Meeting Michelle Joan Papillion for the first time, I was struck by her physical fluidity; sophisticated, real with an ‘around-the-way’ vibe and super-model physique. With the recent opening of her gallery in downtown Los Angeles she’s definitely ‘Michelle from the block’; the community block that is. The Papillion Institute of Art (P.I.A. as it is affectionately called) has dramatically changed the neighborhood. During our intense conversational expedition we explore how this artist (in every sense of the word) has followed her heart and let art rule.

Sonic Eclectic: You’ve only been open three months and you are about to open your third show. That’s quite ambitious!

Michelle Joan Papillion: YES. But I don’t know how to do things any other way. I set goals, deadlines and I try to keep to that timeline as closely as possible. Once something goes to press, or the invite has been sent to all the blogs, it puts the pressure on for me to live up to having the project completed by that time. I work really hard but I never overextend myself. I have my moments of “what did I get myself into?” but I just keep working past those moments. My gift–and curse–is that I am a self-starter. If I imagine something in my head I am able to carry it out in life. I am not a one woman island. I need help all of the time. I think others looking in from the outside think everything is under control when really I can’t tell you how I even begin to get things done. I just say a prayer and hope that the Creator will bless me to live another day and create.

SE: Is anyone else doing what you are doing with the Papillion Institute of Art; in the vicinity or even in Los Angeles? And why an institute?

MJP: I’m not so sure as to other projects that might be similar to mine in Los Angeles. I personally haven’t seen any art spaces that are doing things exactly like I am doing them but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist in LA. I’m sure they do. We have an ‘artist in residence’ program where studio space, art materials and other resources are provided to the artist in order to encourage them to create and exhibit new work.

SE: So tell me about your life. How does an actress become a novice gallery owner? Is that random?

MJP: [Laughs] My life. Well, I was always in the arts. I’ve always had my own creative perspective. There are pictures of me as a toddler sitting in front of the stereo wearing headphones bigger than my head nodding to the music. I feel like music was the launching pad for everything. The first instrument I learned was the recorder. I learned as many instruments as possible. I always went to performing arts schools and everyone in my hometown of Oakland expected me to move to LA and become famous. Like they didn’t think I could do anything else. Performance art is like breathing to me. Instead of going straight to Hollywood as everyone predicted I decided to go to college and study the Classics at Howard. I discovered a whole other part of me that I didn’t know existed. Classicists have to be able to speak, read and write either Greek or Latin. I also studied ancient civilizations, Egyptology and the classic Egyptian language. I majored in Classics and Art History and minored Archeology. I’ve done every job in art from working at a frame shop, being an assistant to artists and photographers to curating shows with no experience.

SE: Are you a fine artist?

MJP: I paint. I sculpt. Yes. I never show my work though. Well, I’ve never shown it in a gallery. I’ve given pieces to friends.

SE: Well do you like your work?

MJP: Yes. I love my work! Now that I have this gallery I’m thinking I might sneak in one of my pieces anonymously or maybe under another name in an upcoming show and see what people think.

SE: What did you do after college?

MJP: I went to Artist’s Space. I really learned how to run a gallery. In my spare time I sold art books on the street. You can have many hustles in New York City. I set up a table on the sidewalk in front of the SoHo Prada store.

SE: Did you sell artwork?

MJP: No, only art books; some out of print, some hard to find. They ranged from $60 – $500. A lot of the people I know today, prominent artists and collectors–I met there on the street. They would invite me to their studios and homes. From there I decided I wanted to be a curator. I just started telling people I was a curator. That opened the door for me to curate my first show.

SE: Listening to your stories it’s clear that you are not afraid to get your hustle on! How did you come to the decision to open an art gallery?

MJP: I decided to move to Los Angeles two years ago to pursue acting full-time. I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t have a job. I rode my bike or took the bus to auditions. But after a while I realized that I’m more than just this [acting]. Every social conversation seemed to revolve around the same questions. What’s going on with your career? What did you book? Who booked what? What was going on with directors, other actors and so on? I am an actress and I love acting but there are other things I love too. So yeah in January I decided to open a gallery, in February I found the space and in March I moved in. I didn’t go to a bank and get a loan, I didn’t consult people, and I didn’t go get advice. I came, signed the lease, called some artists I know [to submit pieces] and in April I opened my first show which was the ‘Hello Show’.

It looks as though Michelle Joan Papillion is not stopping at ‘Hello’. Here’s to never saying goodbye.
www.PapillionArt.org