The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA), Fort Tryon Park Trust and NYC Parks present “Sculpture at Fort Tryon Park,” a series of temporary art installations on display July–November 2016. The project aims to create opportunities for artists from Northern Manhattan and beyond to engage with their varied neighborhood landscapes and communities.
Fort Tryon Park is composed of 67 acres of city, state and national landmarked parkland. Many of New York’s most extraordinary natural and manmade treasures fall within these boundaries. Sculpture at Fort Tryon Park 2016’s theme is “Evolving Terrain.” How does our ever-changing city coexist with our natural landscape? How do we engage our communities to be part of this dialogue about city and nature? How can artists reflect the needs between the community and nature preservationists? How does the natural realm support the community’s built environment? Artists are invited to submit proposals that investigate these questions.
Guidelines
- Preference will be given to original, site-specific work that engages with the social and ecological landscape of Fort Tryon Park. Areas include:
- Broadway/Bennett Lawn,
- Broadway/Arden entrance lawn,
- North end of Cloisters Lawn, and
- the triangle north of the New Leaf Restaurant.
- A possible alternate site is the triangle northwest of the New Leaf, and just to the east of the Heather Garden.
- Up to four artists will be chosen to participate in this exhibit. Artists may request one of the areas specified above; however, the final decision will be at the discretion of Fort Tryon Park Trust, NoMAA and NYC Parks.
- Each winning artist will receive a $400 stipend, which will be paid following the initial installation.
- Installations must not permanently damage the landscape. Artists must restore sites to their original condition after the exhibition.
- Collaborations, interventions, performance, or time-based work is welcome.
- There are no specific size parameters, but artists are advised to avoid sculptures that can be climbed/scaled. Most of the areas for sculpture placement average 12 feet by 12 feet in area.
- NYC Parks and NoMAA will supervise the installation of all work. NoMAA will secure the requisite insurance and will hold the contract with NYC Parks’ Arts & Antiquities for the art installation.
- Fort Tryon Park Trust, NYC Parks, and NoMAA are not responsible for damage caused by weather or vandalism.
- For further information, see NYC Parks’ Temporary Public Outdoor Art Guidelines.
Proposals must be emailed by Sunday 12 June 2016, 11:59 p.m. EDT, to with subject “Evolving Terrain – Artist’s Name” and include:
- Artist(s) contact information: name, email, address, phone number.
- Artist(s) résumé and project statement (one-page limit).
- Detailed description of the proposed work including: specific dimensions, materials used, approximate time needed for set-up, proposed installation method. Photos and/or sketches are preferred. Include consideration of how the work will function in a public park, including potential damage to the landscape or public safety concerns (two-page limit).
- Examples of previous work (up to five images), max 1MB for each image.
Timeline
- 12 June: submissions due
- 27 June: notifications sent via email
- End July: installation set-up and potential opening celebration/talk
- Aug and Sept: Meet the Artists event
- Early-mid-November: de-installation
Listing expiration: June 12, 2016.