Calls for Entries

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED–BUT PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE UPCOMING SHOW!!

 

Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space

Plans for the renovated J.J. Byrne Playground/Washington Park surrounding Brooklyn's Old Stone House

EXHIBIT DATES: APRIL 5-JUNE 24, 2012

DOWNLOAD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PDF

LOCATION: OLD STONE HOUSE GALLERY, 4th avenue between 3rd and 4th street, Park Slope
And SURROUNDING WASHINGTON PARK/J.J. BYRNE PLAYGROUND

 Katherine Gressel, curator

FUNDING UPDATE!!!
Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts DevelopmentFund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC).

SUMMARY

Utopia: An ideal place or state.

Imagine a “Brooklyn Utopia.”

Brooklyn Utopias is an ongoing exhibit and event series, founded in 2009, in which artists, youth, activists, architects, designers and urban theorists consider differing visions of an ideal city through the “concrete” example of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space at the Old Stone House (OSH) invites artists to consider the history, politics, and planning surrounding public parks and recreation spaces. Participating artists will critically respond to past and present notions of “utopian” park design and use; and/or propose their own visions for ideal public spaces.  This exhibit will correspond with re-opening ceremonies for the newly renovated Washington Park/J.J. Byrne Playground neighborhood hub surrounding OSH (more detail below).

Parks, playgrounds, and other public gathering spaces were historically designed as solutions to a range of urban problems from eliminating neighborhood blight to promoting health and wellness. Brooklyn, and New York City as a whole, are home to some of the grandest endeavors in urban landscaping: from Olmsted and Vaux’s Central Park and Prospect Park, to Robert Moses’ numerous playgrounds and pools, to the new Brooklyn Bridge Park and High Line.  In a recent New York Times article, urban planning professor Christopher B. Leinberger mentions “a profound structural shift” in America during the last decade; instead of fleeing cities for car-centric suburbs as in the 1950s, people now favor “a walkable urban downtown” characterized by pedestrian plazas and pocket parks—leading to the development of such mixed-use public spaces as Times Square. How successful are these existing public spaces and what additional innovations are possible? How can the city’s history of park development inform its future?

These parks’ and streetscapes’ ongoing development also prompts questions of access as well as process—to what extent do local community members participate in decision making, and how? Are these spaces equitably distributed and maintained throughout the city’s diverse neighborhoods? How much have forces like eminent domain and gentrification been part of the equation? The recent “Occupy” protests have also questioned the use (or mis-use) of public spaces as well as privately-owned public spaces.

The artworks in Brooklyn Utopias: Park Space, Play Space will include both demonstration projects by artists who incorporate landscape design into their work; artists’ critical responses to existing public space developments; and artists’ visions for future “Park Spaces” or “Play Spaces” in Brooklyn.  While the exhibit will consider Brooklyn as a case study, artists are also welcome to explore models in other boroughs and other cities.

Artists are encouraged to submit proposals for new projects, or existing work that relates the theme. Projects in all media are welcome (see exhibition specifications below). In addition to work for the exhibit, Artists may propose temporary outdoor projects for Washington Park, or public performances, events, and talks to be held throughout the duration of the show’s run. The park’s re-opening ceremonies promise to attract approximately 10,000 visitors, as well as city officials and press, and the Brooklyn Utopias exhibit will be prominently featured in all related events.

ABOUT THE OLD STONE HOUSE AND WASHINGTON PARK

The Old Stone House is a reconstructed Dutch colonial farmhouse/historic museum located at 5^th Avenue between 3^rd-4^th street, in Park Slope’s Washington Park/J.J.  Byrne Playground. The playground and house restoration were first developed by Robert Moses in the 1930s, but the land surrounding the house made history long before then as the site of the 1776 Revolutionary War Battle of Brooklyn, and as a 19^th Century Brooklyn Dodgers practice field. Artists are highly encouraged to visit the Old Stone House or its website, www.theoldstonehouse.org, read about OSH’s history, the park’s history and redesign, and Brooklyn’s history and consider this as a site carefully when submitting a proposal. Plans for the new park can be downloaded at: http://parkslope.patch.com/articles/finally-renovations-underway-at-jj-byrne-park. You are welcome to contact Kim Maier, OSH Executive Director, directly at info@theoldstonehouse.org to make an appointment to visit the house or discuss specific installation needs.

