Southern Exposure announces Jenny Chapman and Mark Reigelman II as the first recipients of this two-year initiative and opportunity for artists to realize new public projects in the Bay Area.
After receiving 130 proposals from as far away as South Africa, Taiwan, and the Philippines, Southern Exposure is pleased to announce artist team Jenny Chapman and Mark Reigelman II as the first recipients of SoEx Off-Site: The Graue Award. Southern Exposure would also like to acknowledge finalists Kota Ezawa, Llewelynn Fletcher, Billy Friebele, Christian Frock, Andy Diaz Hope and Laurel Roth, Suzanne Husky, Kathryn Kenworth and Sash Petrenko, Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas, Abner Nolan, Karolina Sobecka, Montana Torrey, and Doug Williams for their dedication to working in the public realm.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
In fall 2011, Chapman, a San Francisco-based architect, and Reigelman, a New York-based artist, will present their project, a simultaneous tribute to and critique of the romantic spirit and arrogant expansion of the Western frontier. The team will construct a temporary rustic cabin in one of the last remaining unclaimed spaces of downtown San Francisco. Using traditional architecture and building materials, the work will recall the city’s early settlements, providing a welcome contrast to the contemporary streetscape and ultimately integrating past, present, and future.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Jenny Chapman is a designer who is interested in the overlapping boundaries between architecture, infrastructure, art and design. She strongly believes that objects in the world exist along a continuum, and she endeavors to erode the established divisions between the various design disciplines. Jenny finds inspiration and happiness in the examination of manmade objects and believes that the material world is severely under-appreciated. She does not believe in fate. Jenny lives and works in San Francisco, California.
Mark A. Reigelman II is a New York-based conceptual designer. His portfolio displays a wide range of work from one-off and limited edition objects to site-specific installations, public art and urban design—all of which are intended to redefine the conventional purpose of functional objects and spaces. By questioning expected qualities and identities, Reigelman’s work is able to convey ideas, generate conversation, and promote novel, yet enduring engagements with its audience.
ABOUT THE GRAUE AWARD
This public project is possible with the support of The Graue Family Foundation. In 2009, the foundation offered Southern Exposure a major gift to support the public art initiative, SoEx Off-Site, and the creation of The Graue Award. The award will also enable another public project to be produced in 2012. Once again, SoEx will offer an open call for public art proposals to be reviewed by a jury of artists from the gallery’s curatorial committee, and $15,000 will be awarded for the realization of one winning project.
ABOUT SOEX OFF-SITE
Founded in 2005, SoEx Off-Site seeks to commission and present new work by emerging artists that intervenes and interacts in the social and political spheres beyond the space of gallery. SoEx supports and encourages these practices as few venues support emerging artists working in the public realm. Through SoEx Off-Site, Southern Exposure has commissioned and presented public projects from a wide range of artists including Neighborhood Public Radio, Lee Walton, Glowlab, Kate Pocrass/Mundane Journeys, The San Francisco Bureau of Urban Secrets, Red76, Instant Coffee, Packard Jennings, Natalie Jeremijenko, Futurefarmers, Rebar, Preemptive Media, Bruce Tomb, Christian Nold, and more.
