What is the process for creating the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial?
Public Art is a collaboration between artist and community. For the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial we are seeking an artist whose creative strengths are matched by a strong capacity to listen and work with a diversity of communities to translate our commitment to remember the fire into a powerful public art work.
Artist Selection Committee
We gathered an artist selection committee made up of individuals from Workers United, New York University, the FDNY, Triangle family members, the Kheel Center, Community Board 2, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, community leaders and scholars including: Suzanne Pred Bass, Leigh Benin, David von Drehle, Regina Drew, Elizabeth Finkelstein, Diane Fortuna, Hanna Griff-Sleven, Sherry Kane, Leni Koehler, Vincent Maltese, John Manning, Michael Nash, Gary Parker, Judy Paul, Ruth Sergel, Maria Skouras, Ellen Wiley Todd, Mary Anne Trasciatti, Ed Vargas, Daniel Walkowitz and Public Arts Administrator Kendal Henry.
RFQ
In the summer of 2010 a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) was crafted which called for any artist to submit his/her work to be considered to design the memorial. The intent was not to make a proposal for the memorial but to demonstrate previous projects and a capacity for working with communities.
Interview
The committee looked at the work of all 75 artists gathered through open call and invitation. Three artists were invited (with two alternates) to a finalist interview. They were provided with a variety of resources on the Triangle Fire. Each artist presented their work to the committee and discussed their process of working with communities.
Community Input
The role of a public artist is to listen to the communities invested in the project and translate their vision into a work of art. The only way this process works is if you speak up – - Please consider attending an open meeting, leave comments, post to our Facebook Page or email us directly – we will collect all and get it to the artist for consideration.
We want to hear from you!
