Calling all artists!

Upham's Corner ArtPlace, in collaboration with residents and a broad range of community-based partners, is seeking to commission a professional artist, artisan, architect, landscape architect, or teams thereof to create artwork for permanent display in the Upham’s Corner neighborhood of Dorchester as part of the exciting increase in transit access along the Fairmount Corridor. Strong preference will be given to a local artist from the Upham’s Corner community, from Dorchester and permanent residents of Boston. Strong preference will also be given to artists who demonstrate an interest in, and experience with, identifying, training and paying local apprentices in community-led art making processes.

The selected artist(s) will facilitate a community centered and led visioning, design, site selection, fabrication and installation process that uplifts the local identity and celebrates the richness of the neighborhood and its residents. The budget is up to $500,000 over the course of the project, with $100,000 already secured for Phase 1.

For all the submission guidelines, click here.

DS4SI IS HOSTING AN INFORMATION AND GRANT-WRITING SESSION:

October 30th, 5:30pm, 1946 Washington St, 2nd floor

For more information about coming to the information session that we're hosting, contact us at: art [at] ds4si [dot] org.

STREET LAB: UPHAM'S

We're looking for artists, makers, residents, merchants, families, youth, handy-folks, etc!

Tactical urbanism refers to quick, often temporary, affordable projects that aim to make a small part of a city more livable, lively or enjoyable. The aim of STREET LAB: UPHAM'S is to put tactical urbanism in the hands of the community by creating an open lab where community members can step in, work with local artists, designers and builders to prototype and re-imagine everyday aspects of public space. This will take place in the heart of Upham's Corner as part of Upham's Corner ArtPlace.

STREET LAB: UPHAM'S is looking for local residents interested in joining us to learn, as well as more experienced creative people from near and far. (Stipends are available for experienced makers from the greater Upham’s area who can join us for at least four Saturdays!)

If you have any of the following skills and are interested in working on small projects in Upham’s this fall, we would love to meet you!

 - Basic to advanced construction skills
 - Experience in a metal shop, woodshop/ wood working
 - Carving
 - Jig making
 - Sewing, crochet, knitting
 - Fabric work

 Or if you are a
 - Furniture maker
 - Bike mechanic
 - Carpenter
 - Welder

Come join us! For more information, contact us via email (streetlab@ds4si.org), facebook (facebook.com/ds4si)  or twitter (@ds4si).

STREET LAB: UPHAM'S and Upham's Corner ArtPlace are funded by ArtPlace America and the Boston Foundation.

Photos From Making Planning Processes Public & A Blog Post

A blog post on Rooflines.org about MPPP, check it out http://www.rooflines.org/3240/the_art_of_public_planning/ 

Photos taken throughout the week, take a look!

 

Making Planning Processes Public in Upham's Corner

As part of our work with Upham's Corner ArtPlace, the Design Studio is putting on another pop-up exhibit in Upham's Corner. This one, entitled "Making Planning Processes Public" aims to do just that, as Upham's is slated for multiple types of investment and redevelopment. The exhbit is another chance to put "creative placemaking" in the hands of community residents and to use the skills and creativity of local artists to invite residents deeper into the planning processes.

We are excited that Upham's Corner Main Street is hosting us again and thriled to be working with local arists Cedric Dougles and Philippe Lejeune. (They're going to blow your mind!) We are grateful to funding from The Boston Foundation and ArtPlace, and partnerships with Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and MIT's Center for Civic Media's awesome Co-Design class. Finally, our MPPP interns, Corina McCarthy-Fadel and Diego Perez Lacera have been tireless and invaluable!

Please contact us if you would like to volunteer! We would love to have you.  

volunteer [at] ds4si.org

The exhibit will run from April 29th--May 5th, from 3-7pm each day. More event details coming soon.

Two Local Artists Chosen for Our "Making Planning Processes Public" Exhibit

We are proud to announce the two artists we've selected for our upcoming interactive installation entitled “Making Planning Processes Public” in Upham's Corner. The installation will be open to the public from Apriil 29th--May 5th in the Upham's Corner Main Street office next to the Strand.

Cedric Douglas (above), a local artist with his art studio on Humphries Street, was chosen for the integrated public signage commission. He brings a rich background in using everyday objects to communicate messages to the public.

Philippe Lejeune of Brookline was selected for his creative installations that engage the public in rethinking their subjectivity. Both bring a wealth of experience about public art, installations and the Boston area to our art partnership.

We took our artists on a tour of Upham’s Corner to start imagining what the full installation and integrated signage will feel and look like.

Philippe Lejeune, left, with Cedric Douglas, right, at Upham's Corner intersection of Columbia Ave and Dudley Street.

Design Studio's Kenny Bailey with artists (and another local artist) in front of Cedric's art studio on Humphries Street near Upham's Corner.

Cedric and Philippe thinking about possible spaces for signage or installations...

This upcoming installation is part of our work with the Upham's Corner ArtPlace initiative, funded by ArtPlace and The Boston Foundation.