Avi Katzman is 23 years old and is addicted to sudoku.

MOSSLESS: Your mentor was Elisabeth Biondi. How was your experience with her?
AVI KATZMAN: Honestly I was a little intimidated when walking into Ms. Biondi’s corner office in the New Yorker, but it was a rather pleasant experience. I only met with her once for about 20 minutes.  She was very straightforward about what worked and what didn’t with the photos I showed her. She commented that some of my pictures made her laugh and that it was very hard to make a successful funny image.  That was pretty cool. I don’t think I will have much of a relationship with her following the Mentor Show, but it was a once in a lifetime experience, nonetheless. 

ML: Can you tell me something about your work and how you exhibited it?
AK: I wanted to do something a little less traditional when exhibiting my work in the show. I decided to present the three photographs on a wooden shelf with brackets to get the feeling of finding them in a home. I think the shelf sort of tied all the images together as well.  My work primarily has been about playing and exploring the artist’s process.  Through literally playing with food and objects in natural light I have been exploring how the process of making things can be just as interesting as the final product.  As for the show, I wanted to show some of the more successful images I’ve created along the way.

ML: What has your most memorable moment been at SVA?
AK: Probably my most memorable moment at school was on my birthday in Marcia Lippman’s sophomore critique class.  She is known to be a tough teacher and this day she was particularly harsh.  I showed photographs that at the time I thought were good, but she sort of gave me ‘fresh perspective’ on them.  I took the criticism particularly harsh that day and I went to the bathroom and cried.  I will never forget crying in the bathroom on my birthday.  But I can say I am a much better photographer now because of those critiques.

ML: What are you going to be doing this summer and onwards?
AK: I’m not sure yet, but I know that I want to continue to create, in whatever way that means. I am willing to explore differnt creative opportunities. Right now I’m looking into working on a farm, teaching art to kids, and finding ways to travel and make work.  As long as I find an inspiring living space and working environment and continue to surround myself with creative people I will be happy.  We’ll see what happens…