know how things go. Actually, I wanted to create, but it's still on hold, a structure of a house made out of rebar. And since I was going around for a walk and see a lot of these piles of garbage, plastic bottles, I wanted to create, like, a plastic house in Long Island City where community could come and insert these plastic bottles in this structure that I [unclear]. So it's still in the process [crosstalk] awareness about waste.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2220.0,2298.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: Well, that's just such a cool idea. When you do put that together, please let me know 'cause I would love to come visit for that. And so as we're winding down our interview, my two last questions is, one, where can people find you online?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2298.0,2316.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Okay. Online at annalisaiadicicco.com and thebluebusproject.org. Also on social media with my name and last name. Facebook, Instagram, not too good with Twitter [laughter].","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2316.0,2335.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: And so to end our interview for today, I always like to end with my hardest question which is, what do you think is the most hopeful thing to come out of all of this, out of all of 2020? What are you most hopeful for?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2335.0,2350.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Oh, that we come out sane [laughter], with a lot of inspiration, transformation, how to turn all this bad situation into something brighter than what it is, see the silver lining of COVID.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2350.0,2373.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Jo-Ann Wong: Awesome. Well, thank you so much Annalisa. I share the same hope with you as well, that everything turns out okay. But thank you so much for being a part of this interview today.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2373.0,2385.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004/transcript/93092/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Annalisa Iadicicco: Well, thank you. Thank you so much for having me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/153/collection_resources/51379/file/124004#t=2385.0,2389.952"}]}]}]}