Braybrook Public Art: size does matter

Maribyrnong City Council currently has an annual allocation to commission permanent public art as part of its Capital Works and Improvement Program Budget. The commissioning of public art is guided by "On the Edge” Maribyrnong Public Art Strategy. The site chosen for the 2013/14 public art commission is the suburb of Braybrook – specifically the redeveloped Braybrook Community Centre where two permanent public works will be commissioned. The newly developed Braybrook Community Hub is one of a number of projects that Maribyrnong City Council is undertaking as part of its “Revitalising Braybrook” initiative.

An artist selection panel reviewed the works of twenty artists, all of whom were submitted through an Expression Of Interest (EOI), and seven were shortlisted. This blog documents the process by which each artist/artist team will work with artist/curator Kendal Henry to develop final proposals which will then be presented to a public art panel, Council and the general public. Only two proposals will eventually be awarded commissions.

1.21.2014

size does matter

I had a great conversation with Mark while we went over his proposal ideas. It centered around scale.

Apart from the budget, careful consideration must be made when determining how large or small the work should be. Large works command presence while small works invite a more intimate interaction.

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mark cuthbertson

Mark’s current practice is exploring, collecting and the reconstruction of forms and controlled environments within urban and rural community setting. The reinvention of domestic, industrial materials and equipment, in the development and direction of new works. Endeavouring to develop a sense of encounter and to alter the relation between, the sense of place, installed work and the audience. Integrating ephemeral works within natural and built environments, and allowing the community to develop a means of interaction & dialog with the work

jos van hulsen & mary long

Mary Long and Jos Van Hulsen, first set up Post Industrial Design back in 1995 in the dusty streets of Richmond. Their love for the local community has lead them to set up shop again, this time in Barkly St West Footscray. Jos sets the mood with his amazing designs and to complement his work, Mary scours the country for other beautiful things. Many unusual hand-made items can be found in store and you can always find a treasure even on a tiny budget. Resisting the notion of a throw away society, most of the stock is made from recycled materials, the products are timeless and crafted for life. With a continual search to find beauty in the mundane, re-working everyday discarded objects into something new is pure inspiration.

Kendal Henry is an artist and curator who lives in New York City and specializes in the field of public art for the past twenty-two years. He illustrates that public art can be used as a tool for social engagement, civic pride and economic development through the projects and programs he’s initiated in the US, Europe, Russia, Asia, Central Asia, Australia and the Caribbean.

Kendal believes that the most successful public artworks start with the question, “What do you want the artwork to do”, and takes into account the audience and surrounding environment in the creation of that artwork. While all his public works are different they share a common thread. The artworks are always site-specific, created in collaboration with others (artists, community, designers, etc.) and presented in multiples.

He currently teaches at the School of Visual Arts’ Public Art Summer Residency program and is a guest lecturer at various universities and educational institutions including the Abbey Mural Workshop at the National Academy Museum & School of Fine Arts; Rhode Island School of Design Senior Studio; and Pratt Institute’s Arts and Cultural Management Program. Kendal served as the Director of Culture and Economic Development for the City of Newburgh, NY where he created the region’s first Percent for Art Program. Prior to that post he was Manager of Arts Programs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Arts for Transit for eleven years. During this time, he has overseen the commissioning, fabrication and installation of MTA’s permanent art projects, served as a member of the MTA’s in-house design team, and produced temporary exhibitions at Grand Central Terminal.

Previous to this experience he served as a Project Manager at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art Program. Kendal is also the Curator-at-large at the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art (MoCADA) in Brooklyn, NY and was elected to serve two 3-year terms on the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council.

Braybrook has for too long been seen as a place of disadvantage and despair. Maribyrnong City Council knows there is more to Braybrook than the headline indicators of disadvantage, and that there are a number of strengths and opportunities in the community. However, we also recognise there are things that can and should be done to improve wellbeing and liveability in Braybrook.

These documents identiy the challenges facing Braybrook and some of the indicators of disadvantage facing our community. They demonstrate the impact of this disadvantage on all aspects of life, including health, education, employment and social inclusion. It also sets out a vision for redressing this disadvantage. As the title suggests, it seeks to provide a framework to Revitalise Braybrook.

Maribyrnong City Council is committed to working to improve the health and wellbeing of all its residents. We recognise that this will require targeted and sustained investment from a range of sources, including government, private, and community sectors. It will also require engagement with the local community to ensure they guide this investment to meet their needs.

‘Revitalising Braybrook’ provides a framework for this investment to meet the needs of the local community and to provide hope to future generations.

1.21.2014

size does matter

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