Korrespondens angående skulpturen "Monument to the Unknown Artist" 2011, Headlands Center For The Arts, San Francisco
Detta första mail gav en ganska omedelbar reaktion. Holly som är "navet" på Headlands kom över till mig och ville informera om att en sådan här sak var omöjlig att genomföra. Jag sa att jag gärna ville ha ett officiellt svar från Sharon och att jag gärna ville försöka ändå. Senare på kvällen hade jag också ett samtal med Sharon vilket inte lät så hoppfullt.
Därefter hände inget egentligen och en tid senare ansåg jag det vara dax att skicka ett mail till:
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Sharon
I would like to know how the decisions regarding my request to place a public sculpture, the "Monument to the Unknown Artist" are going ahead. Is there any progress?
My first full scale example of the sculpture is now ready. It is not a permanent version, but it could be turned into such if wanted. The material I have used for this version is dyed and polished concrete.
At open house I showed, as you know, the at the time unfinished sculpture. It was well received by many. I also had a good talk with one of your board members who only had positive things to say about the sculpture and the concept.
It would please me very much if you could give me some hints about the possibilities to move this project forward.
I am attaching some photos of the sculpture.
As mentioned before, I consider the decision of its permanent placing to be very much in your hands.
Sincerely
Rikard Fåhraeus
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Sharons svar:
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On Sun, 30 Oct 2011 07:47:22 -0700, sharon maidenberg wrote:
Dear Rikard,Thanks for following up. I apologize if you've been waiting for a response from me in writing. I had assumed you understand my position from our conversation in the kitchen during the week leading up to Open House, but of course, I suppose a written response is more formal.I'm sorry to say the images you attached to your below email could not open? Please do re-send at your convenience. I'm interested and excited to see what you've been working on in recent weeks.In response to your inquiry about placing a permanent sculpture outside, I'm afraid that we are unable to accommodate your request.As you know, we are located within a National Park, one that has very specific limitations and a very exacting approach to environmental preservation that frowns upon changing the natural environment by placing "non-native" objects in nature. Permanent art objects are among such items. I'd of course be more than happy to talk with you in more detail about this, and would be happy to consider a temporary installation if that approach was of interest and made sense for your project.I very much appreciate your thoughtful project, and your inquiry.Very best,sharon--
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Mitt svar:
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Dear Sharon
Thank you for your answere.
I am glad there is a possibility to make a temporary installation outside.
My immediate question would be; where, how and for how long?
Can I place it anywhere in the park? Is there any regulations to how, besides the obvious of not disturbing wildlife? Does "temporary" mean only "not permanent" ?
I would like to continue the conversation about what can be done. I would prefer to do it on mail, since this gives me time to think through my answers. It also gives me the possibility to go back and read what has been written. I hope I'm not imposing to much on your time. And I am grateful for the time you find this project deserves.
I did understand from our conversation, as well as from my contract and discussions with others that my request most probably would fall outside what is considered possible. Although, I came forward with my suggestion anyway. Among other reasons because I find the limits you have to work within, as well as the artist here and in most other places, somewhat arbitrary, to say the least. In some perspectives it could actually even seem somewhat absurd. For example in comparison with some official installations such as fire posts, road and trekking signs, old remains of military activity, etc. These are installations that are put in place " in the public interest". My view is that The Headland Center for the Arts and it's doings also are here because they serve a public interest. I would also consider a public sculpture as something that serves a public interest.
I guess the regulation regarding "non-native" objects in nature is based on a strive to preserve the environment as "natural" as possible for the wildlife here. Meaning, among other things, that anything added should not effect the wildlife in a negative way.
I do not think my suggested art piece would effect the wildlife in any negative way. And most probably less than a road sign or parking place. If it would have a negative effect I would be more than happy to change it so it does not. I do not want to negatively effect the wildlife.
Other reasons would be to preserve the historical remains. I do not think my art piece would effect these historical artifacts in any destructive way, if placed in a considerate and well thought out spot. That it would be impossible to find such a spot seems to me very unlikely, bearing in mind all the alterations the surroundings have been, and still are, subject to.
I can see that it would be a really BIG work for you if my request should be sent on higher up, to the national park service and so on. My intent was not to put such a burden on you. On the contrary, I hoped to get your blessing to put this burden on my own shoulders.
I also nurtured a small hope that theses limits of your activities as an Art Center would be something that you would like to push a little bit further. Not only for the sake of the Center, nor me, but for the sake of art, and in the publics interest.
Yours Sincerely
Rikard
ps. I am adding a compressed file with some photos, hope it's not to big for our connections.
