A square mirror selfie with a pink border and large yellow text reading 'For Visits' overlaid across the center. A person wearing sunglasses takes the photo while holding a green phone, and a small black-and-white dog in a striped sweater sits beside them.

Fort Visits

For our next Fort Visit we speak with Margot DeMarco to get a sneak peak on her practice and work!

“Margot is the kind of human that New York City loves and celebrates. She is paying attention, looking and listening to both the sum and the parts, taking delight in the unintentional comedy and beauty all around us and recycling it back to us with objet de' art. We are all Bella Garbaggio, and NY loves you, Margot!” - Noah Spencer

QHow do you prepare yourself, ready yourself, to make art?

AFor me it’s always different. How my day lookds depends on a lot of different factors. What mood am I in? What stage of the project amd I at? What do I have for lunch today? Do I have any errands to distract myself with? What vibrations are the universe putting out today? What's the weather like? Is it windy? How much coffee have I had? Do I have to go to the bathroom?

Generally I would say that my process almost always starts by walking around and thinking. I think the propulsive nature of walking moves me forward through a swirl of thoughts and gets me moving.

A surreal collage on a solid green background featuring a white toilet, a white coffee cup and saucer, a brown paper shopping bag filled with groceries, and a window with diamond-patterned blue glass.
Two inset photos showing unfinished wooden carved objects, likely decorative shells or bowls, arranged on a workbench in a workshop. A large green and pink 'Bella Garbaggio' logo appears over the top photo.

QCan you tell us about Bella Garbaggio?

ABella Garbaggio is my new storefront brand! You will be seeing it out in the world more in the next year as I expand and experiment with different installations, sculptures, and collections. Some of it will be small-scale objects, some buyer-facing and some just to experience. One of the first pieces I created was a life-size trash can out of wood that has been exhibited and photographed and used and handled and painted on.

A collage-style promotional graphic with four rounded-corner photos arranged around a central yellow oval reading 'FOR VISITS.' The top-left photo shows small colorful textured cards or sheets on a table.

QIs there an artwork you made that you are most proud of?

AHard to say, but I think it would be my two short films Lonely Planet parts 1 & 2. They are dialogues between two puppet-sculpture-objects. The idea is that the films are set in a distant future where humans are long gone, with only our trash and detritus remaining. That trash and plastic has survived for thousands of years and has now glommed together and evolved into conscious organisms. Those organisms have further evolved to the point where they have existential malaise and ennui. I love these pieces because they combine a lot of my loves into one package; sculpture, puppetry, dialogue, eco-mindedness, a focus on disposability, as well as deep introspection.

A collage of two panels showing unusual outdoor scenes with overlaid text. The top panel shows a red plastic crate filled with carved wooden animal figures among driftwood and branches.
A collage of four product photos with a central yellow oval reading 'For Visits' on a mint green background. The products shown include a pair of distressed blue jeans with a pocket tool holder, a wooden and teal wall clock, a wooden target board, and a digital alarm clock mounted on a white brick wall.

QAre there any current projects and collaborations you can tell us about?

AYes I just finished up a very fun project, building a set for an upcoming cooking show. It's going to be called Fungus Amongus, and it's set on a space ship! The show features a cast of 'produce pals' who will serve as the peanut gallery for my friend and cook Erin Barnhart. It was a crazy project, completely made out of cardboard, paper maiche, hot glue, and scrap wood.

A colorful children's play kitchen scene with a bright orange textured kitchen wall, yellow curtains, a round window, and various sculpted vegetables and fruits with cartoon eyes, including a papaya, broccoli, cactus, eggplant, and pumpkin.
A row of classic urban row houses with red and white brick facades, black fire escapes, front steps, and greenery along the sidewalk and tree canopy.

QWhat place in NYC brings you back to your first memories and experience here?

AGotta be the streets themselves! I’ve lived in New York for over a decade and for me the through line has always been just walking and looking and thinking and noticing funny and cool details that make New York so funny and cool.

QIs there any music that fits into your work routine these days?

AYes! I am always making playlists. Sometimes they’re made for a show, a specific artwork, or just a mood I’m in. These days I’ve been listening to Kacey Musgraves, okay kaya, Chappell Roan, Wet Leg, and a lot of early 2000s songs that share that same certain sentimentality so I can feel a little younger while I work.

A close-up of a Sony Cassettes Compact Cassette tape, showing the red, white, and black plastic casing with the brand name 'SONY' and 'LOW-NOISE' printed on the label.
  • A square mirror selfie with a pink border and large yellow text reading 'For Visits' overlaid across the center. A person wearing sunglasses takes the photo while holding a green phone, and a small black-and-white dog in a striped sweater sits beside them.
  • A surreal collage on a solid green background featuring a white toilet, a white coffee cup and saucer, a brown paper shopping bag filled with groceries, and a window with diamond-patterned blue glass.
  • Two inset photos showing unfinished wooden carved objects, likely decorative shells or bowls, arranged on a workbench in a workshop. A large green and pink 'Bella Garbaggio' logo appears over the top photo.
  • A collage-style promotional graphic with four rounded-corner photos arranged around a central yellow oval reading 'FOR VISITS.' The top-left photo shows small colorful textured cards or sheets on a table.
  • A collage of two panels showing unusual outdoor scenes with overlaid text. The top panel shows a red plastic crate filled with carved wooden animal figures among driftwood and branches.
  • A collage of four product photos with a central yellow oval reading 'For Visits' on a mint green background. The products shown include a pair of distressed blue jeans with a pocket tool holder, a wooden and teal wall clock, a wooden target board, and a digital alarm clock mounted on a white brick wall.
  • A colorful children's play kitchen scene with a bright orange textured kitchen wall, yellow curtains, a round window, and various sculpted vegetables and fruits with cartoon eyes, including a papaya, broccoli, cactus, eggplant, and pumpkin.
  • A row of classic urban row houses with red and white brick facades, black fire escapes, front steps, and greenery along the sidewalk and tree canopy.
  • A close-up of a Sony Cassettes Compact Cassette tape, showing the red, white, and black plastic casing with the brand name 'SONY' and 'LOW-NOISE' printed on the label.

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