ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
We have worked a fair amount with artists and I have done some panels
with artists at various places, including ASTC, about the process of
commissioning.
There is such a wide range of meaning of the word "artist" nowadays,
and every individual artist defines their relationship to a commission
differently. Some are real "work for hire" types and essentially
shade over into exhibition developer. In this case, you are asking
for particular content, interactivity, or however you are defining the
piece, and they work to deliver this to you. This work involves all
the iterations and give and take that there is with any exhibit
developer, graphic designer, etc.
On the other end of the spectrum are artists who feel that no one
should tell them what to do whatsoever, that independence is the soul
of creativity. In that case, you have much less control over what is
produced, and there is much less give and take, more like take it or
leave it.
Most of what we have done has been somewhere between the two
approaches, and patience, empathy, care, directness, communication,
consideration are required on both sides to make the collaboration work.
Most of what we have done has not been on an RFP basis, but rather as
the result of seeing someone's work and seeing how it might be adapted
to the needs at hand. We have never bid an art piece, but rather have
selected artists and negotiated with them.
HTH.
Eric Siegel
Director and Chief Content Officer
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
www.nyscience.org
718.699.0005 x 317
esiegel at nyscience dot org
On Oct 4, 2008, at 5:25 PM, jason jay stevens wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
>
> I'm lucky to get to be a professional artist on some days and an
> exhibit designer-fabricator on other days. I've also helped
> coordinate a number of citywide events involving artists. So I've
> been on every side of the table, top and bottom included!
>
> I could go on and on and on, but here's a consideration or two from
> the top of my brain this afternoon:
>
> 1. There might be somebody on your Board (or somebody on staff!)
> who collects art. That's a valuable resource, maybe--but not
> necessarily--for art loans, but primarily for who and what they
> already know.
>
> 2. Establish whether you're making a Call for Submissions of
> existing works, which is great for photographers and performancers
> and many painters, or a Request for Proposals, which is great for
> project-based, situation-specific work, and a great way to access
> the installation artists, interactive sculptors, and some poets. Or
> maybe you're doing both Calls and Requests! Many artists respond to
> both!
>
> 3. If you're Calling for Submissions, you'll wear curator's
> shoes. You'll look over a plethora of slideshows, and hopefully
> committ some afternoons to making studio visits (always rewarding
> time spent). It's important that you outline for artists the ways
> in which your exhibition will differ from a typical gallery
> exhibition. And ways may be many!
> Determine if you're paying exhibition fees, or purchasing prints, or
> if the exhibition is offering awards, or some other path for the
> mooney. If there's isn't much chance for sales, a lot of 2-D
> artists appreciate exhibition fees.
>
> 4. If you're Requesting for Proposals, the process is more like a
> public art selection, or in some cases a residency program. You'll
> be looking at ideas and qualifications, and considering
> feasability. The wider the cross section of people on your
> selection committee, the better, because the chosen artist(s) will
> have to work across departments during the project, in addition to
> working closely with an on-staff project manager. Personality
> conflicts can break a good project, so interviews are probably a must.
> Limitations fuel creativity! Be up front regarding the limitations
> and potential compromises as much as you are about the
> opportunities. I think your best candidates will be eager to
> confront challenges, and creatively so.
> Getting what you pay for being fact, incentives beyond a materials
> budget are crucial. Many installation artists don't make a living
> selling work, but by winning grants and awards. If monetary
> incentives are meager, the host institution should be committed to
> providing access to wise expertise, special equipment, unique
> exhibition space, or in some other way be the lever that lifts
> particular obstacles that would otherwise keep a dream project from
> being realized.
>
> 5. We are lucky to live in a time when a lot of emerging artists
> are exploring collective, multimedia art-making. You can select
> teams of artists to tackle particular projects, and likely stir up
> some unique activity.
>
>
> Scott, I'm sure your project is going to be a blast!
>
>
> --Jason
>
> __
> JasonJayStevens
> JasonJayStevensStudio
> [log in to unmask]
> www.potterbelmar.org/jjss
> 536 Roosevelt Avenue
> San Antonio, Texas 78210
> 210.818.0642
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 3, 2008, at 2:22 PM, Scott Pattison wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> *****************************************************************************
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> What experience have people had working with artists to create
>> displays
>> and interactives for exhibits? What worked? What didn't?
>>
>> We are considering both temporary installations, that would only be
>> on
>> display at one venue, and displays or interactives that would be a
>> permanent part of a traveling exhibit.
>>
>> Thanks for your help,
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> Scott Pattison
>> Senior Exhibit Developer
>> Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
>> 1945 SE Water Avenue
>> Portland, OR 97214
>> 503.797.4673
>> [log in to unmask]
>> www.omsi.edu
>>
>> Unlock the puzzles in the Mindbender Mansion-A brain teasing new
>> exhibit
>> now open at OMSI
>>
>>
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>>
>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org
>> .
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>
>
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
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