Karen Atkinson and Jane Jenny (both Los Angeles based artists), and Nancy Ganucheau (a Houston based architect) set about to produce a proposal for an exhibition and landscaping plan for Project Row Houses in the Spring of 2001. After many hours (actually, years) of deliberation, meetings and elaborations, the proposal was re-written to include a three-phase plan that would include:
1. landscape plans
2. outdoor exhibitions and permanent public art
3. educational and cottage industry programs.
Together they created an exhibition for Project Row Houses to present their project in the format of an ‘artist’s writing and reading room’ installation. This exhibition titled “Seed House” is in regards to the over-all title of their project “FieldWorks”. Included in the show is a neighborhood model, books hanging from the rafters and on shelves, a “Big Book of Ideas” for the community to contribute to, a photo collage chair rail, a swing, modified furniture, and a field guide to the neighborhood. This show was updated in the Fall of 2004 for the Fall Festival, and the next round of exhibitions.
Fall plans for Fieldworks included creating a tile making cottage industry in order to create pavers and mosaics for the landscaping, including neighborhood bus benches. Mosiac workshops took place in the Fall of 2004, and for the Fall Festival.
KAREN ATKINSON lives and work in Los Angeles CA. She has been exhibiting internationally since the 70’s, producing installations and public arts projects in the US, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, and Europe. She teaches full time at California Institute of the Arts, and in 1992 founded a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles called Side Street Projects. Karen has extensive administrative and curatorial experience. Karen curated two “Detours” projects in LA.
NANCY GANUCHAEU lives and works in Houston, TX. She has been active in the design and construction of buildings for 12 years with a particular focus on renovations. Some of Nancy’s clients have been non-profit organizations with education components in their mission statements. She is active in design and construction as principal of That’s Architecture which is registered as a Woman Business Enterprise with the City of Houston and the State of Texas.
JANE JENNY lives and works in Malibu, CA. She has been working in site specific installation, teaching and developing art programs for LA based inner city youth. She has curated a number of exhibitions, and created an installation for Round 14 at PRH. She has designed and built numerous residential homes since 1975. Jane curated two “Detours” projects in Venice and downtown Los Angeles.
Row House Exhibitions, 2004
A number of artists were asked to create work and proposals for Project Row Houses and were included in the exhibition. Proposals for site specific public projects were proposed that would help PRH utilize it's facilities to the fullest and engaging community. A large 3D map of the immediate neighborhood was created in order for full scale planning.
Public Works
Two projects were undertaken as public works on site. One was a bench with the PRH logo, used in the back area for after school and other programs. The second was a table top often used for meetings in the front area of PRH. Both were mosiacs and were prototypes of stepping stones and other items that would enhance the community. A series of bus benches, lighting, sidewalks and more were planned as future projects.
Education
A three year education project was designed for PRH, that incorporated people from the community to create works that could be used to enhance the PRH campus, or create extra earned income for the organization.
Field Works Publication
An overview of the history of the PRH neighborhood was included along with all the ideas that were proposed as future projects to help out the neighborhood was published by the artists.