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The Queens Museum’s Open A.I.R. Artist Services Program invites artists, cultural and community organizers, educators, and community members invested in long-term work with immigrant communities, youth, communities of color, queer communities and low-income communities to join artist and activist Jeanne Van Heeswijk in the development of the Public Faculty no. 9, a multi-session collective learning experience. The Queens Museum has long prioritized embedded community work seeing itself as a neighbor in the community and valuing cross-disciplinary partnerships. QM believes in the importance of accessibility of public space and the need for community voices organizing around community issues. Jeanne Van Heeswijk has a long history of embedded work in various communities and a continued engagement around issues of public space and community organizing. Her work is developed alongside participants; she serves as an active facilitator, acknowledging the important knowledge already present in communities

 

The impetus behind the Public Faculty series is to engage in collective learning through a process of knowledge exchange within the context of a certain place. A Public Faculty wants to ‘draw out’ the anticipated conversations and findings, and slowly build a visual analogy of the public faculty’s presence in the city by taking it outside and using strategies to rethink, redefine and re-enter public space through collective cultural action. This learning from a place through a process of knowledge exchange and cohabitation forms the basis of Public Faculty.

 

This exploration of public space and place will specifically focus on local neighborhoods near the Queens Museum (Corona, Flushing, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) and will culminate in a 4-day public dialogue and collective cultural action conceived by the 25 members of the participating group. The 3 workshops leading up to the Public Faculty will be an opportunity for participants to share their passions, concerns and knowledge about these neighborhoods and to help shape the public investigation that will happen through the collective cultural action. Interested participants should see this as an opportunity to further the work they are currently engaged in, while reflecting about it in a supportive group environment. Participants will build their local network and have the opportunity to develop partnerships for continued long term community work.

 

Previous Public Faculties have taken place in Skopje, Macedonia (No.1, October 2008); Rotterdam, the Netherlands (No.2, September 2010); Vranje, Serbia (No.3, March 2012); London, UK (No.4, July 2012); Copenhagen, Denmark (No.5, August 2012);  Gent, Belgium (No.6, March 2013); Zurich, Switzerland (No.7, June 2013); Los Angeles, USA (No.8, June 2014). Each of these Public Faculties has been different as it is developed in collaboration with different institutions and members of the community in each place. While all of these Public Faculties have explored issues of public space each community has explored different questions.

 

For example, Public Faculty No.3  took place in Vranje, Serbia in collaboration with the NGO Generator. Generator was founded in January of 2001 by a group of young activists from Vranje as an association of citizens with the primary aim of promoting and preserving culture, art, with a focus on youth in multiethnic southern Serbia. Over a four day period a temporary mobile statue was moved to various location in the city that are underused publicly to draw attention and spark debate around issues of publicness and public space. The mobile statue, a base on wheels with the ‘old’ children’s play horse on top, that had been for years located in one of the main shops, now empty. An old mechanic horse that was ridden by children in the end of eighties, and that is commonly known in Vranje. It was wheeled around the city by young people in parade fashion. Locations that were chosen were: an old swimming pool, a map of the city in front of statue of “Čika Mita”, the empty new cultural center, and green surface in front of the teacher education faculty building. In all of these places, passers were asked to ride the horse and to give their opinion about unused public spaces, and about how they can be used, primarily for use of culture.

 

Public Faculty No 8, took place in Los Angeles on and around Hollywood Boulevard, where many segments of the public are to be found. The project used a tourist bus to engage in informal conversations with passers-by on the desires and expectations for the future of the neighborhood. It mapped out a dialog in text and drawings about those who are affected by the redevelopment of Hollywood, exploring the idea of publicness and its relation to active citizenship in our global cities. Events were conceived in collaboration with local artists and art collectives and developed in collaboration with community organizing groups including LA Voice, Yucca Corridor Coalition, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Angeles, and My Friend’s Place.

 

The form and investigation of Public Faculty No.9, will be decided by the group and will reflect the rich and specific culture, concerns and organizations working in the Jackson Heights Flushing Corridor.