Please also consider the “exhibit specifications” below:

EXHIBIT SPECIFICATIONS

-       Works will primarily be on display in OSH’s 2^nd Floor Great Room gallery, though there may be potential for site-specific work in the park outside, gardens, stairwell, or lobby. Please visit www.brooklynutopias.com and click on sample artworks/OSH exhibition images to see past exhibitions.  

-       Most work shown in the OSH Great Room must be hung from ceiling hooks—the wall cannot support nails. It is possible to hang small monitors or projectors for video installations. With some exceptions, artists are responsible for obtaining their own AV equipment.

-       The Great Room is a multi-purpose space that will also be used for a variety of public and private events during the show’s run—therefore, work must be securely hung on walls or otherwise fastened to a permanent surface in the room. There is little space for 3-dimensional work indoors, though small three-dimensional installations are sometimes possible, i.e. on window sills, the stairway landing, or other furniture.

-       Outdoor work will be exhibited within 100 feet of the Old Stone House, and must be in keeping with Parks Department specifications for public art. Such projects should be discussed in advance with OSH Executive Director Kim Maier. Please note outdoor projects are vulnerable to both harsh weather conditions, and theft or vandalism as the park cannot provide 24-hour security. Dates of the park reopening and other outdoor events are still TBD.

-       Artists will be primarily responsible for transporting their work, and any artists with work other than 2-dimensional, framed hanging work are responsible for their own installation/de-installation.

-       We hope to provide small honoraria to each participating artist who submits a budget request, to help offset project expenses. This is pending successful fundraising, however.

TIMELINE

• Final proposals due by 11:59pm EST Monday, January 30, 2012.
• Artists will be notified of their selection the week of February 13, 2012
• Installation dates:  Sunday-Tuesday, April 1-3, 2012
• Exhibition opening reception: Thursday, April 5, 2012
• All work must be completed and delivered by Sunday, April 1 (delivery and install dates subject to slight change).
• Park opening ceremonies and other special events TBD, most likely in May 2012

SUMBISSION REQUIREMENTS

** Artists are welcome to email the curator at katherinegressel@gmail.com to discuss initial ideas, or OSH Executive Director Kim Maier at info@theoldstonehouse.org to make an appointment to visit OSH. **

Submit the following to katherinegressel@gmail.com via email. Please title the email subject line with “Brooklyn Utopias Submission”

1. Artist Resume (as a word or pdf file) Please make sure your resume includes the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Phone
• Email
• Website or link to information about your work (if available)

2.  1-2 page proposal  (as a word or pdf file). Please include the following:

• Project description (250 words max.). Please describe how your project will address the exhibition theme of urban parks/public space. Note: you are welcome to propose either a project to be installed for the duration of the exhibition, or a temporary installation, performance or panel discussion.
• Installation plan/logistics (250 words max): Please describe any special needs for installing and presenting your work, as well as size, materials, etc. If you are proposing a temporary project or event, please list the dates/times between April 5-June 23 that would interest you.
• Artist Statement/bio (250 words max)
• OPTIONAL: Approximate budget, if you will be seeking funding—please summarize your main financial needs for carrying out your proposed project. The budget need not be detailed at this stage, but should contain an estimate of main expenses. May be within your proposal document, or as a separate excel spreadsheet. Please note that funding to cover project expenses is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful fundraising. 

3. 4-8 images that relate to your proposed project: at least 2 samples of past work. You may also submit proposal sketches. Images should be submitted as JPEGs, approx. 600 X 800px, resolution 72 dpi, and with file names that correspond to viewing order and your image script (ex: Lastname_Firstname_01).

4.  A corresponding image script (as a word or pdf file) labeling each image with image number, title, dimensions, medium, year and any relevant information.

SELECTION PROCESS
Top proposals will go before a selection committee including curator Katherine Gressel, OSH’s Executive Director, plus guest artists, curators, and/or community members. Proposals will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Artistic merit of proposal and work samples
• Relevance of proposed project to “Park Space, Play Space” theme and Brooklyn/NYC communities
• Feasibility of installation in Old Stone House space, and with available funding
• Emerging artists, artist teams, performance artists, architects, designers, and community-based organizations are encouraged to apply. We are looking for a broad representation of Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods and cultural groups.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

 

QUESTIONS?

Contact Katherine Gressel at katherinegressel@gmail.com.