Artspace (founded 1987) was a contemporary art gallery and non-profit organization located in downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Artspace closed its physical location in June 2023 and announced plans to operate remotely.
Teen program
Artspace hosted an annual Summer Apprenticeship Program (SAP) for high school students to work with a professional artist. In 2001, the program's founding year, Artspace partnered with artist Sol LeWitt to create a series of wall drawings.
Past SAP projects have included: 2001: Wall Drawings with Sol LeWitt 2002: On the Day I Was Born with David Pease 2003: View From Here with Lee Boronson 2005: Organic Bending with Shih-Chieh Huang 2008: Hawaii with William Downs 2009: Babel Collections with Carolyn Salas 2011: Trellised Bench with Boris Chesakov and Ryan Wolfe
The Lot
The Lot is Artspace's pocket park and public art space. It is located near Artspace at 812 Chapel Street, the site of a busy bus stop. Artspace has presented temporary art installations here since 1999, and redeveloped it as a dedicated art space in 2005 in collaboration with local and federal agencies.
Early history The Lot began as an empty lot. It was formerly the site of the Phoenix Building, which was torn down in the late 1990s because of safety concerns, leaving a rubble-filled lot.Bromage, Andy (June 8, 2005). "City bus stop getting a face lift" . New Haven Register.
In 1999, Marianne Bernstein of Artspace's Visual Arts Committee, asked Mayor John DeStefano for permission and organized the inaugural project in the Lot, "New Haven Labyrinth." A team of local artists led by Sharon Kurland created a maze, inspired by a Cretan labyrinth, made out of local river rocks painted by over 2500 local residents.December 13, 1999 - January 17, 2000. "Community invited to help build labyrinth" . Yale Bulletin and Calendar.
Renovations In 2001, a community charrette focused on the Lot was organized by Artspace, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas and Project for Public Spaces. There, artists and neighborhood residents developed ideas for renovating the site, including plantings, pathways, benches, and a new bus shelter. The design, anchored by benches of stone recycled from the Phoenix Building, was honored by the American Society of Landscape Architects.Bosak, Chris (September 1, 2006). "Norwalk landscape architect companies honored by Society" . The Hour, Page C5.
Exhibitions Exhibitions at the Lot included:
Deborah Hesse (curator): Line (2001), a large group sculpture show Rovzar, Chris (January 26, 2001). "Unconventional art overlooks bus stop" . Yale Daily News. Christopher Fennell: Tree Dome (2005–2006), a contemplative space made of foraged lumber DeWitt Godfrey: Pamplona (2006), one of three projects in Public Art Moving Site, giant rusty loops of sheet metal filling the Lot's Orange Street gateway"Public Art Moving Site" . Cambridge Arts Council. Retrieved 2010-11-15. Colin McMullan: A Lot in Our Lives (2007), interactive sculptures including outdoor libraries for books and objectsMcMullan, Colin. "A Lot in our lives" Emcee C.M. Retrieved 2010-11-11. This exhibition was home to McMullan's first Corner Library, a project which is ongoing at various locations in New York City.McMullan, Colin. "The Corner Libraries" William Lamson: Long Shot (2009–2010), basketball court of massive proportionsKobasa, Stephen (September 16, 2009). "Object lesson #29". New Haven Independent. Retrieved 2010-11-11."Long Shot" . Artspace. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
References
External links
Artspace Records (ART 36), Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library Special Collections, Yale Library.