vip in the city

Open Space Studios

Swing Space is a space grant program, matching artists and arts organizations with temporarily vacant commercial space throughout downtown. The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council program offers short-term occupancies (typically for two to four months) for studio, rehearsal, office, and exhibition spaces. Artists apply for stipends and raw space to develop, create and present their work.

Silverstein Properties has participated in the program since its inception, donating unused portions of my office building the past few years; currently, eight temporary studios sit high up on the 29th floor with its dazzling, unobstructed views over downtown Manhattan. Every few months, the studios are open, and the public is invited to tour through and meet the artists.

This season, the visual artists hail from three continents. Williamsburg-based Erik Guzman uses computer programs to cut and shape pieces of metal to create sculptures with light. Christian Croft’s work harnesses public data flows, filtering their contents to reveal changes in how people communicate. His Swing Space installation is entitled “the ‘is our machines learning?’ machine” — so inspired by a George W. Bush malapropism. Danish-born Lars Mathisen’s video installations were disorienting and oddly compelling.

There are 2 Comments ... Open Space Studios

Rob
October 29, 2007

Vanessa-
This blog is amazing! I’m really impressed.

I’m glad you could join us last night. Hope you had a good time.

Keep in touch.

Rob

vipnyc
October 30, 2007

Welcome, Rob! Thanks for the fine food and company… looking forward to ‘smores sometime soon. 😉

Go for it ...