 

Through this process the participants will:

 

• Learn about the methodology that the artist has developed over the last decade
• Receive feedback on their efforts in doing community work
• Reflect on their own journey as community workers and their research methodologies
• Expand their local network of artists and activists
• Experience and contribute to the production of a public collective cultural action

 

 25 participants will be selected for this free program, in order to be considered interested artists, cultural and community organizers, educators, and community members must commit to participating in all workshops and the days of public action.

 

All workshops will take place at the Queens Museum over 3 Saturdays from 1-6:30 pm. Dinners will be provided at all workshops. The dates for the 3 workshops are:

 

• January 31, 2015
• March 7, 2015
• April 4, 2015

 

Details of Public Faculty no. 9, including times, will be decided by the group. However the dates for the 4-day public dialogue and action are:

 

• May 14, 2015
• May 15, 2015
• May 16, 2015
• May 17, 2015

 

Application Process:
This workshop will be a unique opportunity to reflect on your practice and be involved in a meaningful learning experience. Due to the limited space available, a simple application is required. Applicants must already be involved in long-term work with immigrant communities, youth, communities of color, queer communities and low-income communities. Spots will be reserved specifically for individuals working in the following neighborhoods: Corona, Flushing, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. Spanish-English Interpretation will be available during all sessions.

 

To apply please fill out the following form by January 21^st, 2015:https://queensmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/public-faculty-no-9-with-jeanne-van-heeswijk/

 

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El programa Open A.I.R. de Servicios para Artistas del Museo de Queens invita a artistas, organizadores culturales y comunitarios, educadores y miembros de la comunidad dedicados a trabajo a largo plazo con comunidades inmigrantes, jóvenes, comunidades de color, comunidades queer, y comunidades de bajos recursos a trabajar con la artista y activista Jeanne Van Heeswijk en el desarrollo de Public Faculty No. 9, una experiencia de múltiples sesiones de aprendizaje colectivo. Por varios años el Museo de Queens (QM)  ha tenido como prioridad trabajar colaborativamente con la comunidad a largo plazo, pensando en sí mismo como un vecino  en la comunidad y valorando colaboraciones que cruzan disciplinas. QM cree en la importancia de que el espacio público sea accesible y en la necesidad de que se escuchen las voces comunitarias organizándose alrededor de preocupaciones comunitarias. Jeanne Van Heeswijk ha tenido una larga historia de trabajar incrustada en varias comunidades y de trabajar continuamente alrededor de temas de espacio público y organización comunitaria. Su trabajo se desarrolla en colaboración con otros participantes; ella actúa como una facilitadora activa, reconociendo la riqueza de conocimiento que ya existe en comunidades.

 

El ímpetu de la serie de Public Faculty viene de querer involucrarnos en aprendizaje colectivo mediante un proceso de intercambio de conocimiento dentro del contexto de un sitio específico. Un Public Faculty quiere ayudar a sacar a la superficie conversaciones y hallazgos anticipados, y lentamente construir una analogía visual de la presencia del Public Faculty en la ciudad al llevarla al público, usando estrategias para repensar, redefinir y reentrar al espacio público por medio de acción cultural colectiva. Este aprendizaje de un lugar por medio de intercambio de conocimiento y convivencia es la base del Public Faculty.

 

Esta exploración del espacio público y del sitio, se  enfocara específicamente en los barrios cerca del Museo de Queens (Corona, Flushing, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) y culminará en un dialogo público de 4 días y una acción cultural colectiva desarrollada por los 25 participantes del grupo. Los 3 talleres anteriores al Public Faculty serán una oportunidad para que los participantes compartan sus pasiones, preocupaciones y conocimiento de estos barrios, y para ayudar a darle forma a la investigación pública que tendrá lugar por medio de la acción cultural colectiva. Quienes estén interesados en participar, deben ver esta experiencia como una oportunidad para impulsar el trabajo a nivel comunitario que ya están haciendo, y para reflexionar sobre este trabajo en un ambiente de apoyo de grupo. Los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de fortalecer sus redes locales y de desarrollar relaciones para seguir desarrollando trabajo comunitario a largo plazo.

