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march 8 2008–march 16, 2008SkulpturenPark, Berlin
p16exhibition20designed by: Lina Moysis ‘08
3aboutThe ArtistsVisiting Berlin, the capital of Germany, an integrated design team from theMassachusetts College of Art and Design and its Urban Arts Institute presents apublic art project that responds to the local topography by referencing the jaggedcourse of the former Berlin Wall and the soft curves of the river Spree. A dialecticdiscourse is established between the man-made and the natural, geometric andorganic form, and the former division of east and west. The team consisted of adiverse, multi-disciplined group of students including Serena Elston, Alex Farrell,Laura Watson, Amanda Prachanronarong, Joe Blair, Lina Moysis and Krista Lima.Accompanying those students were Tori Reimann, and instructors, Christina Lanzl ofthe Urban Arts Institute and Sigrun Prahl. Bob Kephart joined the trip as the groupphotographer. The trip became a learning experience, not only in the conceptualdevelopment and execution of an art piece in a foreign country but in compromisingartistic visions in order to create a piece that represented the group as a whole, atask that seems easy enough, but became more difficult as concepts became morerefined. The group ultimately realized that in putting differences aside, the focusbecame unified and seemingly different ideas came together in order to accomplishthe goal.in a foreign country to boot.“A dialectic discourse is established between man-made andnatural, geometric and organic form, and the former divisionof east and west.”–Christina Lanzl, Instructor
MassartMassachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, independent college of art anddesign. The college’s professional baccalaureate and graduate programs preparestudents to participate in the creative economy as fine artists, designers, and arteducators, and to engage in the well being of their society. As a national leader invisual art and design education, the college influences contemporary culture throughthe accomplishments of its alumni and the creative activities of its faculty and staff.Urban Arts InstituteUrbanArts offers educational programs for the public and access to resources forartists, community groups and design professionals. They host workshops, conferencesand symposia on issues concerning public art. Under the rubric of Public Art, pastexamples include Envisioning Opportunities for Public Arts for the New CentralArtery Land in Boston, and Digital Art and Public Space: Expanding Definitions ofPublic Art. The integration of public art into higher education through courses isunderway in partnership with Massachusetts College of Art and Design.Opposite:Sustainable sculpturecommunity meeting at theMassachusetts College ofArt with winning design byThomas Whittlesey.Photo: KiEun Kweon 2007.International ProgramsMassArt’s Office of International Education Programs offers a variety of opportunitiesfor students, faculty, staff, and alumni to travel abroad and experience art makingand design in a global environment. During 2008, students had the option to chooseamong programs to Venice, Berlin, Mexico, Turkey, China, Brazil, and Ecuador.Programs and support5
7ResearchPrior to the group’s departure, the students spent time in class and outside ofclass researching Berlin’s history and topography. They were all assigned a publicart piece or an architectural site to study and get a better understanding of Berlin.They each presented their piece in class. Meanwhile, the students also began toconceptualize a group piece to be built on site in the sculpture park. Each of thestudents brought forth an idea based upon research of Berlin’s history and presentsituation. The group then decided on one sketch to work on as a main piece. Inaddition, students proposed projects to be completed either in the workshop or onsite. Attempting to appease all parties and concepts seemed to be a struggle atfirst, but it was rewarding in the end.Left:Proposed exhibit by seniorarchitect, Alex Farrellincludes found object andcolors attributed to theBauhaus.Opposite:Sketch by sophomoregraphic designer, Joe Blairincludes plywood planksand group artwork.Next Page:Collaborative installationproposal by Alex Farrell.
