Curating Public Narratives 2018: 2018

1- Part of Cooper Square is open with a small area having public seating. This would be a great space for a interactive sculpture because it is Located so close to the Astor Place Cube. I want to create an interactive space that can inform and raise awareness about climate change.

What are the demographics of the community in which the project will be sited? Who is your audience? Because the project will be in a public space the demographic is quite diverse. There is no target audience, this project is to inform everyone

Are there groups that can become involved in the realization of your project?

Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, and career development services. Our pioneering venture philanthropy approach helps artists working in all creative disciplines realize their visions and build sustainable practices.

Are there organizations that are doing related work?

The art collective Luzinterruptus has a history of tackling political and social issues in Europe. The “Labyrinth of Plastic Waste” is but one example. “We were looking to demonstrate, in a poetic manner, the amount of plastic waste that is consumed daily,” Luzinterruptus explained in a statement. “In addition to focusing attention on the big business of bottling water, which leads to very serious problems in developing countries, whose citizens have watched as their aquifers have been privatized with impunity for the exclusive enrichment of large business owners and ruling classes without scruples.”

For "Your waste of time," Olafur Eliasson displayed pieces of ice that broke off from Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Exhibited in a refrigerated gallery space powered by solar panels, the ice “sculptures” represented 800 years of Earthly existence, putting human’s physical experience in perspective. “The obvious lesson of Mr. Eliasson’s installation, ‘Your waste of time,’ is that global warming is wreaking havoc on nature,” Ken Johnson wrote in The New York Times last year.

What is the civic process that a project like this requires? What about permits? What about governmental agencies?

New York City Parks Department Special Events Permit

What about social media? What about documentation of the project?
Social Media is essential to the project to spread awareness and attract a large audience.

2- A public space where people can go to meditate.

What are the demographics of the community in which the project will be sited?

Who is your audience?

Are there groups that can become involved in the realization of your project?

Are there organizations that are doing related work?

HEADSPACE Meditation Pods.

Tibet House

What is the civic process that a project like this requires? What about permits? What about governmental agencies?

What about social media? What about documentation of the project?

Monica Faltas

Lacey Loughlin

Information and Noted for Final Project

Early Narrative Idea: The narrative I'd like to explore is the role of women in New York city. I am drawing inspiration from the recent hearings of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and nomination of Brett Kavanaugh and the result that this whole situation has had on our country. I think that I'd specifically focus on this newfound idea of how men "should now be afraid" around women and what that means for both men and women and for people who agree and disagree with that sentiment and why. The highly liberal nature of the city may make it difficult to get an even comparison of people for and against Kavanaugh and their thoughts on the issue. Looking into the effects of the Women's Walkout against Kavanaugh may be interesting in order to get some statistics on the beliefs women (and men) in the city and the detriments of their leaving their workspaces.

What hasn’t already been said about the case?
“men/boys should be afraid”

Location: 148 W 14th St (between 6th and 7th Ave)

Possible Pieces:

Physical interactive sculpture that somehow incorporates a survey of how people feel about the situation
Mural

Combine illustration and communication design skills
of or including QR code leading viewers to ??
Intersection: use corners of 4 buildings on intersection

Maybe make a 360 image
Or 4 people talking to each other across the intersections

Statistics on male sexual assault

“The real #HimToo is that men are more likely to be sexually assaulted than falsely accused” @amandawallwin on Twitter

Research:

What projects have already come out of #MeToo?
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/downloads/pdf/NYC%20Public%20Art%20Links.pdf
Callen Lorde (lesbian/gay health center)
Anti-Violence project
Get info at Lesbian/Gay Community Center

Stats on sexual assault and men

Look at women as perpetrators
List of specific questions

Look at Anthony’s interview project

Netflix: Nanette, Hannah Gadsby
https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/04/male-rape-in-america-a-new-study-reveals-that-men-are-sexually-assaulted-almost-as-often-as-women.html
https://1in6.org/get-information/the-1-in-6-statistic/
Sexual Violence Statistics https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sexual-assault-statistics_us_58e24c14e4b0c777f788d24f

Chelsea Demographics

Pretty even split of men and women
https://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/New-York/New-York/Chelsea/Race-and-Ethnicity
Crime Statistics in Chelsea: https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Chelsea-New_York/5061/crime/

Statistics in general:

Goals

Increase public knowledge and understanding

Existing #MeToo Projects/Activity

Museums exhibiting works of artists accused of sexual misconduct

“How #MeToo is changing the way museums do exhibits” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StVK_pvctGY
“How Should Museums Deal with Art by Alleged Harassers?” https://walkerart.org/magazine/soundboard-me-too-sexual-harrassment-tyler-green

