To effectively practice the many elements that define social practice, an artist needs skills and an understanding of the specificities of the site where one is working.
Woven into the fabric of this course is the notion that whether ephemeral, permanent, performative, or purely conceptual, many aspects of the site must be considered. These are the history, memory, social, psychological and demographics of a place.
At the same time, there are physical and aesthetic aspects of making an artwork which are essential to creating a resonance of place. Scale, materials, and form all are aspects of making art in the public which this program regards with equal importance.
Participants will have the option of creating a temporary installation in the streets of New York with the director of AIOP (Art in Odd Places) during their two-week residency.
Field trips to public art sites within NYC as well as visits to potential project sites will also be integrated into the course.
Prominent figures working in public art will discuss their practice and offer critiques of participants’ work. In addition, residents will attend workshops that are specifically designed for them to learn the tools essential to working in the field of public art. This program is an innovative model for interdisciplinary approaches to public art, covering topics such as reading from the plan, grant proposal writing, contracts and funding for self-initiated projects. Participants will be encouraged to develop thoughtful, cohesive plans for the site which reflect key aspects of their chosen space.
During the two-week residency, participants will have the option of joining a one-day field trip to Washington DC to visit the General Services Administration (GSA) offices. These offices make up the country’s largest commissioning agency. The Director of the GSA Fine Arts program of the Washington DC Bureau will explain how the program operates and give a tour of permanent projects in the DC area.
The two week course will be jam-packed and offer an intimate look into the many facets of public art currently engaging artists all over the world.
The Public Art Residency program will run for two weeks and will meet five days a week for approximately six hours a day. This course is recommended for professional artists and students.
This Summer’s 2013 Guest Lecturers include:
- Creative Time
- Time Square Alliance
- MTA Arts and Transit
- Department of Transportation Urban Initiatives Program
- No Longer Empty
- General Services Administration
- And More!