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11berlinThe group had plenty of time to experience Berlin first hand. Renting bicyclesand walking the city on foot, the students were led by Christina Lanzl and SigrunPrahl. Berlin, a city full of public art and architecture, was a great learning experience not only culturally, but artistically. They had the opportunity to sight see atPotsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate, and view public pieces by artists such asRobert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, and Keith Haring. They also were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of the Reichstag, including Norman Foster’sspectacular dome. The trip offered an experience in Berlin that could not havebeen possible otherwise through anything short of immersion within the cultureand history of a city whose tumultuous past still haunts it today.“we all encountered things we didn’t expect. I was glad to havegone, Not just for the experience of being in another country, butfor being out on my own.”–joe blair, sophomore
13RightRauschenberg balloonsculpture.OppositeMirrored Cone at the centerof Norman Foster’s dome.Last PageLiebe (Love) sign in theKulturBrauerei, PrenzlauerBerg, Berlin.“The trip offered an experience that could not have been possibleotherwise through anything short of immersion within the cultureand history of a city whose tumultuous past still haunts it today.”–Lina Moysis, senior
15LeftThe group in front of theBrandenburg GateOppositeKrista Lima and SerenaElston at the HolocaustMemorial
17The onsite work began with preparation at the woodshop. All materials wereeither found onsite in the Skulpturenpark or at OBI, the German equivalent ofHome Depot. After most of the pieces were assembled at the woodshop, theywere transported to the park, and assembled on the day of the exhibition. Thegroup then had the experience of a critique amongst a group of guests where eachartist had the opportunity to explain his/her work in relation to their perceptionof Berlin. The work was diverse and very conceptual, mirroring each artist’s visionof Berlin effectively, whether it was a positive or negative response. The show waswell received by students, instructors and guests alike.woodshop
19LeftJoe Blair, Tori Reimann andInstructor, Christina Lanzlworking on sculpture parkprojects.OppositeThe workshop space.
21exhibitionSkulpturenparkSkulpturenpark Berlin Zentrum sits on 62 vacant lots of downtown real estateowned by various private companies and individuals. It is an urban void which wasformerly part of the “Mauerstreifen,” the militarized zone within the Berlin Wall, but isnow overgrown with weeds. The land remains vacant to this day. With approximatelyfour hectares of open lots, it offers a vast space and unique history to host varioussocio-cultural activities.From 2006-2008, KUNSTrePUBLIK e.V., a German art association, conceived andhosted three exhibition series, Bestandsaufnahme, Parcella, and Spekulationen,which supported site-specific projects dealing with the historic, geographic, cultural,and contemporary significance of the land. Over two years, the park presented 18artists’ projects. In the same time, the number of landowners decreased from 18to nine as lots were bought and sold for future development. Most recently, threeinvestors have set dates for breaking ground. After 20 years of restless dormancyand speculation, these recent developments give reason for a new phase of artisticquestioning which KUNSTrePUBLIK e.V. will discuss in its next exhibitions series,Landreform and Wunderland.“The land remains vacant to this day. With approximately fourhectares of open lots, it offers a vast space and unique history tohost various socio-cultural activities.”–Dan, Skulpturenpark
2319rightKrista Lima building one ofthree brick sculptures.OppositeAlex Farrell, Tori Reimann,and Laura Watson workingtogether to construct theballoon wall.
25Chair SculptureSerena Elston, Christina Lanzl, Amanda PrachanronarongBrick sculptureKrista Lima
27Balloon WallAlex Farrell (concept/architect), Laura Watson, Tori Reimann,Amanda Prachanronarong
29Game sculpture and U-Bahn SculptureJoe BlairBalloon SculptureAmanda Prachanronarong
31Quote SculptureTori ReimannWoven WallAmanda prachanronarong, Alex Farrell, Krista Lima,Laura watson, Serena Elston, Tori Reimann
33Sigrun, our instructor, and Roland for being our guidesto Berlin, showing us around and having a bunch ofcrazy artists over for dinner.Christina, our instructor, for organizing this trip andmaking it possible to experience Berlin first hand.Dan and Matze at the Skulpturenpark for making thesculpture park available and attending our opening.The German Language School (GLS) for the incredibleaccomodations and amazing breakfast.Kulturwerk des BBK Berlin for allowing us to use thewoodshop in order to prepare for the sculpture park.MassArt and the UrbanArts Institute for developinginternational programs and supporting studentparticipation through travel course scholarships.special thanks
maSSart Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, independent college of art and . faculty, staff, and alumni to travel abroad and experience art making and design in a global environment. During 2008, students had the option to choose . art piece or an architectural site to study