“The #MeToo Moment: Art Inspired by the Reckoning” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/us/reader-art-inspired-by-the-metoo-moment-sexual-harassment.html
https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/Two-art-exhibits-tackle-social-issues-MeToo-and-Palestine_171179685
“Turning Pain into Art for Women’s History Month” https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article204250389.html
Couldn’t find much art from male victims’ perspective***

Recovery Process

https://www.rainn.org/recovering-sexual-violence
Focus:

Therapy (someone to talk to)
Self-care (meditation, relaxation, yoga classes)
Safety Planning (self-defense classes, include safety tips in program)
Consuming Media (disconnect from media)

Final Proposal

Recovery Process: space for all (male/female/other) victims of sexual assault to recover/rest in

Small space at 148 W 14th St (digital mockup)
Brochure to help viewers navigate the space
Program listing classes offered
Classes offered once a month

Yoga classes
Free therapy
Self-defense classes

When classes aren’t happening, it’s an open recreational space
Garden, running water
Pavilion
Quiet space in entrance to separate inside from street
Glass ceiling
Programs targeting groups: male, female, trans, seniors, gay, straight
Needs: Compression jackets, cafe, medical needs?
“In harmony with nature”

Reference:

Pavilions

How to develop the space that clearly represents what we want

Quiet
Calm
Safe
Neutral

Research

Sound
Color
Smells
Cafe: Alcohol, caffeine…

For Nov 13:

Monica: write 400 words
Lacey: edit and add your ideas (make it 500 words), make a few sketches

Make sure that the essay covers the following:

The concept you will develop in your exhibition:

The premise behind that concept and how it relates to public life in an urban environment
Who is this project for? Who isn’t it for?
Why have you chosen this project as as a group of curators?
Discuss who will be involved in this project, who are the artists/participants and how they will be selected?
Advantages and disadvantages of this location?

Blog Post for Nov 13

Our project evolved from a broad focus on sexual assault in general into a primary focus on the recovery process for victims of sexual assault. What we’d like to create a space in which victims can feel safe and comfortable enough to lay down the walls that they inevitably put up after their assaults. This space will most likely include a combination of quiet and meditative spaces as well as spaces in which victims can learn more about how to protect themselves moving forward. We’d like to incorporate as much nature in the space as possible, though that may be limited by the New York City location. This will probably be achieved by including as much plant life and daylight as possible. The building will most likely be no more than two or three levels, each level designated to one aspect of what we’d like the space to provide.

In doing some research about the sexual assault recovery process, we found 4 aspects that can somehow be manifested into a physical space. These are therapy, self-care, safety planning, and media consumption. We are looking into how possible it would be to have some volunteer therapists there for visitors to come speak to. As for self care, we’d like to provide a program that includes things such as yoga classes and meditation sessions. We’d also like to have some safety planning classes on the program, such as self-defense courses and courses that can inform visitors of some other safety tips. And because many shows, movies, and some social media content today include scenes and imagery that can be deemed very triggering for victims, we’d like the space to be a tech-free zone in order to disconnect from the media.

In terms of the physical aspects of the space, we are doing research into multiple aspects such as color, aroma, sound, etc. Color of course plays an enormous role in how people feel, so we’ll most likely stick to very soft, pastel colors. Since the space is in the very loud New York City, we may include a lot of sound proof construction. We want visitors to separate from the loud and sometimes overwhelming noises of the city and just to create some distance from all the noise, both literal and otherwise. We haven’t looked too deeply into aromas yet, but might lean again towards the natural and the scents that are difficult to find within New York City.

The initial sketch below depicts a three-story high building. The front opens up to the street and will most likely have some sort of calming features, i.e. fountain or greenery. Walking forward, one is met with a patterned glass wall and doorway. Inside will most likely contain an elevator, staircase, seating area, and information center. This area begins the ‘no electronics’ space, creating a safe atmosphere. The walls are also sound proof, adding to the calming effect. Upstairs is an open area for self-defense classes, yoga, meditation, or counseling. The space will contain greenery, seating, an open platform, and plenty of natural light.

