Bring Art to Our Beds
As a part of the Arts Gowanus ArtWalk on Atlantic Ave, we want to install a vibrant public art installation around the tree beds along the 1.5 mile stretch from 4th Avenue to the Waterfront.
Leader
Anuja Butala
Location
Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217
About the project
The Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District (AABID) and the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC), in conjunction with Arts Gowanus, are collaborating to produce an exciting socially distanced art exhibition along 1.5 miles of Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avenue to the waterfront. Scheduled to open the weekend of Oct 17th and 18th and run through Nov 1st, the Arts Gowanus ArtWalk on Atlantic Ave features more than 75 emerging artists in vacant retail spaces.
Neighborhood Reflections - Public Art Campaign
As part of this project, we are working with Imagination Collective to raise funds for a community-sourced public art installation that will tie together the exhibition along the distinct and, at times, diverse stretches of Atlantic Avenue while adding community voice and vibrancy to the event.
Funding received from the campaign will enable us to print and install vibrant eco-friendly graphic banners around the tree beds along the Avenue, which will showcase personal reflections from local artists and community members on issues of importance to them as well as the current state of affairs.
The Steps
We expect to execute the project in the following stages:
- Through Oct 9 - solicitation of community submissions,
- Oct 10 - ordering of eco-friendly banner materials,
- Starting Oct 14 - installation of the banners around the tree beds
- Oct 17- Nov 1 - Neighborhood Reflections installation on view as part of the ArtWalk
- Late Nov/Dec - recycling of the tree bed banners
Why we‘re doing it
Every fall, Arts Gowanus has historically produced its Open Studios event, drawing 10,000 visitors. The AALDC has presented the Atlantic Antic, the largest open-air street fair in NYC, with an attendance of close to 1 million. The cancelation of these two premier neighborhood events will significantly impact our local business and artist communities, which have already been devastated by the COVID-19 lockdown.
The ArtWalk will bring thousands of visitors to experience a socially distanced, self-guided art exhibit in vacant retail windows, public spaces, and outdoor dining areas. We are organizing this event to support our small businesses, showcase our emerging artists, and bring our community together.
Why Public Art?
This year has been challenging for everyone. The Neighborhood Reflections project is an opportunity for community members to express their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in a communal, environmentally friendly way. During a time in which access to culture is limited, this project offers a safe way to engage in a public dialogue while creating a shared sense of community.