Experiencing Interruptions?

I Am Here You Are Not I Love You

I Am Here You Are Not I Love You follows the writer Aidan Ryan as he attempts to make sense of the work and clues left behind by the late visual artists Andrew Topolski and Cindy Suffoletto, his aunt and uncle, who passed away when he was a teenager.

On one level, the short documentary presents a critical reexamination of Topolski, one of the greatest practitioners of postminimalism and a figure that advocates have long positioned for canonical recognition. In repositioning Topolski’s legacy and vast body of work, the film makes compelling findings—relevant for artists in any medium—about the critical role of timing, networking, and institutional as well as interpersonal support in the making and breaking of artistic careers. At the same time, the project uncovers and presents a significant body of work by Suffoletto, an artist little-shown and never cataloged during her life. Ultimately, Ryan argues that the time is right for both to take up a privileged place among the great artists of their generation.

The film accompanies a book of the same name that the the University of Iowa Press will publish in spring 2025.

  • Aidan Matthew Ryan
    Director
  • Aidan Matthew Ryan
    Writer
  • Rachelle Toarmino
    Writer
  • Aidan Matthew Ryan
    Producer
  • Peter Muscato
    Key Cast
  • Don Metz
    Key Cast
  • Eric Siegeltuch
    Key Cast
  • Mark Anthony Dellas
    Cinematography
    The American Buffalo, First We Bombed New Mexico, Unseen Enemy, Gimme Danger
  • Mark Anthony Dellas
    Editing
    The American Buffalo, First We Bombed New Mexico, Unseen Enemy, Gimme Danger
  • Mark Anthony Dellas
    Sound
    The American Buffalo, First We Bombed New Mexico, Unseen Enemy, Gimme Danger
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 30, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Aidan Matthew Ryan

Aidan Ryan is a writer from Buffalo, New York. His debut memoir, I Am Here You Are Not I Love You, is forthcoming from the University of Iowa Press in spring 2025. He is a cofounder and publisher of Foundlings Press, senior editor at Traffic East, founder of Carrowduff Arts consultancy, and Literary Curator at Artpark, where he oversees a residency for poets and writers.

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