So you want to make public art? Here are some tips on how to begin. Most of our tips are geared for the greater Boston area, but some may be quite useful elsewhere.
There are several genres of public art
(we are going to list only three to keep it simple):
Guerrilla Public Art: which may include poster art, graffiti art, sticker art, impromptu performance art, etc. Usually one just does this work anonymously (so the authorities can't find them and fine them!).
Temporary Public Art: is work in the public domain and work that will only be up on a temporary basis. Usually the work is safe for the public to be around. This could also include outdoor/indoor sculpture, performance, street musicians, etc. (often times a city or place will require one to get the proper permits, if one forgoes this then it could soon become guerrilla art by default!).
Permanent Public Art: is usually commissioned work that is made to last, so to speak and it has passed all the safety fire regulations!! It can be indoor or outdoor works. One usually has their slides worked selected from a public art slide registries or one has answered a call for proposals for this type of work!! If one is interested in this kind of work then they should send their slides to as many public art slide registries as possible.
GENERAL TIPS
1. One should look at the magazine:
Public Art Review (612) 641-1128. It is carried at
most book stores who have a good art magazine section.
2. International Sculpture Center (609) 689-1051 (membership organization that has: health care plan, slide registry, insurance for art work, newsletters etc.)
3. A book to buy that will enable you to see the scope of Public Art is: Mapping The Terrain: New Genre Public Art. edited by Suzanne Lacy, published by Bay Press Seattle Washington © 1995. This book has info on such artists as, Meirle Lauderman Ukels, who, since 1970, has been an unpaid artist-in-residence at the NYC sanitation department (see pages 281-282).
In the Boston area some public art resources:
1. If you are interested in the outdoor temporary public
art, one should call the Reclamation Artists (RA). By working with the RA
group you'll meet some great artists, "learn the ropes" of making
temporary public art, and you will build your portfolio (ie documentation
of your public art!!). RA's membership info contact: Leslie Wilcox (617) 423-6429
2. UrbanArts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art is another organization that specializes in both temporary and permanent public art. They have a slide registry, as well as info on other public art registries. They will also know of other organizations sponsoring this kind of work. (617) 879-7973
3. Cambridge Arts Council and Somerville Arts Council also have public art programs.
Cambridge Arts Council (617) 349-4380
Somerville Arts Council (617) 625-6600 x2985
4. One should keep an eye of for outdoor public art sculpture shows- they usually have a call for proposal.
5. Museums/sites in the area that have great out door
public art:
Year round exhibitions:
DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park (Lincoln, MA)
Arts on the Point-U/Mass Boston Harbor Campus (Dorchester, MA)
Various cities: Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, etc. have some work one can go and see.
Seasonal:
The ICA (Boston, MA)
First Night Boston (617) 542-1399 (also has spoken word & performance)Forest Hills Cementery(617) 524-0128 (also has spoken word)
ArtBeat a project of the Somerville Arts Council
Somerville Windows Project project of the Somerville Arts Council
Parks and Recreation Department of the City Of Boston has a program called
ParkARTS.
