Curating Public Narratives 2018: Chenyu Wang

Project 1 - 9/18 - African Burial Ground

Project 2 - 9/25 - Subway Art

Visit the subway stations in the area you have been assigned and write 250 words on two of works commissioned by the MTA. What is their narrative content? Why are they in those particular stations? How did that come to be and is that story still as relevant as it was when the work was installed? Attach at least five photographic records of how that narrative is materially manifested at each station and its vicinity.

- Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall

- Essex-Delancey

Project 3 - 10/2 - Public Narratives (LES)

In 100 words each describes 2 public narratives that have grabbed your attention this week. Attach at least three illustrations of how that narrative is materially manifested in the world.

Project 4 - 10/9 - Subway Public Installations

Mary Miss's “Framing Union Square” is commissioned by MTA Arts & Design Program in 1988.

Project 5 - 10/16 - 3 Public Narrative Ideas

1. Designing a skatepark:

What goes into a building a skatepark? Who commissions them? Who designs them? How do the designs consider weather impacts? What is included in a skate park (bowls, ledges, rails, banks, gaps, walls...)? Who maintains them?

2. Designing a public installation as a creative skate spot:

Why do skateboarders like to skate in Lower Manhattan (East Village, Chinatown, Lower East Side...)? How do public spaces shape the way skateboarders skate and the tricks they do? What attracts skaters? How are public installations designed to prevent being skated?

3. Designing an indoor skate fair:

What does a skate fair include (skate contest, fun interactive competitions, prizes, brand merchandises, artistic events, trading...)? What games can be designed around using a skateboard (or parts of it)? Whom to collaborate with that is going to bring more people in? How to promote without losing respect? Renting a location? Funders? How many beers/pizzas to provide? How to buy them in bulk without costing to much?

Project 6 - 10/23 & 10/30 & 11/20 - Project Planning and Development

This project is a one-day skate fair that celebrates the simplicity and fun of skateboarding, a carnival-like experience that brings people back to the personal memories of the first time they get on a skateboard.

The event would be located in Brooklyn, and our demographics involve New York/New Jersey skaters and those who are interested in skateboarding between the age of 10-40. People who would mostly likely attend are local fans/followers of us and our collaborator (a friend who is an artist from Philadelphia with 35.6K Instagram followers). The collaboration would be a small run of custom shaped boards silkscreened with the artist's print. All money gained from the sales goes towards hosting this event.

The form of promotion would be through our and the shop's social media, as paid advertisement might turn people off and have them lose respect for a brand. Our own brand only has 2100+ on Instagram, it's a very small but loyal fan base. The majority of our audience are young people (age 18-34) who share a quite specific view of the skate industry, aesthetic of skateboards and ways of skating, so the way we use our image must be treated with caution.

This fair would be a indoor event due to the winter weather, ideally set in a skate shop/gallery space near the Barclay Center called Skate Brooklyn. They periodically hold skate events and are known within the local skate scene. Skate Brooklyn conveniently has both an exhibition space and another room set up with ramps for skating, and they already have a group of people that regularly visit. They also had previously carried our skateboards for sale. I am still in communication with the owner in regards to the date and the charge. It seems like he already has plans for the space for December.

Teenagers and young adults from the age of 10-22 are the target for the early afternoon session of the skate contests and games. Small snacks, candies and stickers are offered during this time. A winner would be announced at the end and be given a skateboard from the collaboration. The evening session of the skate contests and games would be for adults over 22 years old. Another winner is selected from it. There would be a open bar that provides free beers (2 per person) and pizzas (20 pies). Our collaborated boards are for sale through out the whole event. Our friend who's a Japanese musician that now lives in Brooklyn would be DJing for this event.

Skate games are still in the progress of designing, they all are reinvention of well-known games from our childhood (80's & 90's). The rules should be easily understood but the games per se are challenging (not everyone can win). The gaming system mimics an arcade which you get tickets from winning games and can redeem all kinds of merchandises that we provide.

The budget estimate for this event is 10-15 hundred dollars (renting space, ordering blank boards, silkscreen fee, making stickers, purchasing food and drinks, making clothing and accessories).

Project 7 - 11/6 - New York Public Narrative

On the class blog, in 150 words describe a public narrative that is currently present in New York that you would like to discuss in relation to the public art strategies developed by Gran Fury. Attach three illustrations of how that narrative is materially manifested.

Project 8 - 11/13 - Project Statement Draft