Gowanus Memorial Artyard facts for kids
The Gowanus Memorial Artyard was a group of artists in New York City who put on huge art shows in the early 1980s. These shows happened both outdoors and indoors in a part of Brooklyn called Gowanus. Artists Michael Keene, Frank Shifreen, and George Moore started the group. They created amazing outdoor sculpture parks right next to the Gowanus Canal. Two big shows in 1981 and 1982 brought in thousands of people. Famous artists like Carl Andre, Keith Haring (who was supported by Andy Warhol), and Christo were part of these events.
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How the Artyard Started
In 1979, Frank Shifreen had just finished art school at Pratt Institute. He started having open-studio parties at his apartment in Brooklyn. Many local artists from New York came to these parties. They used it as a way to meet and connect with each other.
Shifreen's building was an old factory from the 1800s. It was located at 230 3rd Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The building had a lot of empty space, over 9,500 square feet! Shifreen asked his landlord if he could use these empty areas for art shows.
The building was very close to the Gowanus Canal, which was quite polluted. Also, just two blocks away was a five-acre abandoned dump. The city owned this land, calling it a "Public Site." It was full of weeds, trash, and old car parts.
The Monumental Show (1981)
Shifreen then joined with artists Michael Keene and George Moore. They planned a big art show using both the empty factory space and the public dump next door. They got help from local community groups. They also received a $1,500 grant to help pay for the show.
They called their group the Gowanus Canal Memorial Artyard. Six months before the show, they put up posters all over the city. The posters were black and white and asked artists to send in their ideas. They received thousands of ideas for live music and art projects.
The organizers chose 150 artists. Each artist got a 20 by 20 foot space for their art. The show was called The Monumental Show. The main idea was "monumental art." This meant paintings, sculptures, and other art that was one-and-a-half times bigger than normal. Both new artists and famous ones like Carl Andre and Keith Haring took part.
Gowanus Canal Redefined (1982)
The local community in Gowanus, Brooklyn really liked The Monumental Show. Because of this, local leaders contacted the Gowanus Memorial Artyard. They offered to support a special competition about architecture.
This competition was called The Gowanus Canal Redefined. It was a unique contest started by people in the community. Frank Shifreen and Scott Siken from the Artyard organized it. They chose ideas for new ways to think about the Gowanus Canal.
The goal was to find the best architectural idea to improve the Gowanus Canal area. The area used to be a busy industrial zone. But in the early 1980s, it was very neglected. Today, the canal is even called a Superfund site because of pollution. The competition asked artists to include the canal's water, open park spaces, and its closeness to Manhattan. They also wanted ideas that used public transportation.
This show ran from October 18 to October 29, 1982. Artists like Todd Ayoung, Dennis Joyce, and Kristin Steen were among the participants.
Why These Shows Were Important
The Gowanus Memorial Artyard shows were part of a trend in the early 1980s. Several other large art shows happened in old buildings or public places. One example was The Times Square Show, which had art performances every night.
Another show was Ninth Street Survival in an abandoned school. This was on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. There was also the Coney Island Show on a pier at the Coney Island Amusement Park.
Some artists believe these early shows helped start the East Village, Manhattan art movement. This movement became very popular in the 1980s. These artist-run shows made it easier for art dealers and art galleries to discover new and exciting artists.
Images for kids
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Poster seen around New York
