Several site-specific artworks now form the core of a body of work that belongs to the Grove, in New Haven, Connecticut. They all highlight the unique features of the building which houses the first coworking community in a state that is now home to many spaces where people from startup/tech, nonprofit and creative worlds meet and collaborate.
Peephole
Mark Williams
paint, paper, foamcore, wood and light fixture
The site-specific installation above is something of a secret; it lives inside the wall between the kitchen and men’s bathroom. The imagery in the scene depicted is inspired by Luray Caverns in Virginia, where the artist traveled to do site research following a successful kickstarter campaign. Originally part of a group show in Fall 2013 called “Navigate Complexity,” it was purchased for the Grove from the artist.
Climbing Ivy
Giada Crispiels
paper and wire
The piece above is a prototype for customizable eco-friendly decor for the home or office. The ivy is made from upcycled newspapers and magazines. It is a metaphor for how creativity survives and grows organically in the “in-between spaces” of urban environments. Part of a larger body of work called “Urban Shadows of Nature,” the work is on long-term loan by the artist.
Pixellated Portrait
Dan Gries, Danielle Kefford, Dan Bernier
colored foam
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic image has been reconstructed with slices of pool toy noodles! This piece was conceived for the show “re:Generate – Art Based on Code” after artists did a walk-through of the space and saw the grid-like cage structure housing what is commonly known to be the state’s oldest working elevator. A visual riddle more easily resolved by digital camera than the human eye, the work is likely to be dismantled at some point in 2015. After that it will go into storage and be available for future re-installation and/or loans to other sites.
As the facility expands so do the ideas amongst its collaborators! I am inspired, honored and humbled to curate art for my coworkers as a part of The Grove’s programming fabric, and to help grow our circle of guest curators to include many new voices and perspectives.
Verge Arts Group 