Carolyn Speranza

  • Project Guide
  • Resume
  • Critical Reviews
  • Contact
  • Social Sculpture & Community Engagement. Large-scale Media Installation & Public Art. Partner-based Project Development.

  • Projects

    • All Eyes on Art | PGH4ART
    • Down the River . . .
    • Requiem for the Netmakers
    • Water Themed Projects
    • Sight of Stillness: What do you see when you meditate?
    • Earth Breathing
    • Urban Aquarium
    • End of the Line: Building Bridges with Pittsburgh’s Busways
    • Invisible Clock
    • It Makes My Bread Taste Sweeter
    • Literacy Windows
    • Art in Residency
    • Hole Poem
    • Site Specific Installations
    • Neon Art & Sculpture
  • In the Press

    • Creating Artistic Context feature in Shady Ave Mag
    • PGH4ART: Animating Democracy
    • PGH4ART: Candidates for mayor should support public art
    • PGH4ART: Percent for Art Schemes Fail
    • Too Shallow for Diving essay by Elaine A. King in ARTES Magazine
    • Too Shallow for Diving in the Post Gazette
    • Too Shallow for Diving reviewed by Kurt Shaw in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review
    • Too Shallow for Diving reviewed by Robert Raczka in Pittsburgh City Paper
    • Weight of Water: Hoeting Interview
    • Weight of Water: Numediacy & McCombs
    • Weight of Water: Review

Calling on Pittsburgh Lawmakers to Enforce Percent for Art Law

January 7, 2015 — Carolyn Speranza

SignPetitionTriptick

The PGH4ART Campaign, an artist-led, volunteer group of students, artists, and activists are calling on city lawmakers to enforce Pittsburgh’s Percent for Art Law, which requires 1% of publicly-funded construction and renovation projects to be set aside for the creation of public art. It hasn’t been enforced since its inception in 1977.
Please sign the petition. Every signature counts: http://bit.ly/PGH4ART 
Please share the petition. Just think, your friends can join these Pittsburgh arts leaders in their support of the campaign:
  • Charlie Humphrey (Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts)
  • Suzanne Slavick (City of Pittsburgh Art Commission)
  • Justin Laing (Heinz Endowments)
  • Christiane Leach (GPAC)
  • Douglas Cooper (Architecture, Carnegie Mellon)
  • Hilary Robinson (Former Dean, College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon)
  • Jon Rubin (Conflict Kitchen, Art, Carnegie Mellon)
  • Tiffany Wilhelm (GPAC)
  • Murray Horne (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)
Your friends can join these Pittsburgh groups and organizations in their support of the campaign:
  • Hill District Consensus Group (http://www.hdcg.org)
  • Fight Back Pittsburgh (http://fightbackpittsburgh.org)
  • Pittsburgh Student Government Council (http://studentsofpittsburgh.com/wordpress)
  • CAPA – Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts H.S,
  • United Rays Corvette Club of Pittsburgh (http://www.unitedrays.com/About_Us.html)
  • Nakturnal Guerrilla Marketing (http://www.nakturnal.net)
Every signature counts. Please sign the petition here: http://bit.ly/PGH4ART
Thank you for your support,
The PGH PERCENT 4 ART TEAM
@PGH4ART
Posted in Civic Engagement, PGH4ART Campaign, Public Art, Social Media Campaigns, Social Practice. Comments Off on Calling on Pittsburgh Lawmakers to Enforce Percent for Art Law

PGH4ART Team Portrait

October 1, 2014 — Carolyn Speranza

JennyJean_AEOA_TeamPhoto_TripTic3_1024px

PGH4ART Team photographed by Jenny Jean Photography

PGH4ART Team photographed by Jenny Jean Photography

The PGH4ART team: Brian Brown, Dave Ninehouser, Kat Gregor, Justin Shao, Reyghan Pierce, Roxanne Banks Williams, Marvin Williams, Erin Gill Ninehouser and Carolyn Speranza. Absent: Kerry Lee Hinkson and Lee Salih. Photo by Jenny Jean Crawford

