Photo courtesy of Denise Sindelar From left, Lee Hodges, Merilee Allen, Peter Ebel, Susan Cook, Christine Beirne and Ben Clancy participate in the most recent P.L.A.C.E. Project, in 2004, titled the I Love Ventura Banner Project.

Zaid

Artists can move outside the traditional gallery setting by showcasing their work through a public art project intended to enhance Ventura's downtown cultural district.

Artists are being sought for this year's installation by the Ventura Public Art Program called the P.L.A.C.E. Project — Public and Local Artists Creating Environments. The project weaves the innovative and accomplished works of artists into everyday life in Ventura, said Lisa Zaid, public art project manager in the city of Ventura's Cultural Affairs Division.

"For centuries, cities around the world have featured outdoor temporary artwork exhibitions," said Zaid of Ventura. "From Central Park in New York City to Trafalgar Square in London, cities across the globe have recognized the benefit and excitement generated through temporary installation."

The city of Ventura recognizes the substantial economic and social benefits gained through an aesthetic treatment of public spaces, Zaid said. In 1991, the city established an ordinance allocating 2 percent of eligible capital improvement project costs for the commissioning of artist design services and artwork integrated in the construction of public works. So far, this has resulted in 60 works including four temporary installations commissioned for the P.L.A.C.E. Project.

"The idea of an artwork being temporal adds an extraordinary sense of significance and excitement to (it)," Zaid said. "First, it means that the work is contemporary and has been created by an artist living among us today. This alone can make a community feel more connected to an artwork, a place, and serve as a catalyst for discussion."

Temporary installation also has the ability to create a sense of occasion and emphasize one's sense of place in a city, she added. "Because of their temporal nature, P.L.A.C.E. projects may include a more diverse range of media than Ventura's permanent collection and may present new ways to challenge us intellectually," Zaid said.

This opportunity creates a chance for a contemporary artist to create a site-specific work for the community. At the same time, the work will also become a part of Ventura's Public Art Collection, which includes works by world-renowned artists.

"Those selected for this commission will join this tradition of excellence and innovation in the arts in Ventura," Zaid said.

A range of media will be considered for this project, including traditional sculpture, mixed media and projection. Proposals will be accepted from artists of all ages from anywhere in the United States.

"Artists are encouraged to create projects that will challenge and stimulate our community," Zaid said.

One project will be selected for the Spring 2008 ArtWalk, with other proposals possibly selected by the Public Art Commission for future ArtWalks.

"It is anticipated that the Public Art Program will feature a P.L.A.C.E. project at each ArtWalk, which is held twice per year," Zaid said.

When proposals are submitted, they are first reviewed by a panel of community members. "This panel changes for each project, and we have had dozens of community members participate in this process through the history of our program," Zaid said. The review panel then recommends projects to select to the Public Art Commission, a seven-member advisory body appointed by City Council.

"P.L.A.C.E. projects bring to the community an even broader exposure to the rich world of the visual arts in all of its forms," Zaid said. "The P.L.A.C.E. project is a mechanism to spark conversation and foster deeper appreciation for the visual arts in Ventura."

These temporary public art projects give artists the opportunity to experiment, said Denise Sindelar of Ventura, public and visual art supervisor. "Artists are able to move outside of the traditional gallery setting and engage a larger segment of society as their audience," Sindelar said. The ultimate goals are "to create temporary artworks that engage the community and to create opportunities for emerging artists to engage in the public art process."

For more information, call Zaid at 658-4736.