Today we’d like to introduce you to Normando Ismay. She shared her story with us below:
Normando Ismay was born and grew up in northern Argentina. He moved to Atlanta in 1974. Since then, Normando has created work in metal smithing, sculpture, painting, installation art, storytelling, performance art and theatre.
In 1993, with neighbors and other artists, he got rid of a crack house using “creative advertising” and an exhibit called “The Crack Attack Show”.
At Atlanta’s Federal Penitentiary, he taught weaving and drawing, presenting detainee’s work in The Cuban Detainee’s Art Exhibit/85 Nexus Gallery.
He coordinated Atlanta’s first Latino art exhibit; a Spanish language camp for neighborhood children and a bilingual theater called Amalgama.
He built a studio in his backyard and for many years, presented art events that included theater, art exhibits, poetry readings and music.
Normando created “Café Bizzoso” an installation/performance space that traveled around the country creating venues for local artists to present their work.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Writing in English, specially before computers and spellcheck, when I depended on people to proof what I wrote. Eventually, I learned and found people I could trust.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Started out as a metalsmith; that’s what I had learned in Argentina and what I learned as a student in Georgia State University when I studied with Richard Mafong. Then I started working in the Nexus Theater, creating sets and installations, eventually I grew into performing and started writing stories and creating large installation performances (Bananaland, Dumpsite, Demolition; Nexus Theater, seven stages theater, Atlanta).
I became a member of Alternate ROOTS and created many community-based art projects. (The Cuban Detainees Art Project with the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, The Wheelbarrow Theater, Cafe Bizzoso, (a traveling performance installation that created a temporary performance place in many cities for local artists to present their work).
Normando built a small theater in his backyard that became The Little Beirut Arts Space, an underground venue that operated for many years close to Downtown Atlanta. (Art Papers, Creative Loafing).
Most proud of? The Crack Attack Project, where we pushed out a crack house by using art. (Creative Loafing, High Performance Magazine).
What sets me apart? I never specialized in one media or method, opting to adopt everything that was available to me.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family, friends, and community. That’s when I leave this life, I leave a better place because I lived a full and committed life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Normando.biz
Image Credits
Drew Cozier
