Five of our clients over the past decade followed our advice, and look what happened.
We are pleased to report that five public art projects inspired by plans and research that we undertook for our clients were honored by this year’s Public Art Network Year in Review.
This is one of the most prestigious honors a public art project can receive— only thirty projects overall were acknowledged this year.
First up, Psychylustro, a series of seven bold color installations along the landscape of the Northeast Corridor rail line in Philadelphia. In 2008, we did a study identifying key gateway projects for the Mural Arts Program, and how those projects might be developed. The Northeast Corridor rail line was one of them. The project came together when Mural Arts project manager Judy Hellman, working with artist Katharina Grosse to find a location for a project, showed her this site. Elizabeth Thomas was the curator.
Second, Christian Moeller’s Quill, on the façade of an electrical substation in Arlington, Va. This area was called out as a location for a key project in the Arlington Public Art Master Plan, dating back to 2004. The project was commissioned by Monday Properties when it decided to develop the property next to the site, in fulfillment of Arlington County’s public art requirements. The project was managed by Via Partnership’s Meridith McKinley, a frequent collaborator.
Third, Create, The Community Meal. Seitu Jones was the lead artist. The project was produced by Public Art St. Paul and managed by Ashley Hansen. Seitu’s project grew out of work on the Central Corridor Public Art Master Plan, which had been completed a year and a half before. The planning team involved Cliff Garten, Rebar Group and myself.
Fourth, the Reconciliation Project, organized by the Vancouver Public Art Program, examined the legacy of residential schools for First Nations peoples, and paths to reconciliation and healing. Ten artists were selected to create temporary projects, based on submissions from an open call. The city’s public program began launching exhibitions of artist-initiated projects like this based on a key recommendation in our 2009 review of the public art program; this is the third exhibition so far. Collaborators on that plan were Meridith McKinley and Valerie Otani.
Fifth, U.S.A.I.R.A.N, by Sanaz Mazinani, was part of the second 5×5 biennalle in Washington, D.C. Our master plan for the DC Creates! public art program, created with Via Partnership in 2009, recommended that the program start a curated, temporary, public art exhibition — an idea generated one day in a roundtable with local curators. We were subsequently asked by DC Creates! to develop a project plan for the exhibition, and we developed the initial blueprint for 5×5.
These projects highlight several important lessons. First, the importance of having a team of artists, planners, curators, project managers and producers to catalyze and support ambitious projects. Great projects transcend any one person’s vision. Second, the importance of time — ten years passed between the completion of Arlington’s plan and Moeller’s project; six years between initial studies and planning and the installation of Psychylustro. Third, it’s important to have good public art program infrastructure in place in order to generate good work. Vancouver has successfully used the artist-initiated project model several times since it was recommended in our program review, first with commissions made to reflect on the city at the time of the 2010 Winter Olympiad. In these days of “Lighter Quicker Cheaper,” it’s refreshing to see that artists, arts organizations and funders are still willing to take risks on projects like these.
As planners, we can’t claim much credit for these projects. That’s due to the visionary artists, hardworking curators, project managers and producers, and the risk-taking organizations and funders. But we’re glad to have played a role in inspiring work that has received such recognition.
Congratulations to my colleagues, and to all those recognized in this year’s Year in Review.