Metal Gate Makeover

A computer rending of the worms

Mary Heilmann

Jacqueline Humphries

New York Times Article

Metal gate makeovers will take place only at night in the "After Hours: Murals on the Bowery." This will coincide with "Festivals of Ideas for NYC." This festival will be held this Wednesday in NYC where artists from all different medias could show their work in what is called a "StreetFest." It is approximately two and a half days of workshops with speeches followed on Saturday and Sunday. It takes place along Bowery Street and in Sara D. Roosevelt Park by Chrystie Street.

The tents that the vendors will be under are also going to be a part of the art, artists are from the New Museum and the city Transportation Department and the Storefront for Art and Architecture competed to design tents. The winner designed "slinky-like structures" that resembled worms. The sections were 20 ft long. There were eight worms and they were raspberry and cyan colored. These will be set up along Bowery during the StreetFest between Prince and Rivington Streets. Inside the tents or worms will be 10 booths, such as the Hot Bread Kitchen booth.

The idea for the ideas festival began in 2008 when the New Museum was moving into their new building. "The festival 'seemed like it was something that was missing' from the city, said Lisa Phillips, the Toby Devan Lewis director of the New Museum" (New York Times).

"The idea for 'After Hours,' with the painted roll-down gates on the storefronts, came to mind as Ms. Phillips talked with Ms. Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal of the Art Production Fund, whose mission includes expanding public participation in art. 'The street has a different life when the stores are closed,' Ms. Force Villareal said, 'but how do you bring artists into the public realm?'" (New York Times)

I was intrigued by this article because I think it's a great idea in getting artists of different medias to come together and create artistic neighborhoods. It is also a collaboration of street art and street fairs.