 

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Posted in Civic Engagement, PGH4ART Campaign, Public Art, Social Practice. Tags: Brian Brown, Carolyn Speranza, Dave Ninehouser, Erin Gill Ninehouser, Jenny Jean Crawford, Justin Shao, Kat Gregor, Kerry Lee Hinkson, Lee Salih, Marvin Williams, Roxanne Banks Williams. Comments Off on PGH4ART Team Portrait

PGH4ART Twitter “Bombing”

October 1, 2014 — Carolyn Speranza

Featured in a national news story on Percent for Art programs!

"…we are a community where the LAW APPLIES EQUALLY TO ALL" #AFTACON #localpolitics @PGH4ART http://t.co/0onBN8294S pic.twitter.com/N8pKFrAwIV

— Hill Consensus (@HillConsensus) June 12, 2014

@gastilworks, @billpeduto: Local public art makes a difference! http://t.co/8srjFEONKl #AFTACON #localpolitics pic.twitter.com/iLl38mMubV

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 12, 2014

"ENFORCE THE LAW… what's so hard about that?" #AFTACON #localpolitics @pgh4art http://t.co/dsoh2uu1p3 pic.twitter.com/K7pVj8wNkL

— Hill Consensus (@HillConsensus) June 13, 2014

The ARTS creates this sense of AH to ones MIND, BODY, & SPIRIT! #PGH @Americans4Arts #AFTACON http://t.co/IUjwP4YA5T pic.twitter.com/oZpoHaQ7jF

— Brian Brown (@BrianSBrownJr) June 13, 2014

If Chicago can enforce their % for Art Law, why can't #PGH ? #AFTACON @Americans4Arts http://t.co/4lz6J58fAo pic.twitter.com/mvTnSf7Vxv

— Brian Brown (@BrianSBrownJr) June 13, 2014

"The one per cent ordinance has been on the city's books for many years…" #AFTACON @PGH4ART http://t.co/NP7Lo6Zupv pic.twitter.com/w5gnOhmhX9

— Hill Consensus (@HillConsensus) June 14, 2014

@createquity Lets DREAM together when artwork animates public spaces throughout #pgh! #AFTACON #localpolitics pic.twitter.com/PlCTsqt36y

— Brian Brown (@BrianSBrownJr) June 12, 2014

Public art increases property values. http://t.co/cCvj2x77zF #aftacon #artstimulus #localpolitics #pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/zcKVWAiQ1r

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 12, 2014

Public art: innovation and investment!. #aftacon #artcommunity #pittsburgh http://t.co/XImxZXOVh3 pic.twitter.com/6Zn9h5a0IA

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 13, 2014

Art makes a difference for our well-being. http://t.co/fUDbZl2j2e #aftacon #artistscore #pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/vXuL7hc5uf

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 13, 2014

Art is awe-inspiring! #aftacon #publicart #pittsburgh http://t.co/XImxZXOVh3 pic.twitter.com/n3arA340PT

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 13, 2014

 

Art is essential to local communities! #artscommunity #aftacon #pittsburgh http://t.co/joMxgUcPuT pic.twitter.com/tVcAUexI9x

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

Public art enhances every community! #aftacon #artsplans #pittsburgh http://t.co/Wfl3D9VLBN pic.twitter.com/HJq9vFlGAB

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 13, 2014

Art is for everyone! #faviannarod #aftacon http://t.co/m4qckX6yMz pic.twitter.com/UxI9ivAoeQ

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

Public art makes each city unique! #powerofart #aftacon #pittsburgh http://t.co/uWAHSxE56n pic.twitter.com/iijU4CvQur

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

Public art leads to innovation! #districts #aftacon #pittsburgh http://t.co/znoSjHRFG0 pic.twitter.com/ndKgewMGbU

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

All Eyes on Art! #whatyouretaking #aftacon http://t.co/znoSjHRFG0 pic.twitter.com/RZMNQGVi5o

