Fragile Land Opening - public art

One of the Joan Mitchell - funded public art pieces is up, Michel Varisco's Fragile Land. Michel's work after the storm explored the changed landscape in the region and specifically in New Orleans's City Park, where hundreds of trees fell to Katrina.

beware the "proliferation of 21st century art" !

For those of you who don't know, the Vieux Carre Commission is like a neighborhood association for the French Quarter. Yesterday's Times-Picayune reported about the commission's meeting with artists G.A.S. and Dawn Dedeaux on the front page. The artists are hoping to place their works in the French Quarter; Matt Vis and Tony Campbell's proposal is specific to Bourbon Street, and is about as inconspicuous as public art can be, a series of manhole cover-like pieces to be set into the sidewalk. Dawn Dedeaux's work is a revisioning of the venerable stoop. The Veiux Carre Commission rejected the artists' proposals for their temporary installations, the main reason seeming to be a fear of "a proliferation of 21st-century modernist works that would screw up the square." (There are certainly precedents for contemporary art mixing with history in exciting and successful ways, such as the Venice Biennale...) So, amidst the painters with permits, tarot card readers and the guys who paint themselves silver and stand still, contemporary art has no place? Amidst t-shirt shops and strip clubs on Bourbon Street, a little humor can't be installed in the sidewalk? What is notable, is that this may be the first time contemporary artists have approached the Vieux Carre Commission to do installations in the Quarter. This is artist-initiated, with support from granting agencies, and not solicited by the Commission, and I don't think they've had to deal with such initiatives in the past. Feel free to call in your comments to the commission and support some trailblazers. and thank you to Joan Mitchell Foundation, again.

Open Air Project

One of the Joan Mitchell sculpture projects proposes to fill up all the empty signage frames in New Orleans with artist-created content. You have until August 31st to propose an idea to Catherine Burke. Peruse images of available sign locations at the website or find your own. great idea, thanks Catherine and Joan Mitchell!

Twenty-one $25,000 Commissions Awarded

Big news! Thank you Joan Mitchell for kicking this into gear! This year probably marks the largest influx of public art into New Orleans since the WPA, with the Sculpture for New Orleans project and now this commission. Btw, here's a fascinating look at photos in the N.O. Public Library of the WPA artists at work, their artwork, and art classes for children, 1936-1942. Those were the days -- maybe these are the days? Partial press release below from the Arts Council of New Orleans:

New Orleans, LA-
The Arts Council of New Orleans and the Joan Mitchell Foundation are
pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 New Orleans Art in Public
Places Commissions:

Frank Alessandrini
Barry Bailey
Ryan Ballard
Raine Bedsole
Lou Blackwell
Marcus Brown
Christopher Scott Brumfield
Catherine Burke
"Generic Art Solutions": Tony Campbell and Matt Vis
Eric Dallimore
Dawn DeDeaux
Paul Deo
Rashida Ferdinand
Mitchell Gaudet and Erika Larken
Shannon Landis Hansen
Sally Heller
Alex Podesta
Christopher Saucedo
Cynthia Scott and Damon Rosenzweig
Jim Sohr
Michel Varisco

In collaboration with the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and an independent
jury, the Arts Council selected twenty-one public art projects designed
specifically by local artists for the city of New Orleans. Artists will
receive $25,000 to create artwork to be placed in the public venue and
help with rebuilding their artistic careers.

N.O. Public Art Commissions

Call to Artists: Joan Mitchell Foundation and Arts Council of New Orleans Public Art Commissions

In collaboration with the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the Arts Council of New Orleans will commission and install ten exterior public art pieces throughout the City of New Orleans. The commissions provide the opportunity for local and regional artists to showcase their work parallel to the international exhibits: Sculpture for New Orleans and Prospect One International Biennial. Proposals will be accepted provided the artwork is durable, meets safety regulations, and can be installed for a minimum of two years. Contemporary, innovative proposals are encouraged.
Eligibility: Gulf Coast Painters and Sculptors affected by Katrina/Rita
Ten Commissions: $25,000 each
Application Deadline: April 7, 2008 5pm
Installation: October 2008

Please contact Morgana King for details:
Morgana King, Public Art Manager, Arts Council of New Orleans, (504) 523-1465 mking@artscouncilofneworleans.org

Please repost widely to reach artists displaced by the hurricanes.