By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

Space 301 hopes the pairing with their latest curator generates sparks of a whole different variety this time around.

In 2006, the downtown center for contemporary arts attracted attention when they hired Mobile-native-turned-world-traveler Barclay McConnell for the position, then summarily dismissed her eight months later. The resulting public fallout revealed dissension between the employee and the management of the Centre for the Living Arts, the non-profit agency running Space 301.

The subsequent interim curator, longtime Mobile arts cognoscente David McCann, fell sick and succumbed to illness not long after assuming the post.

Perhaps it was time to entertain talents from other environs. Enter Clayton Colvin, a Birmingham native who moved into the position in June of 2007. Colvin boasts a B.A. in art history from New York University and an M.A. in art education from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Colvin’s journey to Space 301 wasn’t his first foray to the Gulf Coast. He interned in the Crescent City during school, working with various artists bearing a variety of national and regional reputations.

“I lived in New Orleans while I was in school, from ‘99 to ‘01,” Colvin recently said. “I loved being down here on the coast and the slower pace of life. Being in New Orleans in those days, pre-9/11 and pre-Katrina, was a blast.”

“And I love the weather down here,” he continued. “You don’t really get those times during the winter when really hard, cold winter weather sets in for a week or more.”

Colvin returned to the Magic City and was regularly invited to participate in shows alongside various luminaries. He curated shows around the region and founded StealthArts independent art space in Birmingham, building a healthy reputation in the Southeast.

When he heard of the opening at CLA, Colvin took a chance.

“I was already familiar with the town,” Colvin said. “My sister-in-law was the girls’ basketball coach at St. Paul’s (parochial high school). And I was involved in a few shows here at Space 301, some I curated. There was one I curated at the big space (on Conti), I had some paintings at the big space and did a show at the smaller space (on Joachim) so I was familiar with Mobile to an extent.”

The CLA gave him the nod and Colvin, his wife and son packed their things to head southward. Some of what they have found has differed from expectations.

“Well, people told me there was gong to be really bad traffic and I haven’t found any of that yet,” Colvin laughed. “It’s just not up to their descriptions.”

“We were surprised, too, that there wasn’t more housing available downtown because that’s where we really wanted to live,” he said. The curator and his family eventually settled over the bay in Fairhope.

“I’m still learning a lot about the arts scene here,” Colvin explained. “I think that new artists registry that the Mobile Arts Council is setting up is going to be great, not only for me but for all the local artists. It’s going to be a valuable tool.”

“It’s been great working with schools and the colleges in the area, too,” Colvin said, “but I was most shocked to see how big Murphy High School is.”

He sees abundant strengths and weaknesses in the local scene. “I think there are a lot of strong sculptors and painters here,” Colvin said. “And the people who are involved here bring a lot of really positive energy to things.”

“The artwalks in downtown are doing okay. They’re not as strong as the ones in Fairhope but they’ve been doing it longer over there,” he observed.

“I think there seems to be some kind of weird gap between the age groups here,” Colvin said. “We’re trying to figure out a way to get more college-aged kids involved in things, trying to think of ways to pull them in.”

Colvin thinks the key might be in a mixture of mediums.

“I really like the stuff they’re doing at Satori Coffee out near the University (of South Alabama),” the curator said. “The music they’re having there seems to be kind of cutting edge, pulling in the people we like to see more involved here. We’re looking at having bands more involved in what we’re doing downtown.”

Other changes are in store. “We’re looking at having more guest curators,” Colvin said, “more viewpoints and perspectives. I want to do some workshops on digital imaging because you know slides aren’t as necessary as they once were.” Colvin said those interested in the workshop can visit www.space301.com and e-mail him for information and inclusion.

Another perennial favorite will herald the re-emergence of Space 301’s central facility following $5 million of renovation that will add an auditorium, classrooms, a workshop, a mezzanine floor that includes reception and conference rooms, offices and a rooftop terrace.

“The renovations are due to be through next year,” Colvin said. “just in time for The People’s Show where members of the public will have their stuff on display. We’re looking forward to it.”

And CLA is no doubt anticipating Colvin lighting the fuse to a year of nothing but the best kind of fireworks.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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