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

All Eyes on Art! #equitableartsed #aftacon http://t.co/qNDBnMbgVM pic.twitter.com/QrLBs2Ut8n

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

Children’s futures are shaped by art! #whoseplace #aftacon http://t.co/FWxNID5PmD pic.twitter.com/ijkGBn1Ls5

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

"I am PROUD… I am SHOCKED… Where has this money gone?… the world is watching!" #AFTACON http://t.co/ZzkQek9e7w pic.twitter.com/92G3iwRMGx

— Hill Consensus (@HillConsensus) June 14, 2014

"Responsible government recognizes the ECONOMIC VALUE OF ART" #AFTACON #PGH @PGH4ART http://t.co/PRbjaxfUx4 pic.twitter.com/W6LyxyJigk

— Hill Consensus (@HillConsensus) June 14, 2014

Local art creates local jobs! #pARTnership #aftacon #pittsburgh http://t.co/I404jKjo9K pic.twitter.com/D2wR49nfpE

— Rebecca Altes (@pghbekka) June 14, 2014

Even the #PGH Police knows the ARTS makes a difference! #AFTACON @PGH4ART pic.twitter.com/7KXlFgNqbF

— Brian Brown (@BrianSBrownJr) June 14, 2014

From LA to Pittsburgh, cities across America have been ignoring their public art laws http://t.co/19EqNWEiUX @PGH4ART #aftacon

— Rachel Corbett (@RachelNCorbett) June 13, 2014

SIGN THE PETITION: implement and enforce a 1977 percent for art law! https://t.co/5cHZYxYjpA

— PGH4ART (@PGH4ART) October 14, 2014

Featured in a national news story on Percent for Art programs!

40.440625 -79.995886
Posted in Civic Engagement, PGH4ART Campaign, Public Art, Social Media Campaigns, Social Practice, Time-Based Media. Tags: PGH4ART Campaign. Comments Off on PGH4ART Twitter “Bombing”

“All Eyes on Art” and the PGH4ART Campaign

October 24, 2013 — Carolyn Speranza
With the slogan, All Eyes on Art, the PGH4ART team, an artist-led group of students, organizers, and activists called on city lawmakers to enforce Pittsburgh’s Percent for Art Law, which requires 1% of publicly-funded construction and renovation projects to be set aside for the creation of public art. It hasn’t been enforced since its inception in 1977.  This letter to the editor at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette lays out the issue and its context in detail. All Eyes on Art, Katz Plaza, Pittsburgh Pa, May 17, 2013 photographed by Tom Jefferson
All Eyes on Art, Katz Plaza, Pittsburgh Pa, May 17, 2013 photographed by Jenny Jean Crawford In every election cycle we publicly debate on what is and is not working about our government. With candidates vying for our votes, we discuss the performance and methods of elected officials. The PGH4ART Team is using Pittsburgh’s mayoral election as a social space in which we can effectively bring All Eyes to a city law that has lain dormant since 1977. The Team is working with the Hill District Consensus Group, Fight Back Pittsburgh, and students from CAPA High School in support of the campaign. At the May 2013 demonstration at Katz Plaza, our street team collected signatures for the petition while our online organizers got the word out via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

“Art as part of the social landscape has a profound impact on communities,” said Shannon Pultz, the head of CAPA High School’s visual art department. “Study after study shows that the amount of art equals the amount of vibrancy of city life,” and sure enough mayoral candidate Bill Peduto and city council candidate, Dan Gilman, were in attendance at Katz Plaza. The All Eyes on Art event was discussed in a political rather than an art context in both the Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh City Paper. Heading into the November election, candidates for Pittsburgh Mayor and City Council answered in-depth questions about enforcement and implementation of the 1977 law. They have been published by the City Paper. Bill Peduto and Dan Gillman at All Eyes on Art, Katz Plaza, Pittsburgh Pa, May 17, 2013 photographed by Erin Gil Ninehouser
All Eyes SlideShow

Thank you .@MoveOn for the campaign grant & acknowledging our leadership on the #pghpercent4artlaw. It started here: http://t.co/fqwSpJ294D
— PGH4ART (@PGH4ART) November 4, 2013

Thanks @ReadyForHillary & @AdamParkhomenko for the follow! We are proud and pleased to have your attention.