 

Public Faculties pasados han tomado lugar en Skopje, Macedonia (No. 1, Octubre 2008); Rotterdam, Holanda (No. 2, Septiembre 2010); Vranje, Serbia (No. 3, Marzo 2012); Londres, Inglaterra (No. 4, Julio 2012); Copenhague, Dinamarca (No. 5, Agosto 2012); Gent, Bélgica (No. 6, Marzo 2013); Zúrich, Suiza (No. 7, Junio 2013); Los Angeles, USA (No. 8, Junio 2014). Cada una de estas Public Faculties ha sido diferente puesto que ha sido desarrollada en colaboración con diferentes instituciones y diferentes miembros de la comunidad de cada lugar. Aunque todas estas Public Faculties han explorado temas de espacio público cada comunidad ha explorado diferentes preguntas.

 

Por ejemplo, Public Faculty No.3 tuvo lugar en Vranje, Serbia en colaboración con la organización no-gubernamental Generator. Generator fue fundada en Enero del 2001 por un grupo de activistas jóvenes de Vranje como una asociación de ciudadanos con la meta primordial de promover y preservar cultura y arte, con un enfoque en jóvenes de varias etnias del sur de Serbia. Durante 4 días un estatua temporal móvil fue movida a varias locaciones de la ciudad que no son utilizadas al máximo para llamar la atención y desatar debate alrededor de temas de espacio público. La estatua móvil, una base en ruedas con un caballito viejo de juguete encima, que había estado localizado en uno de las tiendas principales, que ahora están vacías. Este caballito mecánico había sido montado por muchos niños a finales de los ochentas, y esto era bien conocido en Vranje. El caballo fue rodado alrededor de la ciudad por jóvenes como si fuera un desfile. Los lugares escogidos fueron: una piscina vieja, un mapa de la ciudad en frente de la estatua de “€œCika Mita”€, un nuevo centro cultural vacio, y una superficie verde en frente del edificio de la facultad de educación para maestros. En todos estos lugares, se les pedía a los transeúntes que montaran el caballito y que dieran su opinión acerca de los espacios públicos que no son utilizados, y acerca de cómo se podían usar, principalmente para cultura.

 

Public Faculty No. 8, tuvo lugar en Los Angeles alrededor de Hollywood Boulevard, donde varios segmentos de la población se encuentran. El proyecto utilizo un bus turístico para entablar conversaciones informales con los transeúntes acerca de los deseos y expectativas del futuro del barrio. Mapeo el dialogo usando texto y dibujos acerca de las personas que han sido afectadas por el desarrollo comercial de Hollywood, explorando la idea de lo público y su relación con ciudadanos activos en nuestras ciudades globales. Los eventos fueron concebidos en colaboración con varios artistas y colectivos artísticos y desarrollados en colaboración con organizaciones comunitarias incluyendo Voice, Yucca Corridor Coalition, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Angeles, y My Friend’s Place.

 

La forma y la investigación del Public Faculty No. 9, será decidida por el grupo de trabajo y reflejara la riqueza de cultura, las preocupaciones específicas, y el trabajo de organizaciones que son parte de la comunidad en el corredor de Jackson Heights “€“ Flushing.

 

Por medio de este proceso los participantes:

 

• Aprenderán acerca de la metodología que la artista ha desarrollado en la última década
• Recibirán retroalimentación acerca de su trabajo comunitario
• Reflexionarán sobre su propia trayectoria como trabajadores comunitarios y sobre sus metodologías de investigación
• Expandirán sus redes y conexiones locales de artistas y activistas
• Experimentarán y contribuirán a la producción de una acción pública, colectiva y cultural

 

25 participantes serán seleccionados para este programa gratis, para poder ser considerado, artistas, organizadores culturales y comunitarios, educadores, y miembros de la comunidad interesados deben participar en todos los talleres y en todos los días de acción pública.

