Fun Sewers+Art event this evening at Proteus Gowanus

Fun Sewers+Art event this evening at Proteus Gowanus at 6 pm at 543 Union Street.

"Continuing our exploration of our theme of Water, Proteus Gowanus has teamed up with the Newtown Creek Armada from our sister Superfund site,  and Brooklyn Atlantis to present the work of scientists and artists exploring our troubled waterways."

You can find out more about the Newtown Creek Armada here:

https://www.facebook.com/NewtownCreekArmada

and the Overflow opening event here.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1482486968636049/

Pratt Institute: A Community Exchange: The Socially Engaged Artist and the Public Imagination

Above:  Installation view, We Are The People.
Project Row Houses, Houston, TX, 2003.

Rick Lowe, artist, activist, and founder of Project Row Houses
Photo: Sam Durant. © Sam Durant.

There are too few good days like this one.  Yesterday I attended a fabulous conference at Pratt Institute:  "A Community Exchange:  The Socially Engaged Artist and the Public Imagination".  LINK  What better way to spend an afternoon in Brooklyn than to hear of the works and ponder the projects of a variety of socially engaged artists and practitioners?  
Ann Messner, Shane Aslan Selzer, May Joseph, Jaret Vadera, Rick Lowe, Mendi Obadike, Uzma Rizvi and Heather Lewis all made the day very special.

The conference opened the dialogue on socially engaged art to brainstorm:
"What is the public’s imagination in relationship to social engagement and its potential within the society we inhabit? What is the nature of the public’s commitment to space and place, and how is it related to a social engagement that formulates new social imaginaries? This conversation will explore these questions and discuss the place of socially engaged art in our many publics."  (courtesy the brochure)

Even as the form of socially engaged art struggles to find the language:  the questions and the answers that will define it even as it morphs, it is very clear to me that the form has so much promise!  And the growing of a new, socially-engaged art program for students developing at Pratt sounds very exciting.

For entirely heart warming socially engaged art projects see Rick Lowe's Project Row Houses at his website http://projectrowhouses.org/
It is truly great stuff!
You can also read the NY Times article on Lowe here
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/arts/design/17kimm.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
T.S.

My work featured at Kentler International Drawing Space

My drawing, "Drifting House", is being featured in the current 100 Works on Paper Benefit exhibition at Kentler International Drawing Space.

 Artists' Reception Tonight from 6-8 PM. 

353 Van Brunt Street, (RED HOOK) Brooklyn, New York 11231
Telephone: 718.875.2098 /

info@kentlergallery.org

And: SAVE THE DATE!
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 6pm

                           Triada Samaras Drifting House Acrylic/pencil on paper 8x11" 2014

100 WORKS ON PAPER  

BENEFIT

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 6pm

HONOREES:

ALANNA HEISS
Founder and Director of Clocktower Productions; Founder and Former Director of MOMA PS1

DUSTIN YELLIN
Artist, Founder and Director of Pioneer Works, Center for Art and Innovation

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE: MARTHA BECK
Founder of The Drawing Center

OVER 100 ARTISTS generously donate original drawings & works on paper to support our 12th Annual Benefit, celebrating our 24th year.

PURCHASE ONE TICKET: $200
($250 Ticket Holder plus Guest)
GO HOME WITH: ONE NEW WORK OF ART!

All proceeds support Kentler's 2014 Exhibitions, The Kentler Flatfiles and K.I.D.S. Art Education.

 Each ticket holder draws a number when they arrive at the event. This number determines when the ticket holder gets to choose one of the 100 WORKS ON PAPER. 

PLUS 2 SPECIAL SILENT AUCTIONS:
Silent Auction Artworks and
"Found in Red Hook" featuring unique items and gift certificates from artisans, businesses, and restaurants in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Tickets are limited!

Artist, Triada Samaras