Photo Credit - Shawn Saumell
Carmen Menza is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice spans video, light based work, music and immersive public art installations. She is especially interested in works that create a visual and musical dialogue to encourage artistic collaboration between herself and the community.
Her light based work is part of the art collection at UTSW, Clements University Hospital, Dallas, TX and the McKinney Avenue Contemporary Museum in Dallas, TX. Her films have screened at the Dallas International Film Festival, Dallas Video Festival, Austin Film Festival, Albuquerque Film Festival and KERA Public television-Frame of Mind. She has exhibited with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Soluna Festival, Dallas AuroraLight & Sound Biennial and Carneal Simmons Contemporary Art, Dallas, TX.
Vignette, 2018
She is a TACA 2019 New Works Fund Grant recipient, a Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Arts Activate Grant 2019 recipient, a former Cedars Union Artist Residency recipient and a Virginia Commission for the Arts, Project Grant New Works recipient. She is a founding member of Texas Vignette, a nonprofit organization that promotes the arts by providing support, education and connection to women in the arts in Texas. She received her BFA in jazz guitar performance from the University of North Texas.
Read about Carmen’s work and creative entrepeneurial journey in her own words!
What steps did you take to become a full time artist, and how did the work that you currently do materialize?
To become an artist I studied music at the University of North Texas concentrating on jazz guitar. I also have a degree in audio and electronics. I led a band for many years gaining experience in songwriting/composing and leadership.
I also have many years of experience in broadcast television as a graphics designer and editor. In my work I combine my love for video based work and music creating immersive installations that utilize both mediums. I also taught myself how to paint and to produce light based work and much of the work I produce is for residential and commercial spaces.
Can you tell us about how you see your past professional experiences intertwining and emerging in your artwork?
I worked professionally for many years in broadcast television and at some point felt the need to pivot to something that was my own.. I started painting and found success early in selling my work. I then was introduced to the Dallas based art festival Aurora. It is a light based festival that brings in 100’s of light based artists to create a one night festival in downtown Dallas. This opened up a whole new world to me and I fell in love with artists from the Light & Space movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, especially the works of Craig Kauffman, Helen Pashgian and Robert Irwin.
“Velocity Of Light”
How do you choose the mediums that you use for your work (light, music, other)?
In my public work produced for festivals and institutions like the Dallas Symphony Orchestra or the Dallas Aurora Light and Sound Festival, I strive to make a connection between music and visuals that incorporates the public as well. I often concentrate on generative or interactive technology. These are visuals that are created in software that can be programmed to respond to music or other audio or camera inputs. These kinds of works create a back and forth between the audience and connect them to art in new ways.
I enjoy creating immersive environments for the public, often utilizing existing architecture in a space. In my work that is regularly placed in residential and commercial spaces I concentrate on light based work and painting. In my most recent series of paintings I am utilizing glass beads that catch and diffract the light on the surface of my work. In my LED light based work I utilize materials that are highly reflective and materials that have a color shifting property to them so that they animate when you move across the work. I always try to create a connection with the viewer so that the work has a dialogue with them.
What kept Menza Art Studio from becoming a project that fell to the wayside?
I was determined to make it a success. For me there was really no other option. I am an artist and I wanted my life’s work to be making art. I continued to work in broadcast tv until I was able to make the pivot to being an artist full time.
What about the industry that you work in do you feel you connect with the most?
I feel most connected with other artists who are pushing new forms of expression. I also feel a great connection with those who truly appreciate the value of what art can do for a space and a community.
What’s your favorite thing about your workspace?
I just moved into a new workspace and I am absolutely in love with the high ceilings and pristine white walls. I also have two large windows that I can utilize to experiment with my materias and I am in heaven!
“Submerged”
How do you get yourself out of a creative rut? How do you pick back up on work when perhaps feeling uninspired?
I schedule shows and deadlines so that I am always creating. If I have something that I am always working towards then I am using my mind and creative talents to solve problems and think of new approaches.
Name a person whom you admire or look up to. Why?
I absolutely admire my husband Mark Menza. He is a composer creating work for indie films, advertising, programming and works for dance/ballet. To me he is an amazing example of what it really means to be an artist and create work that is meaningful.
You can visit Carmen’s website (linked) and follow her art Insta @carmenmenzaart
“Unfolding The Sun”
All photos other than Carmen’s headshot were taken by Carmen Menza