 

Todos los talleres tendrán lugar en el Museo de Queens durante 3 sábados de 1 “€“ 6:30 pm. Todos los talleres incluirán cena. Las fechas de los 3 talleres son:

 

• Enero 31, 2015
• Marzo 7, 2015
• Abril 4, 2015

 

Los detalles específicos del Public Faculty no. 9, incluyendo horas, serán decididos por el grupo. Las fechas de esta acción y dialogo público son:

 

• Mayo 14, 2015
• Mayo 15, 2015
• Mayo 16, 2015
• Mayo 17, 2015

 

Proceso de Aplicación
Este taller de 5 meses será una oportunidad única para reflexionar acerca de su práctica y para involucrarse en una experiencia de aprendizaje. Por razones de espacio limitado, requerimos una simple aplicación. Los interesados deben ya estar trabajando con comunidades inmigrantes, jóvenes, comunidades de color, comunidades queer y comunidades de bajos recursos a largo plazo. Reservaremos cupos específicamente para individuos que están trabajando en los siguientes barrios: Corona, Flushing, Elmhurst, y Jackson Heights. Tendremos interpretación de Ingles a español y viceversa durante todas las sesiones.

 

Para aplicar por favor llene el siguiente formulario antes del 21 de Enero del 2015: https://queensmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/public-faculty-no-9-with-jeanne-van-heeswijk/

 

More on Public Faculty

Public space in most of our contemporary cities is highly regulated. We see more and more people feeling left out in what is often a clinical understanding of public domain. We often forget that public domain is not evident “€“ it is a source of conflict between residents, developers and government. In the center of these processes, especially where diverse communities intersect, cultural interventions are often the only manner in which to actively create the public domain.

 

Public Faculty strives to create an understanding of a given place and its dynamics, and identify certain questions that can create a “€˜performative action.’ It searches for a model and tools with which people can develop their perceptions and initiate a process of change. This process requires reciprocity, an exchange of knowledge, collectivization and cohabitation.

 

Public Faculty references to Joseph Beuys’ seminal work “€˜Richtkräfte’ (Directive Forces), an installation of 100 blackboards created for public discussions and later held at the Institute for Contemporary Art in London in 1974. Using Steiner’s concept of “€˜thought drawings,’ Beuys used chalk on blackboard to communicate to his audience the basic principles of his theory of “€˜social sculpture’ “€“ freedom, direct democracy and sustainable economic forms “€“ and illustrate his “€œanthropologic construct”€ for a better world.

 

About the Jeanne Van Heeswijk
Jeanne van Heeswijk is a visual artist who facilitates the creation of dynamic and diversified public spaces in order to “€œradicalize the local”€. Van Heeswijk embeds herself as an active citizen in communities, often working for years at a time. These long-scale projects, which have occurred in many different countries, transcend the traditional boundaries of art in duration, space and media and questions art’s autonomy by combining performative actions, meetings, discussions, seminars and other forms of organizing and pedagogy. Inspired by a particular current event, cultural context or intractable social problem, she dynamically involves neighbors and community members in the planning and realization of a given project. As an “€œurban curator”€, van Heeswijk’s work often unravels invisible legislation, governmental codes and social institutions, in order to enable communities to take control over their own futures. Noted projects include Hotel New York P.S. 1 in New York (September 1998 to August 1999); De Strip (The Strip) in Westwijk, Vlaardingen (May 2002 “€“ May 2004); Het Blauwe Huis (The Blue House) in Amsterdam (May 2005 “€“ December 2009); and 2Up 2Down/Homebaked in Liverpool (Novmeber 2011 “€“ present); Freehouse, Radicalizing the Local in Rotterdam (September 2008- present).

 

About Open A.I.R. Artist Services Program
The expanded Queens Museum features a new, expanded slate of artist services, including a brand new Studio Program, with professional development features and a networking Lecture Series that draws on human resources at the Queens Museum. The Open A.I.R. Artist Services Program supports the development of artists’ lives, practices and careers. With an expansive vision of who we imagine as an “€œartist”€ and the types of programming that support emerging artists, Open A.I.R. seeks to broaden the notion of Artist Services and support artistic communities that have been historically underserved.

 

Open A.I.R. is made possible by a generous grant from The Scherman Foundation’s Katharine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund. Additional support provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

 

Questions? / Preguntas?  Email sjmo@queensmuseum.org