Discovery Green Conservancy is proud to announce the launch of Art Lab, a groundbreaking mentorship program to support underrepresented local artists with the skills and resources necessary to expand their practices into large-scale, interactive sculptural outdoor public works.
Discovery Green is known as a national model for the creation of green space and a leader in the presentation of immersive, site-specific and traveling art installations. With Art Lab, Discovery Green aims to reshape the landscape of public art in Houston by supporting local artists, providing mentorship and spurring innovation within the community.
Art Lab will provide two local artists with an apprenticeship, practicum and honorarium of $4500 to work with a team of mentors including internationally renowned, Brooklyn-based artist/engineer Jen Lewin. As the inaugural lead artist for Art Lab, Discovery Green has commissioned Lewin for a yet-to-be announced, site-specific art installation that will be in the park during the 2024/25 winter season. Working with Lewin on this project will provide Houston artists invaluable insights on the design, build and installation of a large-scale public art project.
Other Art Lab mentors include Weingarten Art Group, co-curators and co-administrators for Discovery Green’s public art program and Metalab, a prominent Houston-based architecture and design firm with an extensive public art track record.
Selected artists will then be invited to submit proposals for a potential 2025 temporary pop-up art installation at Discovery Green realized with the support of a team of program mentors if the proposal moves to contract.
“Public art has been at the heart of Discovery Green since its inception 16 years ago, and the park has grown into an open-air gallery with a world-class permanent collection and remarkable temporary installations that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year,” said Discovery Green Conservancy President Kathryn Lott. “Our goal with Art Lab is to keep connecting Houstonians and visitors to inspiring and thought-provoking works while creating opportunities for the incredibly talented artists in our own backyard.”
“Discovery Green continues to show leadership well beyond its park realm by recognizing the barriers for local artists to develop the skills needed to produce large-scale, interactive works and a lack of cultural diversity in America’s public art space,” said Lea Weingarten, principal for Weingarten Art Group. “We are proud to be a partner in fostering innovation and creating national exposure opportunities for Houston talent.”
Discovery Green’s renowned public art program includes permanent and traveling works from acclaimed artists, such as Jean Dubuffet, Jim Dine, Margo Sawyer and Doug Hollis. Since its 2008 opening, Discovery Green has hosted more than 27 temporary exhibitions from internationally recognized artists, including Bruce Munro, Christopher Schardt, Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena and more.
Art Lab applications, open only to artists, architects and designers residing within a 75-mile radius of central Houston, will be accepted June 2 through July 14, 2024. Selected artists will be announced in August. The Art Lab program runs from September 2024 through January 2025. Art Lab is a pilot program funded by an anonymous national foundation.
More information and an application for artists can be found at www.discoverygreen.com/artlab.
MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT HOUSTON ARTISTS
To expand its base of support for arts programming, Discovery Green Conservancy presents PRISM an annual membership program for donors who appreciate Discovery Green’s efforts to ensure quality artistic programming remains free and to support the city’s artistic community.
JOIN NOW: You and a guest will enjoy great benefits, plus special invitations to:
- behind-the-scenes receptions
- private art collections
- artists’ studio tours
- backstage tours
- culinary experiences, and more
Join by August 1, 2024 and be recognized as a founding member – a BEACON. Your benefits will extend through December 2025.
