For Immediate Release
June 24th, 2011
Project For Empty Space is pleased to announce that Alex Callendar, New York based artist, will be the 2011 Fall Season Artist-iN-Residence at 181 Stanton Street. Ms. Callendar will be installing her large scale interactive work from mid-August through the second week in September. The project will open officially for public interaction on September 13th, 2011, at 6PM.
Using the empty space provided by Project For Empty Space, Callender will construct a dual wall installation that depicts a large-scale migration of some of New York City’s former inhabitants; deer as they travel through a corridor in the Lower East Side in search of habitat.
Callender’s current work focuses around dislocation, and the duality of absence and presence in ecosystems, as our present environmental crisis becomes more persistent and our ability to sustain the need of populations more fragile. Deer populations exist on the periphery of our expansion in this country and their habitation and population are often tethered to the ebb and flow of our development, expansion and industrialization dictating where and how they live and what they adapt to. This same precarity haunts many of the world’s inhabitants. Callender uses deer as agents that offer a narrative about change. Once, they where the occupants of this area, now us, and at point some in the future other entities will presume the main narrative in this given space.
Callender explains “When I started reading about deer as symbol I found that in almost all cultures, both indigenous and modern agricultural societies, deer are described mythologically as transient creatures that can be followed by humans and hunters to where the realm of life meets the world of the dead. The fiction life of these animals enchants me and has become a central thread in my work, allowing me to draw deeper allusion to the events of climate change and environmental frailty. I work with landscape because I find an immediate connection between the abstract quality of developing an illusionistic space from composite marks and surfaces, and the abstract language of nature itself. “
Alex Callender is an artist and educator from Brooklyn, NY, who currently uses Drawing as her primary medium. After attending Mass College of Art for graduate school she returned to New York, and now teaches drawing and painting at Westchester Community College. Alex works with community-based art and activist groups to help run weekend art and bike adventures with kids in Brooklyn.
Here’s a look at some of Alex’s work. And welcome to the PES Family, Alex!
All Images Copryright: Alex Callender
Thanks to all of Project For Empty Space ‘s supporters for making our first Annual Benefit a success!It was truly an amazing evening spent with old friends and new, who came to join us in our efforts. We will post pictures from the Benefit soon!
Project For Empty Space will be holding our first Annual Benefit on June 4th 2011. It will take place at Tribeca Grand, New York from 5-8 PM.
In continuing the vision to evoke the essence of the urban landscape, Project For Empty Space is hosting an evening of presentations by artists whose works are informed by the City of New York.
Informed By The City, Project For Empty Space’s, first Annual Benefit will take place on June 4th 2011 at Tribeca Grand, from 5-8 PM. The benefit will include a screening of David Henry Gerson’s short film, “Ultra Violet for Sixteen Minutes” and a discussion to follow with the filmmaker about how the New York City art scene in the 1960′s has influenced his work. This discussion will be followed by a cocktail reception.
Mistress to Salvador Dali and muse to Andy Warhol, Ultra Violet reveals in this sixteen minute documentary her untold tale of spiritual rebirth and her iconic perspective on fame, art, and religion. Includes rare photographs from her past, and Andy Warhol’s screen-test of Ultra Violet from 1965.
DAVID HENRY GERSON is a New York based actor and filmmaker. He has trained in acting in New York (Method, Meisner Techniques) and in London (BADA Conservatory). David holds a BA from Columbia University where he studied English, Film, Theatre and Visual Arts. In 2007, he directed the US Premiere of Mick Gordon and AC Grayling’s ‘theatre essay’ entitled ‘On Religion’ (AKA ‘Grace’). His short documentary film, “Ultra Violet for Sixteen Minutes” (“Totally Engaging” – Al Maysles), hit festivals across the country in 2010. He is currently completing his next short film, “American Standard.” www.davidhenrygerson.com
Pupil, studio assistant, and muse of Salvador Dali in the fifties, central member of Andy Warhol’s Factory in the sixties, Ultra Violet has emerged today as a prominent and established avant garde artist who has exhibited throughout the world. Playfully and intuitively, she uses time and talent to create works that are infused with energy, light, spirituality, symbolism, profundity, global meaning, and humor.
Ultra Violet’s paintings, 3-D constructions, mixed-media installations, and drawings reveal a visual universe filled with rainbows, angel, blue skies and white clouds, but they also contain material related to the chaos and destruction that challenges our 21st century world. Above all, this artist seeks to fill the viewer’s eye and mind with light. www.ultravioletweb.com
Project For Empty Space is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purpose of Project For Empty Space are made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please visit our Donations page for more details.
Project For Empty Space would like to thank it’s sponsors: Build It Green! NYC, BULLDOG Gin, Gallereo, GrandLife, Junk In My Trunk, and The Art Dossier.