Physical Design

Glass may make victims feel exposed

Patterned glass

Nov. 13

In class

Project development working toward the completion of the following:

Assignment for Nov 20

Prepare the following:

1. Discussion of the site and the pertinent conditions that will have an impact on your project;

2. Discussion of how that project intersect with government structures and regulations;

3. Discussion of what you see as a realistic planning, development and execution timeline;

4. Initial outline of aspects of the project that will have associated costs, make notes about what is required to determine real costs

Nov. 20

In class

Project development of the preliminary design for the blog/site you will use as the context for your exhibition. Be aware that you need create summary page with a link to the site/blog you build for exhibition. You can use any format wish (tumblr, wordpress, blogspot, squarespace, etc?) as long as it is easily accessed from the page you post on the blog. That format should allow you to include texts, images, video, audio, and any other materials that will create four examples of entries for you exhibition and show how they will be captioned and footnoted and how your format will allow comments for each entry; this format should also provide a place for comments on the site as a whole. You will work in small groups with TW on this material in class.

Present an updated draft of your site to TW that contains the majority of content (images, texts, films, music, links, etc.) Begin to develop literature and references that support the premise and the critical underpinning of your project. Post this on our blog

Assignment for Dec. 4

Continue project development

Dec. 4

Present a developed budget and public process plan. In addition, present a draft of what one would present to potential participants in the project. Post these items on our blog.

What city council district you’re in

District 3: Speaker Corey Johnson

Get community board approval

Board Chair: Burt Lazarin
District Manager: Jesse Bodine

Ex: parks & rec, con edison, etc

Mitchell Silver: Commissioner of Parks & Rec (Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners)

Present a final draft of your project to the class in a ten minute projected summary form that will highlight any unresolved issues that you will address or would like response/input for before you complete your project.

Dec. 11

Your completed exhibitions will be presented to the class and each student will become part of a group that will review other projects in detail with written responses that will be posted on the blogs/sites that have been created for each project."

FOR NOV 20

1. Discussion of the site and the pertinent conditions that will have an impact on your project

Besides permits, things that will have an impact on our site/project
Location: Residences nearby, bus patrons, homeless pop.,

2. Discussion of how that project intersect with government structures and regulations

Necessary licenses/permits?
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/how-to-obtain-a-permit.page

3. Discussion of what you see as a realistic planning, development and execution timeline

Possible timeline: approx 3 years (from conception to finished physical building)
Conception
Planning (approx x months)

Fundraising campaign (work with other organizations: nyu langone, salvation army, etc)
Design phase
Process w community board to discuss & introduce facility
get all necessary permissions/forms, etc
Work with architect to finalize structural planning
Make arrangements with contractors

Physical building (x months)

Begin work with contractor

Logistics (x months)

Find employees/volunteers
Finalize program schedules and brochure/pamphlet design

4. Initial outline of aspects of the project that will have associated costs, make notes about what is required to determine real costs

Architect payment
Contractor payment
Building supplies
Decor costs
Cost of getting licenses/permits?
Interior designers/decorators?
Advertising costs
Building upkeep costs

Water
Heat
Electricity
Etc

***If we want this to be a free recreational space, we need to find funding somewhere other than with our customers

Accept donations
Groups that do similar things, might want to donate

Organizations (can possibly help with fundraising):

Anti-Violence Project
Rainn
NYU Langone
Salvation Army
Audre Lorde Project
Sylvia Rivera Law Project

IN CLASS NOV 20

What platform do we display our project on?

Instagram might work pretty well

Easy access through @
Can post text, images, video, and audio
People can comment
Good for social media outreach to customers
*I can make fake flyers for events*

Instagram account info

lacey.loughlin@gmail.com
@chelseasanctuary
PW: publicnarrative

Kids?

Kids that are victims
Kids of victims
Daycare?

Who is the space really for?

Everyone?
Only women? (many spaces like this already exist)
Only men?
Only trans people?
Still for all victims of any gender (ex: if a trans person was assaulted by a man, they could still feel safe in our space bc any male visitors are also victims)

How does the space accommodate disabled people?

Elevator (Glass)
No entrance steps

DUE NOV 27

Start rewriting brochure content

Short statement about the space and what we offer (see below)
Some photos of the space (sketchup)
Schedule
Social media info
Link to donate

What the facility does and offers
Hours/schedule

Hours: 9am-10pm, Sunday-Saturday
Schedule:

How many people can the space accommodate: 100

Classes will have online signup so we can put a cap on the number of participants

At what point can we take victims in?

