Art History Project

Each of you will be designing your own monument or work of public art for installation in a specific location in NYC or re-designing an existing monument that already exists in NYC to make it more impactful. You will begin with an issue or idea that you think should be addressed or commemorated and select the best place for the location of this work of public art or monument. Or, you will select an existing monument that you feel could be improved. Your design will grow from there.
The form of your project will be a one to two-page written project statement with your explanation written as though you were applying for a competition to build a work of public art or a monument in the city. Who is the work made to commemorate and how does it accomplish this? Explain the necessity for this project. Explain the relevance of the location. What are viewers and passers-by meant to learn, acknowledge or feel and how will the work help them reflect on this issue or respond to this idea?
If you would like to envision your project’s work of public art or monument to be done in collaboration with a specific group, such as students or a specific population in the city, this should be explained and specified in the brief.
Budget constraints should be considered with materials selected that are durable and feasible for installation in an urban location, but you have no set budget. Safety concerns should also be considered. Do not design anything that could not be built and/or maintained by the city or that would pose a safety risk. If your project is meant to be ephemeral or temporary in its location or purpose, safety and materials will still need to be considered, but the work of art or monument does not need to be conceived of as for permanent installation. In your project brief, you should have a theoretical justification for why a temporary or ephemeral work is the best approach to your issue or idea and you should explain when, where and how it will be unveiled and for how long it will last.
BA students are encouraged to submit the image portion, but are not required to submit an image.
Before you submit yours, you should cross-reference your project’s plans with the checklist for public art that we developed as a class this semester (final revised checklist will be uploaded this week). Have you considered each of the criteria we determined was useful or necessary for successful projects? You should be ready to explain in writing or verbally how your project takes into consideration each area in the checklist, as though your project was selected to advance in an actual public art competition and you were being interviewed.

CHECKLIST:

CHECKLIST FOR WORKS OF PUBLIC ART
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS:
Who or how do you judge the artistic merits of the work? Should there be panel of community stakeholders along with city or corporate donors? Should there be a public review period?
Is it being funded privately or publicly?
How can/should artist contribute?
What impression outside visitors can have about the community where the art is located, by looking at the art?

LOCATION for the proposed WORK OF PUBLIC ART:
Will the work be permanently installed? Or is it temporary/performance based? (requiring different criteria for each)
If permanent: What is the projected maintenance cost? Who will pay for its upkeep?
How will climate and people potentially impact the longevity/appearance of the work?
If performance/temporary: how does the choice of location enhance the work or necessitate the work? Is the location an integral part?
Has a historical investigation into the previous use of this space and the demographics of the surrounding neighborhood been conducted?
Have community stakeholders been involved/informed about the work?
Does it contribute to an inclusive educational environment?
Does it create a health and safety hazard?
Is awareness of the issue/artwork necessary in advance of the work’s installation? If so, how can the public be informed?

DESIGN/APPEARANCE of the WORK OF PUBLIC ART:
Does it exemplify a strong concept?
Does it employ skillful use of materials?
What is the relationship between its form and visitors/viewers?
Does it enhance the space it occupies?
Does it inform?
Does it inspire?
Style: Is it historically accurate? Is it figurative or abstract? Is there symbolism – how does it function? Is it universal or specific to one group?
How does art interact? Artist Nick Cave is helping NYC in pandemic need by wearing his art and performing in the subway. He is living and breathing art in a way, interacting with the community as they commute. 9/21 CT