{"id":9326,"date":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark-2026.kudos.nyc\/2023\/08\/22\/socrates-sculpture-park-artist-fellows-presents-their-interpretations-on-transformation-in-the-socrates-annual-2023\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T03:23:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T03:23:36","slug":"socrates-sculpture-park-artist-fellows-presents-their-interpretations-on-transformation-in-the-socrates-annual-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/2023\/08\/22\/socrates-sculpture-park-artist-fellows-presents-their-interpretations-on-transformation-in-the-socrates-annual-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Socrates Sculpture Park artist fellows presents their interpretations on transformation in The Socrates Annual 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Media Contact\nJoyce Chan | Communications Manager | jc@socratessculpturepark.org<\/a><\/p>\n

PDF Version<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Socrates Sculpture Park artist fellows presents their interpretations on transformation in The Socrates Annual 2023<\/em>\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Socrates Annual 2023 opens September 30, 2023\n<\/em>__________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

** The opening date of the exhibition is October 1, due to weather conditions. **<\/em><\/p>\n

Long Island City, NY, August 22, 2023<\/strong> \u2013 Socrates Sculpture Park presents The Socrates Annual 2023<\/em><\/strong> on view Saturday, September 30, 2023<\/strong> through March 24, 2024<\/strong>. From an abandoned landfill to an art space, a public park, and outdoor venue, Socrates is a space that has thrived on changes. For this year, The Socrates Annual 2023<\/em> Fellowship prompted artists to create artwork from the theme \u201ctransformation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Socrates Annual<\/em> exhibition marks the culmination of the 2023 Socrates Annual Fellowship awarded to six artists, Ashley Harris<\/strong>, Ndivhuho Rasengani<\/strong>, Bat-Ami Rivlin<\/strong>, Kate Rusek<\/strong>, \u739b\u4e3d\u4e9a\u59c6 \u571f\u8033\u5176<\/strong>, and Stefania Urist<\/strong>. This competitive program provides funding, access to the Park\u2019s outdoor studio, and the production support needed to realize ambitious public artworks. These five projects reflect on diverse stages of growth, change, and renewal while also invoking a keen understanding of how visitors use this space, informed by the artists\u2019 firsthand experience fabricating these works on-site over the summer. Many of these works are constructed with found and recycled materials that have been ingeniously repurposed, breathing new life into objects that were once discarded or considered undesirable. Collectively, these artists compel us to value thehistories embedded in materials and the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transformation of these projects, both physically and conceptually, over the past few months has been incredibly inspiring to witness.\u201d said Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Curator & Director of Exhibitions<\/strong> of \u7d22\u514b\u62c9\u63d0\u65af\u96d5\u5851\u516c\u56ed<\/strong>. \u201cThis fellowship and its culminating exhibition underscore the vital perspective that artists contribute to our societal understanding of waste and how they can assist arts organizations in reimagining more sustainable production practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

The six participating artists were selected from over 250 applicants by a curatorial jury consisting of Misa Jeffereis, Associate Curator at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and Sara O\u2019Keeffe, Senior Curator at Art OMI; as well as Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Curator & Director of Exhibitions and Tamsin Dillon, former Executive Director at Socrates Sculpture Park. Projects were created on-site at the Park\u2019s outdoor studios with financial support and technical assistance as part of the Socrates Annual Fellowship. Kate Rusek is the 2023 Devra Freelander Artist Fellow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been wonderful to get to know the artists this summer and to watch their process and practice evolve in public,\u201d said Katie Dixon<\/strong>, Interim Executive Director<\/strong> of \u7d22\u514b\u62c9\u63d0\u65af\u96d5\u5851\u516c\u56ed<\/strong>. \u201cWe offer a singular opportunity for artists to experiment and collaborate with our Socrates community and all of our Fellows this year tested their own boundaries and limits in surprising ways. I\u2019m excited to get to see the works installed and to witness how they will transform our experience of the Park and each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Socrates Sculpture Park is excited to welcome back SkowheganPERFORMS during the opening reception of The Socrates Annual 2023<\/em> on September 30, 2023. SkowheganPERFORMS is an exhibition of new, site-specific performance art by Skowhegan alumni at Socrates Sculpture Park. The event shares the same thematic prompt, \u201ctransformation,\u201d as The Socrates Annual 2023.<\/em> Performances may be one moment, ongoing, or repeated over the course of the afternoon at different locations in the Park. Various degrees of audience participation may be encouraged. All will share a responsiveness to the landscape and\/or history of Socrates, as well as the works on view.<\/p>\n

The Socrates Annual<\/em><\/strong> 2023<\/strong><\/em> is on view Saturday, September 30, 2023<\/strong> \u2013 March 24, 2024<\/strong>. A public opening will be held on Saturday, September 30<\/strong>, in conjunction with a tour by the Artist Fellows and SkowheganPERFORMS. Socrates Sculpture Park is open 365 days a year, from 9 am to sunset. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

For full details visit https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/the-socrates-annual-2023<\/a><\/p>\n

The exhibition press kit is available for download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n<\/strong>ARTWORK DESCRIPTIONS<\/h3>\n

