program tracks

Public Art

The Public Art track kicked-off with keynote speaker, arts writer and critic Dave Hickey. With characteristic wit and humor, Hickey challenged current tenets of contemporary art and its present profusions. Breakout session panels explored the theme of risk and reward and issues of artist selection, publicly-sited performing art works, as well as pre-construction artwork risk-assessment. New and alternative public art programs highlighted New Orleans, Calgary, Canada, Northern England and Nevada’s own Burning Man. Convention attendees were treated to three commissioned site-specific public artworks presented by the Public Art Network (PAN) with support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Featured artist Jenny Holzer video-streamed her renowned truisms projected above viewers on the world’s largest LED screen at Fremont Street Experience. Below, a performance-installation One Nature by artist team Marina Zurkow, Katie Salen, and Russian ice-sculptor Anfim Khanikov meandered through crowded Fremont Street offering passersby carved wedding band rings made of ice. Emerging artist Wendy Kveck presented a gastronomic performance-installation at the convention’s Flamingo Hotel that explored consumption and contemporary culture. The 2007 PAN Year in Review presentation recognized 40 innovative and exemplary public art projects in the United States selected by two curators, artist Larry Kirkland and writer and art history scholar Miwon Kwon. The 2007 PAN Award was presented this year to Forecast Public Artworks and Jack Becker in honor of outstanding leadership and creative contributions to the public art field.

For more information contact Liesel Fenner, Manager of Public Art.