vra 2013, visual resourcefulness and the public art challenge, lessick

Visual Resourcefulness and the Public Art Challenge

Helen Lessick, ModeratorVRA 31 Providence Rhode Island

April 3, 2013

Digital Public Art Collections Hidden in Plain Sight

Who Makes Art in Public?

• Cities, counties, states, federal government• Regional agencies, airports, transit authorities• Museums, non-profit programs, for-profit

businesses, academic classes and groups• Artists funded by grants, sales, crowd-sourced

or self-funded

Local pearls, national necklace

WRAP

Web Resources for Art in Public

wresources4publicart@gmail.com

Why WRAP? Community

Public artists work across diverse disciplines

Public art has history

Public art is a local issue and a national discussion

Why WRAP? Visibility

Public Art professionals require current, accurate information

Public Art works are siloed

Audiences expect on-site information

Why WRAP? Accuracy

Public Art historians cite web sites

Art critics and bloggers use web resources

Public Art administration is taught with on-line resources and references

Why WRAP? Advocacy

Public Art is challenging

Public art is challenged by others

Advocates need access to success stories and lessons learned

WRAP LA: Pilot project75 Los Angeles basin works funded by artists, non-profits, grants and a church, without a percent for art program Simon Riordan, paid cataloger UCSD Art Library internal review Patricia Walsh, external review

Descriptive Catalog Discussions• Urban Displacement• Participatory Art• Food fight vs banquet• Material exchange

LA murals: Clockwise from top:Cache, Bicycling chicken murals Leo Limon, LA River CatzSelf Help Graphics, non-profit entry

Armory Center for the Arts PasadenaTemporary Banner Projects One Colorado + Armory NW

Left: Daniel Buren, A Colored Square in the Sky Right: Lorraine Cleary-Dale with students installing Watz Ur Sygn?

LA Temporary events, with/out permission Clockwise: Elysian Park Museum of Art, Tumbleweed Snowmen (at entry)Fallen Fruit (at Machine Project)Heidi Duckler, C’opera (at Los Angeles Police Academy)

Land overlays: clockwise: Michael Heizer, Suspended Mass , Bruce Nauman, untitledJoshua Callaghan: Almost Invisible Boxes, Helen Lessick, Soil Sample: Los Angeles

Clockwise from top: Arroyo Arts Collective: For the BirdsPerforming Public Space: Octupy LA JR: Makers of the City

Panelists

Elizabeth Keithline: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Public Art/Grants ProgramRachel Cain: Western States Art Federation, Public Art ArchiveJack Becker: Forecast Public Art + Public Art ReviewAbby Suckle: culturenow.org

Love Match

VRA + Local artEngage your local public artist and collections.We are always looking to partner.