Amy Wilson
It Takes Time to Turn a Space Around, 2009-2010
Digital print on vinyl, based on original watercolor drawing created for the space
Approximately 5' x 130'
Located at West Thames Park
West Street and Rector, in lower Manhattan
This work is part of Re:Construction, a public art program produced by the Downtown Alliance. This initiative channels the energy of Downtown's rebuilding process by recasting construction sites as canvasses for innovative public art and architecture. Each project uses standard construction barriers to embrace the ongoing nature of Downtown's redevelopment with original and whimsical design. The Downtown Alliance works closely with public and private developers to produce each installation.
This project was curated by Karin Bravin of BravinLee programs.
Project statement
If this is the first time you've seen my work, you might not realize that text is very important to me. I usually start by doing a rough drawing in watercolor and pencil and then filling in text by hand, usually conveying personal stories and observations that refer to the images I've drawn. I tend to work back and forth - a little watercolor and pencil, a little text, then a little more watercolor, then a little more text until it's done.
For this project, I did things a little differently: I came up with an image first and drew it completely. That image was then scanned and printed, and then installed on the scaffolding. Only when all that was finished did I go back in and start working on the text. While I had been drawing the piece, I had an idea of what I wanted it to say, but I didn't start writing it out until what I needed for the installation was complete. I then wrote a first draft of a text that will be added to the original drawing, bit by bit. The transcription of the text onto the drawing will likely not be exact (and almost certainly a lot more will be added), but the text that is presented here gives you an idea of what I was thinking of when I did this piece, and will be used for forming the final writing.
The drawing with the text filled in will be on display at BravinLee programs in April 2010.
To download the working proof of the text (a PDF file of scans from my sketchbook), click here.
All photos courtesy Katie Armstrong.