Ashley Harris<\/a> \u548c Ndivhuho Rasengani<\/a><\/strong>\nDwell within the Light\n<\/em><\/strong>Glass, concrete, acrylic, steel, wood, and plants\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dwell Within the Light <\/em>traces the Park\u2019s trajectory from its origins as the ancestral land of the Lenape, Carnarsie, and Matinecock People, through its phase as a dumpsite, to its ultimate transformation into an arts space. These sculptures, forged from a fusion of found materials, pivot and morph in response to the Park\u2019s natural forces \u2013 wind, rain, and human interaction. Together, these works intertwine narratives of history and landscape through their unique material interconnections.<\/p>\n

Bat-Ami Rivlin<\/strong><\/a>\nUntitled (12 tubs)\n<\/em><\/strong>Steel and reclaimed bathtubs\n<\/strong>Additional production support from Artis Contemporary\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Untitled (12 Tubs)<\/em> is a sculptural gesture intertwining the landscape with the small, intimate spaces of twelve suspended bathtubs. Facing inwards, the bathtubs create an interior space of chambers, allowing the viewer to simultaneously experience extreme interior and exterior views of the Park. The bathtub, being a unit of measurement for the industrialized \u201caverage\u201d human mass, creates a space that systematizes the human form. This duality of function, both intimate in its closeness to the body and alienating in its quantification of flesh, transforms into an architectural element as the object repeats over and over again. The bathtub-wheel carves into the air, placing frames for the body in impossible positions in space.<\/p>\n

Kate Rusek<\/a>\n<\/strong>Imagined Fungal Emergence\n<\/em><\/strong>Reclaimed aluminum, aluminum fasteners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using reclaimed aluminum blinds, Rusek creates an immersive tapestry inspired by clusters of fungi. Referencing both natural and manmade architectural structures, the installation features archways and openings that invite visitors to navigate through the suspended forms. Notice how each cluster draws strength from its neighboring component while also relying on the supportive embrace of the trees. Crafted predominantly from waste sourced in New York City, this work challenges preconceived notions of value, and imagines a future where each element holds regenerative potential. *2023 Devra Freelander Artist Fellow<\/em><\/p>\n

\u739b\u4e3d\u4e9a\u59c6 \u571f\u8033\u5176<\/a>\n<\/strong>Deconstructed\n<\/em><\/strong>Metal, foam, stucco, pigment, and reclaimed wood\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drawing inspiration from her childhood in Baghdad, where mud structures bore the imprint of human touch, this immersive work echoes the architectural imperfections and textures that fascinated the artist as a child. Facilitating tactile interactions through its textured surfaces and intricate puzzle-like form, the artwork serves as a juxtaposition to the prevailing tide of mechanized construction and architectural rigidity. Eliciting a palpable sense of play, Deconstructed<\/em> embodies a timeless narrative, celebrating the enduring connection between humanity and its architectural creations amidst an evolving world dominated by technology.<\/p>\n

Stefania Urist<\/a>\n<\/strong>Desire Lines\n<\/em><\/strong>Phragmites, steel wire, and rebar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Formed in the shape of New York waterway maps, these fences are handwoven with phragmites, an invasive European reed grass now thriving in North American wetlands. While phragmites impose monocultures and suppress native flora, they also, paradoxically, serve as a carbon sink, absorbing emissions, cleansing waterways, and enhancing storm resilience. This work addresses the complex factors of human-defined borders and the migration of species. In an era of rapid global change, the artist prompts us to consider who has the authority to determine the habitats for certain species.<\/p>\n

__________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

SUPPORT<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Major support for The Socrates Annual Fellowship & Exhibition comes from the Jerome Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.<\/p>\n

Additional support is provided by AG Foundation, Charina Foundation, the Sidney E. Frank Foundation, Devra Freelander Artist Fund, Lambent Foundation, and The New York Community Trust, with in-kind support provided by Spacetime C.C.<\/p>\n

Additional funding is provided in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts.<\/p>\n

ABOUT SOCRATES<\/h3>\n

For over 35 years, Socrates Sculpture Park has been an award winning model of public art production, community activism, and socially inspired place-making. Most recently Socrates was honored with the Public Art Dialogue 2023 Founders Award. Over 1,200 artists have created and exhibited new works on its five waterfront acres and outdoor studio facilities. Past exhibiting artists include Agnes Denes, Jeffrey Gibson, Guadalupe Maravilla, Virginia Overton, Jean Shin, Sable Elyse Smith, Nari Ward, Meg Webster, and Hank Willis Thomas.<\/p>\n

Socrates is free and open to the public 365 days a year from 9am to sunset. It is located at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard (at Broadway) in Long Island City, New York. Socrates Sculpture Park is a not-for-profit organization licensed by NYC Parks to manage and program Socrates Sculpture Park, a New York City public park<\/p>\n

SOCIAL<\/p>\n

IG @SocratesPark\u00a0 | FB \/SocratesSculpturePark<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Joyce Chan | Communications Manager | jc@socratessculpturepark.org PDF Version Socrates Sculpture Park artist fellows presents their interpretations on transformation in The Socrates Annual 2023 The Socrates Annual 2023 opens September 30, 2023 __________________________________________________________________________________ ** The opening date of the exhibition is October 1, due to weather conditions. ** Long Island […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9326"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9328,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9326\/revisions\/9328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/socratessculpturepark.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}