To purchase tickets please visit www.pesfundraiser.eventbrite.com
Dear Friends,
Due to unforeseen circumstances tomorrow’s performance has been POSTPONED. Please continue to check back here, on twitter, and on the facebook page for updates with the rescheduled event.
Best,
Jasmine and Meenakshi
Project For Empty Space is proud to be a part of New Museum’s Festival Of Ideas For The New City, May 4th to 8th 2011. PES will be presenting a performance by CHOKRA on May 7th-8th 2011 at 181 Stanton, NYC. Please find details below.
Venue: Project For Empty Space, 181 Stanton, New York City
DJPARENTALS
PES Open Call for Bogota, Colombia
In keeping with our commitment to forging relationships with communities across the globe through art in vacant spaces Project For Empty Space is proud to be collaborating with curator David Ayala Alfonso and his collective in Bogota, Colombia to launch PES:Bogota, 2011. This collaboration would provide an opportunity for a cross – cultural dialog between the simultaneous projects taking place in New York and Bogota this year. PES:Bogota will see the production of a multi-lingual publication, a live webcast for the purpose of conducting real time panel discussions, real time video feed of the work-in-progress at Bogota to 181 Stanton, workshops and other local programming involving the community and schools around the project site in New York and Bogota. Perspectives, opinions and debates between two distinct cultural, political and geographical groups using the common platform of PES, would lend to shaping and nurturing minds through art outside of institutional and commercial realms.
To apply please click here
Project for Empty Space and {{em_rgencia} Magazine:
Open Call for Papers:
What are the contexts within which Public Art functions today? Would it be considered as a means of collective action and public ownership of spaces as a means to actively discuss social, political and cultural states of contemporary times? Is there an inherent fallacy to this idea considering that specific ownership of public spaces is still in the hands of individuals or the state?
Project For Empty Space will be accepting papers for {{em_rgencia} magazine that deals with some of these questions.
To send in submissions please see details here
Project For Empty Space will present it’s second cycle at 181 Stanton Street in the Fall of 2011. This year curators Jasmine Wahi and Meenakshi Thirukode hope to further the involvement of the community with the project by bringing in an installation artist who will create work based on, and influenced by, the local neighborhood and culture of the Lower East Side.
In 2010, Project For Empty Space at 181 Stanton Street was open only to New York City based artists who had a commentary to make on their city. This year the Project invites artists from around the world to apply in the hopes that PES not only exposes the community to contemporary installation but also sparks a larger dialog about insider and outsider perspectives of neighborhood.
As in past years artists must not only be comfortable with their process being open to the viewers, but also open to inviting suggestions, feedback, questions, and criticism from residents of the Lower East Side. This project is meant to be collaborative in the sense that the installation is informed by both the artist and the environment that influences him or her.
General Instructions for Applications:
- The installation at 181 Stanton,NYC will be temporary. It will stand for a maximum period of 9 months or less depending on various factors that may or may not be in the control of the curators.
- The artist will start work at the space around mid August and work until mid September. the official opening of the installation will be held in the second week of September.
- PES will not be able to cover costs of travel and stay in New York City.
- Only emailed applications are accepted at this time.
- Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
- The curator’s decision is final.
Application Requirements:
Between March 15th – April 15th 2011, PES will be accepting proposals for a public art installation at 181 Stanton St in the Fall of 2011. Photographs of the site have been attached and we encourage you to keep in mind the unique features of the space when working on your proposal. Applications must include the following:
- 2 page (Maximum) written proposal of a public art installation at 181 Stanton. Please ensure that you also include details of the kind of material you would use and how you plan on executing the piece at the space.
- Artist Bio, CV and Statement. If you are an artist collective please send seperate Bios, CVs and Statements.
- 5 to 6 images of your work. Image size should not exceed 1 MB. Please name each image file in this format – lastname_firstname_Image number. Eg: Wahi_Jasmine_1.
- Approximate Budget required for the execution of your proposal.
- Any grants or sponsors that you plan to apply to as a means for part/full funding.
Material should be sent to projectforemptyspace@gmail.com. Please do not contact us with regard to the status of your application. We will not respond to emails, phonecalls or Facebook messages/wall posts requesting such information. We will be in touch with you once the decisions have been made. Any other inquiries can be emailed to projectforemtpyspace@gmail.com.
ABOUT PROJECT FOR EMPTY SPACE
Project For Empty Space is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to bringing Contemporary art to a multitude of communities through the utilization of abandoned and unusual urban spaces. The initiative was launched in September 2010 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side at an abandoned lot on Stanton Street. Since then PES has grown and expanded it’s programming to a diverse array of spaces around the world. The co-founders and curators have made a vested effort to not only present new and exciting art work, but also to foster long-term relationships with local communities through educational programming, events, and workshops for all ages and backgrounds.
