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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2005 Contact: Lillian Hsu 617-349-4389
lhsu@cambridgema.gov
The CAC Gallery presents:
Public Art/Moving Site
A series of traveling public art projects
January 9 May 26, 2006
Public Art/Moving Site is an innovative traveling public art project that stretches the concept of site. Artists DeWitt Godfrey, Michael Oatman, and Spurse are creating installations and companion exhibitions presented as a public art series in three New England communities: Cambridge, MA; New Haven, CT; and Bellows Falls, VT.
Whereas site-responsiveness or site-specificity in the context of public art usually refers to a fixed public space, Public Art/Moving Site assumes the language of public art to be malleable, defining site as simultaneously stationary and moving. Godfrey, Oatman, and Spurse have been asked to respond to the unique characteristics, as well as the common attributes, of three New England towns. Each community will be given sequence of three six-week presentations from winter through the spring of 2006. Each artwork will retain its integrity while responding to, expressing, and
accumulating the experience of three sites.
Public Art/Moving Site aims to expand awareness of public space by revealing layers of the City that are normally obscured by the habitual activity of urban life. This public art series offers opportunities to address the relationship between art and site, and to consider public art in its ability to make geographic and cultural connections through a variety of forms and activities.
DeWitt Godfrey will install "Pamplona"a monumental sculpture of flexible steel forms at Cafι Pamplona in Harvard Square, pressed between a two buildings. His artwork will exert a presence to be discovered, sought and explored. This system of steel cylinders, measuring two to nine feet in diameter, is made expressive by its interaction with gravity, load, weather, urban activity, and architectural context.
Michael Oatman will investigate collections of local model makers in a project entitled "Model Citizens: 42° 22 12.11 N, 71° 06 11.45 W" After seeking out and studying local makers of dollhouses, model railroads, dioramas, and scale models, Oatman will re-present their work in an exhibition about curiosity of the world in miniature. Oatman will also present a video of his project at the end of the three-state tour.
Spurse Artist Collaborative will explore the culture, practices, and role of food within a community. They will create a Provisional Restaurant, where food becomes the site and a spontaneous and flexible community springs up based on sharing the experience of eating. The project will include developing a distinctive cultural cuisine, gleaning free foods and equipment, a day-long multi-course dinner performance, and making connections to related groups such as food societies, soup kitchens, farmers, or homeless persons.
Public Art/Moving Site will include a gallery exhibition created by each artist at the CAC Gallery, as well as related events free and open to the public.
Cambridge Schedule:
January 9th February 17th - DeWitt Godfrey
installation and photo opportunity Jan 4-7th
February 27th April 7th - Michael Oatman
installation and photo opportunity Feb 23-24th
April 17th May 26th - Spurse
installation and photo opportunity April 9-17th
New Haven Schedule:
January 21st February 17th - Spurse
March 1st April 7th - DeWitt Godfrey
April 17th May 26th - Michael Oatman
Bellows Falls Schedule:
February 27th April 7th - Spurse
April 17th May 26th - DeWitt Godfrey
June 8th July 21st - Michael Oatman
For more information contact:
Cambridge Arts Council in Cambridge, MA (617) 349-4389 www.cambridgeartscouncil.org
Rockingham Arts Museum Project in Bellows Falls,VT (802) 463-3252 www.ramp-vt.org
Artspace in New Haven, CT (203) 772-2709 www.artspacenh.org
Public Art/Moving Site is made possible by support from the City of Cambridge, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the LEF Foundation, the Greater New Haven Arts Council, the Vermont Arts Council, and by the Expeditions Program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, which receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from the State Arts Agencies of New England and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Cambridge Arts Council does not discriminate on the basis of disability. The CAC will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternate formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to persons with disabilities upon request.
The CAC Gallery is located in the Cambridge City Hall Annex
at 344 Broadway, at the corner of Broadway and Inman Street.
Metered parking is available on Inman Street and Broadway.
Directions via MBTA: Take the MBTA Red Line to Central Square.
At street level proceed west on Massachusetts Avenue (towards Harvard Square) to Inman Street. Turn right and proceed north for four blocks to Broadway.
CAC Gallery hours:
M, W, Th: 8:30 a.m. 8:00 p.m.
T: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
F: 8:30 a.m. - noon
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