Art in Odd Places (AiOP) 2015: RECALL is our 11th year and all about looking back at the artists and projects that made these festivals possible over the years. For RECALL, AiOP has invited back over forty artists to either present their original work or produce a completely new one that explore artworks in all disciplines outside the confines of traditional public space regulations. As we gear up for the festival next month, here is a preview of some of the works people can expect to see along 14th Street in October.
Name
Monika Goetz
Project Title
Coordinates
Simulation Coordinates landscape. Photo courtesy of the artist.
What was the first AiOP festival that you had participated?
I participated in AiOP 2009: SIGN, which was curated by Erin Donnelly and Radhika Subramaniam.
What are your thoughts on participating in an AiOP festival again?
I always liked and still like the idea of interrupting the daily activities on 14th Street with public art. It should happen more often.
Why is 14th Street a compelling site for creative response?
In some areas the character of the street changed quite a bit since 2009; back then it seemed more raw and almost forgotten towards its edges. Since then the west side became much more vibrant and commercial due to all the action triggered by the High Line. Thus, finding the right spot was much more challenging this time as I was looking for a nondescript, unremarkable site. Ultimately, I moved all the way to the east of 14th Street.
In my eyes 14th Street still has some rather quiet, out of time sections- which I like. But compared to the previous years the street became more busy overall. Therefore it will be interesting to see what impact the festival will have on the street life this year.
Sign post office coordinates. Image courtesy of the artist.
Are you presenting the same project as last time? Are you incorporating anything you learned from the last staging into this year’s festival? What, if anything have you changed? If presenting a new piece, why did you decide on something new?
It will be the same project, only at a different location. Back in 2009 I asked Erin Donnelly, one of the curators, to pick a site for me. I only gave her a characterization of the kind of site I was looking for. I was curious to see what location she would choose. This year I picked the site myself.
The piece is about the nature of a location and how we, as viewers, perceive and value it all differently. I am looking for a site that has no outstanding features and I will ‘honor’ it with a sign of its exact location. As 14th Street has changed so much, finding this unspectacular site has become much more challenging.
What reactions did you see the last time you staged your work on 14th Street? What reactions are you hoping to draw from the public this time?
My piece is pretty direct and dead on. In 2009 when I first participated AiOP’s title was “SIGN”- which was exactly what I delivered: A sign with the coordinates of its exact location. The reactions varied from being surprised, alienated, amused and/or fascinated. I would not mind getting the same mix of reactions.
