Kate and I have had the beach constantly on our minds as we transition into this sweltering August weather. We both fantasize about lying on an obnoxiously bright towel at a picturesque sandy spot with a good book while we work away at our respective desks in our closet size office. So in an attempt to live out our fantasy vacation, we have compiled a list of 5 great beach reads, public art style. Safe for non-beach goers too! Guest post by Now and There staffer Audrey Hsia.
inMotion: Memories of Invented Play
We sat down with Amy Archambault, the BCA’s Summer 2015 Public Art Resident, on the eve of the opening of her first interactive public art work, inMotion: Memories of Invented Play, and chatted about how she’s successfully transitioning from the unconventional artist/builder to public artist.
Play in Public Art Wrap-Up
What comes to mind when you think about public art in Boston? Boston is a city rich in history, but also in imagination. We’re a mecca for start-ups and people who believe anything is possible. We know how to have fun too! Does our art reflect that?
It's starting to. Whimsical public art is reinvigorating the cities public spaces and gaining national attention: from Höweler + Yoon Architecture’s iconic Swing Time at the Lawn on D, to Janet Echelman’s ethereal sculpture on the Greenway, to Figment’s upcoming Giant Typewriter. As part of our mission to help Boston define its public art identity, Now +There joined forces with theBoston Society of Architects and the D Street ArtLAB at the Lawn on D for "Play in Public Art," a conversation with the artists, architects, and citizens who are making public art happen in Boston.
PLAY IN PUBLIC ART, July 9
We're excited to co-sponsor another panel discussion, Play in Public Art, and we're taking the topic very seriously – by holding it outside among a temporary installation of giant rabbits at the Lawn on D!
Please join Now and There with co-sponsors BSA Space and the D Street ArtLab, on July 9, 6–7pm forPlay in Public Art a lively discussion with the artists, architects and citizens who are making public art happen in Boston. We’ll explore the role of play in three current public art topics – spectacle, site, and architecture – in a fast-paced, round robin discussion followed by Q&A.
Valuing art over policy, and action over talk, at the Public Art Network (PAN) pre-conference
Having recently visited Chicago for the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network pre-conference N+T director Kate Gilbert calls on Greater Boston to create bold, temporary projects during the 2016 conference.
It’s understandable how a public art freak from Boston can get cultural envy visiting Chicago. Rich in monumental, plaza-anchoring sculpture and steeped in a history of financial and political backing for the arts, Chicago gives us pause, asks us to look at our challenges, and ultimately calls us to be a bolder, unified Greater Boston.
Valuing the Artist's Vision First
How will artists be part of placemaking and public art in Boston? On May 6, 2015 we hosted the"Where's the Art?" panel at the Boston Center of the Arts to discuss just that. Moderated by our director Kate Gilbert, artists Cedric Douglas, Megan McMillan, Liz Nofziger, and Rob Trumbour spoke about the definitions of public art and what we can do to support more of it in our communities.
The Big Bowl of Sunshine at Lawn on D
In an art town as small as Boston, worlds often collide. Recently N+T’s own Kate Gilbert sat down with fellow SMFA alum Thomas Stevenson to discuss his latest project, “Living Room”, commissioned by theLawn on D at Gilbert’s suggestion. The following is an excerpt of the conversation between artist and curator about how “Living Room” came to be, about fear in public spaces, and about learning to be flexible when you come upon big rocks in your tiny sandbox.
Everyone has a part to play – May 6 panel summary
One of our core values at Now and There is to put artists' visions first. So for Boston's ArtWeek we wanted to host a conversation with artist to talk about the definitions of public art and what we can do to support more of it in our communities.
To explore a wide spectrum of social art practices we pulled together artists Cedric Douglas,Megan McMillan, Liz Nofziger and architect Rob Trumbour of Artforming. The event was held at the Boston Center for the Arts on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 from 5:30–7pm and was co-sponsored by NEFA's Fund For the Arts and the Boston Center for the Arts.
Think spring, summer...and winter.
Spring is here and it's time to start thinking about yes, winter. Following are three calls for temporary art in Greater Boston planned for July through December plus an excellent residency opportunity for those of you interested in deepening your public practice work. What are you waiting for? Get busy planning!
Know your past to chart your future: three successful projects in Boston’s history
As we at Now and There prepare for our first project, we’ve been looking back over some of the more successful temporary public art projects in Boston’s history. After all, you need to know your history before you can chart a new course. For this guest blog post we asked Sarah Hutt, former Director of Director of Public Art in the Office of Cultural Affairs under Mayor Tomas Menino, to choose her top three favorite projects. In the essay below Hutt focuses on the years 2001–2002 around the time of the Office’s Boston Cultural Agenda Fund that funded over 100 projects in Boston.