Art within communal spaces holds a transformative potential, serving as a dynamic catalyst for community engagement. The COVID-19 lockdown underscored the significance of ample public areas conducive to fostering interaction and connectivity.
Whether through visual spectacles, live performances, interdisciplinary installations, or immersive experiences, public art possesses the ability to redefine the perception of a space. It acts as a magnetic force, drawing diverse communities together and igniting contemplation on an array of social and cultural themes that resonate universally.
In the realm of creative placemaking, prioritizing public engagement is paramount from project inception. It’s a facilitator for bringing people together and a pivotal platform for artists and designers to communicate their narratives effectively. By integrating thoughtful engagement strategies, public art projects can become vibrant hubs of dialogue, creativity, and community cohesion.
Respected public arts curator and producer, Debra Simon speaks with artist Benediktas Gylys at the outdoor site of his Portal installation, connecting New York City with Dublin in real time, at the heart of the historic Flatiron Plaza. Join the riveting conversation.
Presenters:
Debra Simon, public arts curator and producer
Benediktas Gylys, founder, Portals.org
Benediktas Gylys is a Lithuanian artist who is building a network of identical Portal sculptures connecting different countries around the world. The artwork is also known as Bridge to a united planet.
Debra Simon is an award-winning public arts curator and producer, with more than 30 years of experience in visual and performing arts curation, commissioning and programming for civic organizations and the real estate industry. Collaboration with master planners, architects, landscape designers, retailers, and local communities have contributed to her expertise in creating and reimagining public and private spaces as dynamic places that enrich people’s experiences on a daily basis.
Most recently, Debra created the strategic plan for Art at Amtrak which launched in NY Penn Station in 2022. Currently, she curates and produces the Art at Amtrak program in NY Penns Station,Washington Union Station in D.C.30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Chicago Union Station,Wilmington Station and Lancaster Station. For Empire State Development, she launched the DigitalArt Program in Moynihan Train Hall featuring commissions by artists William Kentridge. Shahzia Sikander and Derrick Adams. As the VP at the Downtown Alliance, she created Dine Around Downtown, and co-founded the River to River Festival. As the Director of Times Square Arts, Debra curated Midnight Moment, the world’s largest digital art exhibition on electronic billboards, and the annual Valentine Heart design competition, among other projects for the over 300,000 daily visitors to Times Square. As Artistic Director at Brookfield Properties, Debra led a national arts program that planned and executed multi-disciplinary programming in New York, Denver, Los Angeles and Houston.
