Three Narrative Ideas

1.

 I have been researching and highly interested in the concept of alternative art spaces and how they function under the capitalistic structures of the art world. Since Chelsea is the Manhattan capital of the art world, it would be interesting to intersect a non-profit art space in between the money hungry galleries in the area. The art space would be a space that promotes community, catalyzes productive conversation on artworks, and provides a safe space to critique art without prejudice or preconceived notions.

I find that oftentimes when art holds a price tag, it is talked about quite differently then if it is simply seen as a piece of artwork that holds cultural and social value. Many galleries only exhibit what will sell, not necessarily what is relevant to the current artistic, social, political, and general climate. This space would be an interesting contrast and could potentially interact in different ways with the already established galleries. This space could be in one of the large warehouse buildings around the Chelsea gallery district from 18-24th St between 9th and 11th Ave.

2.

I am also very interested in how art interacts with space. In Chelsea, there isn't much open space, the streets are crowded and there are little to no large parks. I want to propose an outdoor art park that is open to the public. It would hold shows for artists that work in 3D or any medium that can interact well in this outdoor space. The artists would have to make works that somehow interact, give back, or collaborate with the space in some way. This would promote art that is conscious of its location and placement on a macro and micro scale.

This space would focus on emerging artists to give them a platform to exhibit their work and promote their art as well as having the opportunity to exhibit in a well known artistic neighborhood within a unique space.

3.

After the Parsons fire in the main building, there was an urgency to find studios, facilities, and resources for students to make their work. I find that it is extremely difficult to find space for artists, designers, and makers because of the real estate and population situation in this city. I think this city would benefit greatly from a community makers space that is open to the community for a reasonable cost. It could have a membership fee for those who frequently need access to the facilities or it could be by the hour. It could also have a volunteer segment where people can volunteer to work at the space in exchange for time to use the space for their personal works.

The space would have a variety of facilities that are hard to get a hold of from darkrooms, wood and metal shops, ceramics studios, large spaces to make and work on individual projects, spaces that allow complicated materials such as oil paint, spray paint, resin, etc. 3D printers, large format printers, a materials shop,  glass blowing studio, printmaking studio, and a computer lab. This space would promote a deeper connection within the arts community and emphasize collaboration and sharing resources, ideas, and skills. People would get orientations or classes to make sure they are safe and knowledgeable of the facilities before using them and there would be experts in each making space to help work through ideas and aid in the making process.

This would require a lot of space, money, and people to manage but being NYC, this would fill a huge gap for the art community. Being a fine arts student, I come across the issue of space and resources almost daily. Although the resources at the University are ample, they fill up quickly with students and can be limiting due to school policies. Having one location that I know could provide me with a wide spectrum of facilities would open up a world of possibilities for my work and learn about new materials and types of art.