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Sharons svar:
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7 nov 2011 sharon maidenberg wrote:
Hi Rikard,
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Hollys svar på min förfrågan om ansökningsformulär:
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Hi Rikard,
The form is attached. I asked Sharon about the written regulations concerning art in the park and she said that there aren't any written ones in existence - yet. You may recall the exhibit (also attached) that was part of your Headlands contract. That constitutes our verbal agreement with the Park Service about how artists can or can't interact with the park's resources. Sharon says she has been meeting with the Park Service over the last year to develop a formal - and written - arts policy for the park. The policy is to be reviewed by the Park Service's Senior Staff in January. The plan, if approved would include open calls for proposals for temporary to long term (but not permanent) art in the park.
However, we are dealing with a government agency so Sharon anticipates that it will take another five years for this policy to be approved.
Holly
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Min formella ansökan skickad till Headlands:
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Performance/Installation Request Form
Artist(s): ___Rikard Fåhraeus_______________
Today’s date: __nov 17, 2011_______________
Date(s) of proposed performance or installation:
Spring Open House ______ Summer Open House ____ Fall Open House _______
Other: __From a week after date of approval. Duration : As long as possible, determined by National Park Authorities .
Place:
On place near Headlands Center for the Arts approved by National Park Authorities. Suggested place by artist: In front of the two main buildings and below the slope. In front of the Eucalyptus tree. On the grass in the open space. Same distance to both houses. Sculpture facing the open space between the two buildings. Se enclosed map.
Description of performance and/or installation:
Placing of the sculpture "Monument To The Unknown Artist" and let it stay there for as long as it may be approved. If no permanent installation can be approved, thereafter removal for placing elsewhere.
The sculpture is made of black polished concrete (not solid). Dimensions: 18"x18"x18" .
It is heavy, but light enough to be installed by one man.
On its side (front) is the text "MONUMENT TO THE UNKNOWN ARTIST"
Concept:
There are several monuments to the unknown soldier in the world, but not any (to my knowledge) to the unknown artist.
Headlands as being a formerly military ground and The Headlands Center for the Arts as being a place helping artists, prove combined to be an ideal place for this conceptual sculpture.
Headlands is also a natural reserve and therefore form and materials for the sculpture are chosen with this in mind, to make as little physical impact on the environment as possible.
My decision to give the sculpture such a basic form is furthermore out of a conceptual necessity. It would be a contradiction of this concept to make a sculpture modeled in such a way that it puts the creators skills in front. The square black block simply is the most anonymous and basic form a manmade object can have. Still it is mythical in its self-absorbed and dense idea of perfection.
Its form of a black cube bears references to plenty, from Malevich black square to the holy Kaba, and on to futuristic images such as the black block in the si-fi movie 2010. These are all references to objects dealing with the highest (and also that which may not or can not be pictured). But the form also act as a mere pedestal for something, that which we do not know. A pedestal for our imagination to place what the unknown artist have made. A span from the lowest to the highest.
I want to place the sculpture outside, since that coincide with the idea of being "outside", not part of. Placing it inside HCA would be somewhat a contradiction. Those that are inside are not totally unknown. I also want the sculpture to interact with the grand nature at Headlands. A monument to the unknown artist might make its observer feel small in a similar way the nature does. The monumental landscape of Headlands can, and does, invoke such feelings. The monument would reflect a social side of this, play along with the feeling of solitude in a vast world of beauty and natural hardship. I believe that the interaction between the sculpture and the nature surrounding it would heighten the experience of both.
Headlands Center for the Arts have many visitors. Many of whom have or have had the dreams of becoming a known artist, or if not artist just "known". Everyone wants to be recognized and respected. A monument is a way of the society to recognize those it think worthy of praise. There is a widely spread thought that not only the great, but everyone deserves recognition for being part of the society. Even if this partaking is done in small and private ways.
As a "mere piece of concrete" the monument would in a subtle way refer to the concrete remains of the military activity once performed here. These somewhat mystical and hard to decipher concrete bases made to hold important objects, put in place by unknown men to defend something bigger than themselves. Some of these men got monuments, for their excellence and skill in the art of war. Those who did not are remembered at the monuments to the unknown soldier.
I believe that a society in much define itself through the art it produce. It may be as a sign of its refinement or strive for higher goals. It may merely be as a reflection of a state of facts. Still the results are often what is put up front for foreigners as a representation of what the core of that nation is. But for every successful artist there are countless that strive, work and in their way contribute. All these unknown artists can bee seen as the base, the foundation, upon which the society builds it picture of itself.
A nation that recognize and praise all those that strive to make something good, even if they only strive but never succeed, that nation is truly a great nation.
Anticipated equipment needs: None. The sculpture already exists and only needs to be put in place. If a permit for a permanent installation is received the sculpture can easily be turned into such. In that case a permanent ground base of concrete ought to be cast in place.
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Efter detta har inga vidare svar inkommit (2011-12-09)