Founded in 2008 by artist and designer, Rodney Durso, ArtBridge seeks to enhance the urban experience by transforming overhead construction scaffolding into temporary art installations. With over a million linear feet currently installed in New York City alone, ArtBridge sees the blank plywood panels as the perfect canvas for Public Art.
Using eco-friendly material, ArtBridge installs large-scale works by emerging artists directly onto the scaffold’s panel surfaces, taking art out of galleries and into the public realm.
Our city is constantly under construction and redevelopment; ArtBridge exhibitions bring new and calming influences into communities, adding light, color and beauty to our daily outdoor world.
August, 2008: Painter, designer and London Terrace Gardens resident Rodney Durso looks up at the scaffolding surrounding his building and sees its potential for a giant canvas for the display of public art.
August, 2008: He proposes the idea to the board of London Terrace. They approve the idea and offer to partially fund the installation.
October, 2008: Rodney founds ArtBridge and puts out a call for entries for the London Terrace installation. Over 150 artists submit to the call.
November, 2008: A panel of gallerists, curators, and arts educators assemble to select the finalists for ArtBridge: First Exposure 2009.
January, 2009: The 26 finalists– all emerging local artists– are notified that they have been selected for participation in the installation.
March, 2009: Spring Scaffolding Inc. donates labor to hang the show on the nearly 500 feet of scaffolding stretching from 9th to 10th avenues on 23rd Street in West Chelsea.
March 14, 2009: Over 500 people attend the opening party for ArtBridge: First Exposure.
June, 2009: ArtBridge gets social networking savvy- launches blog, opens facebook account, sends first tweet.
Summer, 2009: Encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response to the installation, ArtBridge reaches out to other public art organizations and city agencies with the hopes of expansion and collaboration. ArtBridge artist, Jordana Zeldin, is brought on to find ways to promote the installation and investigate the prospect of future projects.
Fall, 2009:Fractured Atlas becomes ArtBridge’s Fiscal Sponsor, allowing the organization to apply for grants and accept tax-deductible donations for the first time.
January, 2010: Jordana Zeldin is appointed Program Director of ArtBridge.
February, 2010: ArtBridge solidifies Mission and Vision statements.
March, 2010: The ArtBridge Blog becomes a hub for all things Public Art in New York City and beyond.
April, 2010: ArtBridge site and blog is visited by over 10,000 people in over 60 countries worldwide.
May, 2010: ArtBridge prepares to launch its first Bi-Annual Call for Entires for its 2010/2011 public projects.
June 1, 2010: ArtBridge launches its month-long Call for Entries.
June, 2010: ArtBridge’s Rodney Durso and Jordana Zeldin appear on Fox Strategy Room to spread the word about the Call for Art.
July, 16 2010: Call for Entries closes. Over 200 pieces have been submitted for consideration by the ArtBridge 2010 Curatorial Panel.
Background
Founded in 2008 by artist and designer, Rodney Durso, ArtBridge seeks to enhance the urban experience by transforming overhead construction scaffolding into temporary art installations. With over a million linear feet currently installed in New York City alone, ArtBridge sees the blank plywood panels as the perfect canvas for Public Art.
Using eco-friendly material, ArtBridge installs large-scale works by emerging artists directly onto the scaffold’s panel surfaces, taking art out of galleries and into the public realm.
Our city is constantly under construction and redevelopment; ArtBridge exhibitions bring new and calming influences into communities, adding light, color and beauty to our daily outdoor world.
August, 2008: Painter, designer and London Terrace Gardens resident Rodney Durso looks up at the scaffolding surrounding his building and sees its potential for a giant canvas for the display of public art.
August, 2008: He proposes the idea to the board of London Terrace. They approve the idea and offer to partially fund the installation.
October, 2008: Rodney founds ArtBridge and puts out a call for entries for the London Terrace installation. Over 150 artists submit to the call.
November, 2008: A panel of gallerists, curators, and arts educators assemble to select the finalists for ArtBridge: First Exposure 2009.
January, 2009: The 26 finalists– all emerging local artists– are notified that they have been selected for participation in the installation.
March, 2009: Spring Scaffolding Inc. donates labor to hang the show on the nearly 500 feet of scaffolding stretching from 9th to 10th avenues on 23rd Street in West Chelsea.
March 14, 2009: Over 500 people attend the opening party for ArtBridge: First Exposure.
March, 2009: ArtBridge is featured on the New York Times’ City Room Blog and in amNY.
June, 2009: ArtBridge gets social networking savvy- launches blog, opens facebook account, sends first tweet.
Summer, 2009: Encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response to the installation, ArtBridge reaches out to other public art organizations and city agencies with the hopes of expansion and collaboration. ArtBridge artist, Jordana Zeldin, is brought on to find ways to promote the installation and investigate the prospect of future projects.
Fall, 2009: Fractured Atlas becomes ArtBridge’s Fiscal Sponsor, allowing the organization to apply for grants and accept tax-deductible donations for the first time.
January, 2010: Jordana Zeldin is appointed Program Director of ArtBridge.
February, 2010: ArtBridge solidifies Mission and Vision statements.
March, 2010: The ArtBridge Blog becomes a hub for all things Public Art in New York City and beyond.
April, 2010: ArtBridge site and blog is visited by over 10,000 people in over 60 countries worldwide.
May, 2010: ArtBridge prepares to launch its first Bi-Annual Call for Entires for its 2010/2011 public projects.
June 1, 2010: ArtBridge launches its month-long Call for Entries.
June, 2010: ArtBridge’s Rodney Durso and Jordana Zeldin appear on Fox Strategy Room to spread the word about the Call for Art.
July, 16 2010: Call for Entries closes. Over 200 pieces have been submitted for consideration by the ArtBridge 2010 Curatorial Panel.
August, 2010: ArtBridge confirms 2010 Curatorial Panel.