— PGH4ART (@PGH4ART) January 23, 2014

Acknowledged in @FightBackPGH‘s 2013 report as early campaign endorser! It IS a new kind of union. Read all about it http://t.co/dKNR3BYFIj

— PGH4ART (@PGH4ART) February 5, 2014

From LA to Pittsburgh, cities across America have been ignoring their public art laws http://t.co/19EqNWEiUX @PGH4ART #aftacon

— Rachel Corbett (@RachelNCorbett) June 13, 2014

Posted in Artists Collaborating, Civic Engagement, PGH4ART Campaign, Public Art, Social Media Campaigns, Social Practice. Tags: Bill Peduto, Facebook, Fight Back Pittsburgh, Hilary Clinton, MoveOn.org, Percent for Art, pittsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, public art, YouTube. Comments Off on “All Eyes on Art” and the PGH4ART Campaign

Re-visiting 1996-7 “End of the Line” as the Carnegie Library Shifts to Digital Labs

December 14, 2012 — Carolyn Speranza
Artists Carolyn Speranza and Lisa Link presenting their project at the Carnegie Library Pittsburgh

Carolyn Speranza with Lisa Link on Skype present “End of the Line” at the Carnegie Library.

Earlier this fall, in October, Lisa Link and I presented End of the Line: Building Bridges with Pittsburgh’s Busways, a temporary public art project at Spark’s Lunch n Learn at the Carnegie Library. At the core of the project was our digital art and community research workshops at Carnegie Branch Libraries.  The type of work we were doing in 1996-7 had not been done before in Pittsburgh; certainly not as a key component of a public art project.  In our presentation we looked at End of the Line from the lens of the libraries’ recent shift to digital labs.

We used the decentralized network of Carnegie Libraries as a structure for engaging residents in these neighborhood hubs. Coming from the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, we had a research orientation towards working with project participants.  We came to library workshops to conduct oral histories, to gather and copy personal and historic photographs, and to begin conversations about what mattered to people – their concerns, issues, hopes and dreams for the future of their communities. None of the hand-held technologies that we currently take for granted existed at the time. Our only hand-held was a Sony Walkman. We worked with desktops, not laptops.

Partnering with the libraries in the public engagement and outreach process was the best thing we could have done.  In our Spark presentation Lisa and I talked about the qualities that librarians have which make them perfect partners for this type of project. We shared how librarians are innately talented problem-solvers, community leaders and embody the term “customer-service.” Less than  month from our national election, Lisa said “librarians should be running the country.”

From the libraries we came back to the STUDIO having successfully conducted our community research. We set about analyzing materials and quickly saw four themes emerging for the design of bus billboards.  In order to include everyone’s participation on the project, we created an online archive, using the 1997 Frames technology of WEB 1.0.

End of the Line: Building Bridges with Pittsburgh's Busways by artists Lisa Link and Carolyn SperanzaHere you can see one of the twenty Port Authority buses we used to transport the project.  Inside the bus, Lisa and I are seated by one of the interior posters celebrating the libraries’ key role.  In the bus, we are talking to Ruth Rosfeld’s daughter.  Ruth was featured in our “neighborhood hero” themed bus billboard design.  She is from Beechwood, and you can just see the Beechwood librarian in the background of the photograph.

You can find the original End of the Line web site here and a photo album with complete documentation here.  At Spark’s Lunch n Learn we had a packed house of educators, library professionals and community leaders.

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Posted in Artists Collaborating, Civic Engagement, Digital Art, Public Art, Site Specific Installation, Social Practice. Comments Off on Re-visiting 1996-7 “End of the Line” as the Carnegie Library Shifts to Digital Labs
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