We will be working with NYU Langone to bring people in after they recover from any physical damage
We are not an emergency center, aka we can not treat physical injuries
Victims can come in for classes, meditation, or counseling/therapy

Make a website (not really tho lol) chelseasanctuary.com

Signups for classes
Signups for counseling
Schedules
Donation link
Social media link
Photos

LACEY

Sketches

First Floor: Patterned glass, not completely see-through// Reception, some chairs//elevator and stairs//water fountain, calming music?
Second Floor: Open area for classes. Wood floors, side benches, no locker room
Third Floor: Open area, separate seating areas? Sectioned off by plants and such? Bookshelves maybe? Self help books?

Schedule

Weekly yoga/kickboxing classes? How many times a week?
Open hours? For therapy? How often are the therapists going to be there?
If open hours, what does that mean? Just hanging out?

Revised Statement

We’d like to create a safe space in which victims of sexual assault can recover and feel safe and comfortable enough to lay down the walls that they inevitably put up after their assaults. This space will include a combination of quiet and meditative spaces (yoga classes) as well as spaces in which victims can learn more about how to protect themselves moving forward (self defense classes). We’d like to incorporate as much nature in the space as possible, which we will achieve by including as much plant life and daylight as possible. We will also incorporate relaxing aroma and color into our final design and decoration so as to encourage an atmosphere of unwinding.

We will provide services and classes such as free counseling/therapy, yoga classes, designated meditation times, and self-defense classes. We are planning to provide self-defense classes a few times a week and will have specific dates set for self defense classes in which patrons can bring their kids. This will help with parents (who are victims) who have no one to watch their kids while they go to a class, and it will also be important to inform children of how to protect themselves, as children are also a common target for sexual predators.

We are aiming to cater to the needs of sexual assault victims of all genders. We do not want to exclude any genders from our programs. We know that all of our visitors will have one thing in common: that they are victims of sexual assault. That being said, there will be an underlying connection among them, so there should be no fear or danger among any visitors. There will, of course be standard security measures, but we expect no issues among visitors.

We’ve discussed and made agreements with NYU Langone for them to guide sexual assault victims in the direction of our facility after treatment. We’ve also made arrangements for therapists and counselors from the Anti-Violence Project to assist in helping our visitors. A funding system was also established with Langone and the Audre Lorde Project in which they assist in funding for our programs targeting sexual assault aftercare. The YMCA offers group yoga classes which we have arranged to get volunteers from to lead classes. We will also accept donations (we’ll include links on our instagram page and flyers).

We will incorporate extensive use of hashtags relating to our cause on every post so as to reach the largest possible audience of victims across social media. We’ll also create an introductory flyer that will be distributed/posted among many NYC spaces in which many victims may stumble upon (ex: homeless shelters, college campuses, LGBT shelters, etc).

SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
	1 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	2	3 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	4 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	5	6 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM
7 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	8 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	9	10 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	11 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	12	13 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM
14 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	15 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	16	17 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	18 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	19	20 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM
21 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	22 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	23	24 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	25 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	26	27 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM
28 KICKBOXING 11AM-1PM 6PM-9PM	29 YOGA 10am-11am 7pm-8pm	30

OPEN HOURS: 10AM-CLOSE // MONDAY-SUNDAY

THERAPY OFFERED DURING OPEN HOURS IF THERAPIST IS AVAILABLE, OTHERWISE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS: OPEN HOURS PLUS ROOM FOR THERAPIST APPOINTMENTS

Next week

present 5 min run through of project to present to the class

Last week of class

We will review 6 other projects by our classmates

licenses/permits (talking to tony in class nov 27):

Make an excel spreadsheet of monthly expenditures

Will help us figure out what's not there
Don't really need to go look at the permits
Color code things that we think will require permits
Ex of how to do excel sheet

Gov related expenditures
Personnel related ex.
Architects
Construction consultants
Psychologists

What is our role in this once everything is done?

Do we hand everything off and become board members

Who else can we get funding from?

NYU
Anti-Violence Project
Mount Sinai: Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (Also volunteers?)

BUILDING PERMITS

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/how-to-obtain-a-permit.page

Bubble Diagram
How many people
Background statistics
People statistic
How to present it without speaking

Website most likely

Curating Public Narratives 2018

Course Description

Monday, December 17, 2018

Final proposal site - Kristiana

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Final project - Carolina Torres

Final Project for critics

FOOD O NATOR - Huzaima & Natasha

SCOTT BOWLBY --- View of the Past

Proposal for Installation Piece in Father Demo Square, Two Picnic Tables

Website Link: trumpet-tan-mmw6.squarespace.com

Final

Jaye Elizabeth Johnson - Final

Erin Lee Carman - Final Website URL

Three Narrative Ideas

Monica and Lacey: FINAL

Monica and Lacey: Information and Notes for Final