CHRISTINA AMINI: 

For Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self, Susan O’Malley asked ordinary people of all ages, “What advice would your 80-year-old self give your self of today?”  

Susan wrote, “Imagine you had the opportunity to time travel and meet yourself at 80. To sit down and have a cup of tea with your 80 year-old self. You look into her eyes, which are really your older, wiser eyes. It’s a strange experience because this person feels so familiar, but is also very different. She’s older and has seen and experienced things that you don’t yet know. Finally, after sitting with her for some time, you muster the courage to ask her for advice. You take a deep breath and wait for her to respond. What does she tell you?” 

Hi, I’m Christina Amini. I’m an editor and a writer. Susan O’Malley was my best friend and was a collaborator. After Susan’s death in 2015, I became the steward of the Susan O’Malley Art Estate. You’ll see these large scale works from Susan O’Malley’s Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self series. The pieces are colorful, bold, larger than life, and they welcome you from the street, whether you’re passing by, whether you’re entering the museum, or leaving it after a full day. 

Susan had this singular ability to connect with people, to listen to and then distill people’s essential truths and then share them with the whole world, with color, with boldness, and with simplicity. It was important to Susan for her art to be in public spaces; that it was accessible. And here the work offers a kind of radical hospitality to this alleyway at all times of day and night. It elevates and escalates words from Bay Area people. She brings art to the world and the world into her art. Susan invites us to listen. She transforms this alleyway into a place to make connections where that’s the priority. You know, I’ve seen people choose their favorite. I’ve seen people ask someone else to take their photograph in front of one. Susan makes art that connects us to each other. That was what she was most interested in—the way that we share time and space and connection with each other. 

We have selected moments from Finding Your Center, a self-help audio tour originally produced next door at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and features Susan O’Malley, music by Tiffany Lin, and contributions from Christina Amini and Leah Rosenberg. 

SUSAN O’MALLEY: 

Hello, my name is Susan and I will be your guide. I’m so glad you are here. Being together makes me want to be a better artwork, a better voice, more honest and true. I’m a little nervous because I want this to be just right. I’m sure you do, too. It’s why we come to these places. To see things differently. To get lost, even. Follow the color. Follow my voice. This is for you. 

SFX: Tibetan singing bowl 

I always feel the possibility in the beginning. Is your heart open? Are you ready to say YES? Take a moment to channel the power of the color and your breath. And when I count down from five, together we’ll say, “YES.” 

Five: Red. 

Four: Yellow. 

Three: Hot Pink. 

Two: Turquoise. 

One: Chartreuse. 

YES.  

We are exactly where we need to be.  

These colors are for you. What color calls you? Go there and sink into it. 

Let’s play a game. Imagine the feelings of each person passing by. 

SFX: wind chimes 

Their emotions are colors emanating around them. A rainbow of bodies. A force field of colors. Sky blue. Crimson. Violet. Green. Orange. Silver. Beige. 

We are all in this together. 

Settle into a place that feels even, balanced, just right, and feel the light illuminating you from above. You are a star beam glowing, gleaming. You are a mountain, strong, anchored. If there were a sign on you, it would read: Here is the center.  

Let’s take a moment to relax and go inward, to bring curiosity to yourself and this place. You may stay here as long as it feels right.  

Breathe in deeply and exhale fully. Breathe in deeply and exhale fully. Thank you. 

Do you feel that sparkle in your center? With you here, it’s been more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. 

Note: This audio guide features moments from Finding Your Center, a self-help audio tour produced in collaboration with Montalvo Arts Center for the Bay Area Now 7 exhibit, hosted at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.