‘Retirement is death to me’

WORK IS A CONSTANT: Umberto "Bert" Crenca, founder of AS220, is seen in his Providence studio working on pieces of art. The founder of the art organization now serves as its ambassador of sorts. He says he has no intention of retiring because "the line between work and being an artist was intended to be blurred" when he chose his career path. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
WORK IS A CONSTANT: Umberto "Bert" Crenca, founder of AS220, is seen in his Providence studio working on pieces of art. The founder of the art organization now serves as its ambassador of sorts. He says he has no intention of retiring because "the line between work and being an artist was intended to be blurred" when he chose his career path. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Last fall, Crenca switched from his longtime role as artistic director to “plenipotentiary,” an archaic term that equates roughly to “ambassador.” The paid, full-time position is allied with Practice, Practice, a consultancy intended to spark community development that he started at the end of 2014. He also advises the two women serving as co-artistic directors of AS220 “24/7,” he said.

He remains a practicing artist and musician as well, having invented the “flaranute,” a hybrid clarinet and flute.

“I don’t believe in retirement because, 32 years ago, when I decided to commit myself to the life of an artist, the whole idea was [that] the line between work and being an artist was intended to be blurred. I didn’t want to live a bifurcated life, working a straight job and coming home to do work at night. I consider AS220 a work of art. What would I be retiring from? Life? Retirement is death to me.”

In his industry, one is lucky to even reach retirement, since there’s a lot of turnover and the jobs don’t pay that well. Yet AS220 has been more of “a social movement” that promotes art and culture than a job, he said, and it attracts people committed to it.

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“You don’t give up on that,” he said.

At the same time, he is “letting go” of some responsibilities at AS220 so the younger generation, which is “smarter and on fire,” can take over. Crenca laments today’s throwaway culture, which tends to dismiss people as they age.

“We live in a culture I believe where older people are tolerated, not revered,” he said.

Eyeing Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as a “vital” contender despite his age, Crenca said experience is an important credential.

“When you’re talking about leadership, these are very complex [organizational] systems, and just understanding them is challenging, even when you’re working in them. And in the sense of making change and getting things done, it’s enormously challenging,” he said. “Experience is an important requirement. That doesn’t mean there aren’t young people who aren’t remarkable.” •

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