Housing Initiative

ARTISTS HOUSING PROJECT: PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Our concept for ideal artists' live/work space creates wings in a wheel-like structure around a hub, each wing constructed for the needs of each represented art. So far, these artforms include: Music, Dance, Theater, Performance/ Multi-Media, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking, Painting, Photography, Writing, Video, Film, and Computer-based Art. The artforms are divided into separate wings in order to address the particular needs of that art. This would include one or more group spaces whose uses would be tailored to that artform. A central feature of the project would be an after-school program for interested students of every featured media to learn from resident practicing artists. Artists would agree to contribute their instruction as a condition of residence. Artists who are uncomfortable with teaching could serve as organizers or administrators. Live/work spaces would be subsidized based on annual income (such as the Westbeth Housing Project of the 1940's).

There would be a wing devoted to room rentals for friends of the artists in the project or for visitors. This would be a money-maker for the project. There would also be studios in each of the concentration wings for longer-term rentals for artists visiting and working in New York.

In the center of the wheel—the hub—would be communal spaces such as a large theater, a large performance space and exhibition spaces that would bring all the artforms together in one place for public presentation. There would also be a central hall, a supermarket, a coffee shop, and other important retail. The spaces between the spokes of the wheel outside the building would house variously pocket parks, sculpture spaces, gardens, exterior performance spaces, exterior work spaces, etc.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WINGS

The apartments might be on one floor and the workspaces on another. Since the footprint of the building would be large, there should be at least 6 floors for best value and efficiency. The building, including the roofs, would be green.

MUSIC would have individual live/work spaces that would be soundproofed so that individuals could play at any time without disturbing neighbors in live/work situations. The spaces would be large enough to accommodate teaching or small musical groups. The wing would feature a small space for informal performances, another space for jam sessions or rehearsals, a room for teaching, furnished with instruments that could be loaned to students, small rehearsal rooms, a recording studio. Each of these rooms would have a piano.

DANCE AND PERFORMANCE/MULTI-MEDIA (separate wings) would have small practice studios as personal workspaces and several larger communal spaces to be used on rotation. Live/work units would have long floors.

THEATER would also have small practice studios as personal workspaces and several larger communal spaces to be used on rotation. Theater would have a traditional theater space with seating and a less traditional theater-in the round.

SCULPTURE would give each artist a large studio and a group of shared tool room spaces overseen by a tech. The tool rooms might include a metals workshop featuring plasma cutters, laser cutters, different kinds of welders, electric hoists, a sand-blasting room, as well as a collection of more-expensive hand-tools. There could also be a wood-room with band saws, table saws, etc. The sculptors extra space would be a high-ceilinged exhibit space with skylights.

DRAWING AND PAINTING (2 separate wings) would each have large studios with north light or skylight. They would also have a shared wood room with band saws, table saws, etc. overseen by a wood technician. The shared spaces could be high-ceilinged exhibit spaces with skylights. Printmaking would have large studios with good window-light or skylight. They would also have a shared room with hand-made paper molds and a printmaking workshop where their teaching could occur. The shared spaces could be high-ceilinged exhibit spaces with skylights.

PHOTOGRAPHY would have studios with attached darkrooms. There could also be a shared darkroom run by technicians with a variety of equipment for color, black & white, and digital photography. Large exhibition spaces would be available as well as lecture rooms where projections could be shown.

WRITERS would have spaces for writing and working on projects that provide privacy and minimize distraction, perhaps soundproofed. The common spaces would include spaces for Readings, Performances and Creative Workshops.

VIDEO, FILM, COMPUTER-BASED ART (3 separate wings) would all have studios equipped for computers and editing equipment. The Video, Film, and Computer-based Art wings would have common spaces with editing suites and computers and technicians. The three wings would have shared exhibition spaces featuring whatever equipment would be appropriate. There would also be viewing spaces for films.