Project For Empty Space is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purpose of Project For Empty Space are made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please visit our Donations page for more details.
Images of Space:
Image 1: View of 181 Stanton from Outside.
Image 2: View on the inside facing street
Image 3: View on the inside facing away from street
Project For Empty Space: The New Year
The core nature of Project For Empty Space is about being open to a myriad of possibilities while serving a set of pertinent goals that are very important to art and its relationship to the public. PES started with the need to bring art and communities together by instigating and executing a change in abandoned public spaces. This was done at 181 Stanton, New York in 2010 by providing a platform for local emerging artist, Tehniyet Masood, to envision this change and make it happen. PES is about interacting, exchanging and collaborating with the community in a process that is inclusive. The initiative also functions as an active site for the purpose of art education through schools and local boys and girls clubs.
There are collaborations and programming that are being lined up for this new year, which promises to be critically engaging for the public and the art community. We will be making updates and sending out details soon.
Project For Empty Space is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purpose of Project For Empty Space are made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Please visit our Donations page for more details.
Thank You
PROJECT FOR EMPTY SPACE at 181 STANTON STREET
TURNING A PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION IN TO A PUBLIC COMMUNITY SPACE
Curators Jasmine Wahi and Meenakshi Thirukode have had a long standing love affair with both New York and Art, and Project For Empty Space at 181 Stanton Street was a way to contribute something to this amazing city. Installation Artist Tehniyet Masood shared the curators passion for the city, and built the stunning interactive homage to the Lower East Side under full scrutiny of her local audience
Project For Empty Space at 181 Stanton Street is not-for-profit community art project which exposes the processes of Contemporary creation through public art. The purpose of this project was not only to create something wonderful, but to create something meaningful for all people to experience and enjoy. The sole reason for creating this project was to give back to the Community of the Lower East Side and foster an interest in contemporary art.
This project, which was manufactured in a formerly abandoned lot, was originally supposed to take place from September 1st to September 30th, 2010, but a huge positive response from the local community has inspired the curators to extend the project further in the hopes of one day making it a permanent space that is curated, owned, and enjoyed by the residents of the Lower East Side.
According to a diverse array of locals from elementary school children to older adults, the presence of public art at 181 Stanton Street has transformed the neighborhood. And it is the understanding of the curators that turning this exhibition into a place for people to create their own art either through gardening, sculpting, painting, speaking, or collaborating in various ways will be a way for people to continue their own personal love affairs with the city.
Meenakshi T. and Jasmine W. hope that you share our passion for Public Art, Education, and Community and will help make 181 Stanton Street a permanent community garden. Without the moral support and enthusiasm of local residents this will not be possible.
For more information about the project, how to contribute, or how to volunteer please email projectforemtpyspace@gmail.com.
Jasmine and I were visited by the Lower East Side Girls Club this past week as part of their ‘MEET THE CURATORS’ program. This was followed by a visit to The Gateway School, New York to talk to an enthusiastic bunch of 12 year olds with special needs.
One thing that we took away from the experience was that kids have the toughest questions and the most interesting perspectives to share! It reminded me of the fact that as we grow older we tend to lose our instinctual connection with fellow human beings, nature and the universe. Theres an honest sense of compassion and enthusiasm in a child’s curiosity and its inspiring. Some of the questions were about the role of a curator and what it takes to be one. We were also asked if we would recommend becoming a curator. Simple and yet things we either don’t think about much or have an over analyzed intellectual perspective. Its great that theres a constant sense of rethinking and reevaluating of what we want this project to be and do for communities, schools and public art in New York City. It reiterates the fact that this kind of continued interaction and dialog is impossible in the context of shows and exhibitions in institutions because of rigid structures, focus on the business side of art and durations for which they are open to the public for view. It just makes our case for curating and making art with an open and broad minded and inclusive approach. The question is not so much about whether it is art or not. Its just about having expressed yourself creatively and seeing that it makes a difference in peoples lives and viewpoints in a positive and constructive way.
At Gateway School, it was interesting to see that the kids, who have been diagnosed with ADHD, have classes in art and curating. We learnt that the curating class is all set to put up an exhibition in their school premises! How cool is that! With the kids who were part of the “artists” class we made art on little squares with the kids and teachers, which would be placed on Tehniyets installation. They also made collages with images of the installation we printed out on contact sheets. There were many interesting conversations on a one on one basis and I know Jasmine and I can’t wait to work with more children in the future.
We are so so thrilled that we have the opportunity to enrich our own vision for this project and the reason we chose this path in life by meeting so many like minded people – from adults to kids! Passion is contagious!:)
Meenakshi
(Images are copyright to Project For Empty Space. They cannot be reproduced without prior consent from the projects curators and/or artist)
