East End Arts is looking to create a public interactive art project in downtown Riverhead next summer, EEA executive director Pat Snyder told members of the Riverhead Town Board at yesterday’s work session.
Snyder asked the board for a letter of support for the idea, for which she’s hoping to get a $25,000 “destination downtown” grant from Suffolk County. The project already has funding from the L.I. Community Foundation, Snyder said.
Dubbed “JumpstART,” Snyder said the project consists of professional development for artists culminating in “creative place-making” public art next summer.
Snyder and East End Arts School director Shenole Latimer presented a series of slides and video examples of “creative place-making” public interactive art. The examples included “Dance Spot” in Boston, where dance steps are painted on a section of sidewalk and the public is invited to dance, following along with the instructions painted on the sidewalk.
Another example was Improv Everywhere’s “Conduct Us,” where a small orchestra sets up on a Manhattan sidewalk and a conductor’s stand — with “CONDUCT US” painted on it in bold letters — and baton invite members of the public to conduct the orchestra. The results, depicted in this video, drew laughter from the board and audience.
Public art, particularly interactive art, creates a place of distinctiveness where people want to go and linger, Snyder said.
The arts increase the vibrancy of downtown areas and are essential to downtown revitalization, Snyder said.
The JumpsART program will be open to artists of all disciplines. The professional development series for artists will consist of six sessions beginning in March on topics including legal matters; making a living as an artist; marketing and social networking; fundraising and proposal-writing; and public speaking to entities like the BID or town board.
Some of the sessions will be held at the Stony Brook Business Incubator in Calverton, Snyder said.
The goal is to present the public art installations during a two-week period beginning in late August next year.
BID Management Association president Raymond Pickersgill said his organization likes the project. “We think it’s a good idea,” he said.
Town Board members endorsed the project and said they would sign a letter of support or pass a sense resolution expressing support for the proposal.
Last week, photographer Meryl Spiegel got the nod from town board members for an interactive photographic exhibit on the riverfront, which she hopes to install in time for next year’s holiday bonfire.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
