Emergence: Creative Pioneers in Uncharted Territory
opening reception: Saturday May 31st 2008
May 31th-July 26th 2008
Exhibition Hours: 11:00am – 6:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays only
Building 14 / Commander’s House (yellow house at the end of the path)
Governors Island (off the tip of Manhattan)
New York, NY
http://figmentnyc.org/emergence/index.html
"During a nine-week period, the historic "Building 14" (c.1900) on Governors Island in New York Harbor will be transformed from an abandoned outpost into an interactive, three-dimensional living exhibit, featuring contributions from more than 30 artists/art collectives working in a diverse range of media, including sculpture, installation art, aerial kinetic sculpture, photography, sound art, and interactive multimedia. Emergence will be a show characterized by transformation. Using the theme, "Creative Pioneers in Uncharted Territory," exhibitors will use the context, history, and recent steps towards revitalization, or "emergence," of Governors Island as the source of inspiration and departure for the creation of participatory art exploring the human condition. The installation, which places a strong emphasis on audience and artist interaction and civic/community participation, will change over the course of the summer as a result of the interactive elements and the engagement of visiting participants.
The Emergence opening coincides with the grand opening of Governors Island to visitors for the 2008 season, demonstrating an ongoing partnership with the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (www.govisland.com) in their efforts to engage the public in contributing to the island’s rebirth. Emergence will address the past, present, and future of this shared, public amenity, including the history of those who occupied the island and current economic, political, environmental and social concerns. These creative explorations will reveal new inventions, manifestos, and fantasies, which will assist in the ongoing transformation of our understanding of the uncharted theoretical territories of self, place, change and time.
The artists and art collectives who make Emergence possible include the following individuals and groups: Anne Arden McDonald, artcodex, Asha Ganpat, Avant Car Guard (South Africa), Chris Jordan, Christian Nerf/Barend de Wet/Douglas Gimberg (South Africa), Damon Hamm, Dana Salisbury, Erik Fabian, Eugenia Yu, Friendly Falcons & Their Friend the Snake, G-77, Jason Van Anden/Nate Hawks, John Krill (South Africa), John Walter, Michael Alan, Monica Muller (Switzerland), Peripheral Media Projects, Pornj Diamond Cell, Sarah N. Phillips, Saviour Scraps, Tara Parsons, Tim & Martin Dockery, Triangle Project (Denmark, Istanbul), and Urban Homesteading Project. Emergence is curated by Johan Kritzinger, Joyce Manalo, Elke Dehner, and Audrey Boguchwal.
Emergence is a project of FIGMENT 2008, held in partnership with the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC). FIGMENT is a 3-day participatory arts event on Governors Island in New York Harbor on June 27-29 (www.figmentnyc.org). FIGMENT is a project of Action Arts League, and is produced by a coalition of volunteers in partnership with The Pure Project. Emergence is supported by a grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation."
