The Outside Artworks series supported individual artists to create site specific works in and around Los Angeles from 1988 -1992. Since FAR did not maintain a gallery space and artists at the time were looking for support of projects that were not being funded and/or exhibited by traditional art venues, board member Robert Gero developed the idea for Outside Artworks.
FAR ran open calls for proposals and accepted submissions throughout the year which were voted on by the board. Selected artists were given a stipend and Outside Artwork directors Robert Gero and Gina Lamb acted as liaisons between city government and park officials and other collaborating agencies to secure site use for the artworks.
Some examples of projects supported are Marshall Weber's "TV Tumor" performance in Pan Pacific Park, Bruce Pollack's functional "Homeless Sink Project" installed on the sidewalk next to L.A.C.E. (downtown) with a regular supply of soap and towels, Jennifer Steinkamp's computer video installation, "Gender Specific", projected in the windows at Bliss and Santa Monica Museum, Matthew Thomas' organic sculptural forms that grew out of the landscape at Beyond Baroque, Nicola Atkinson Griffith's "Gentle Breezes Blowing" a fantasy landscape superimposed over an urban scape that encompassed an entire city block at Western and Washington Streets, Steve Hurd painted Manet's "Dejeuner sur l'herbe" on the underside of a picnic table in MacArthur Park titled "No Picnic", Paul Boettcher's "Dotted Line" of floating grass islands stretched across the MacArthur Park Lake bisecting east and west, and Paul Varnac (aka Kevin Sullivan) created a mural painting "The Workers Of The Nation Agree" that was displayed in the City Hall Rotunda.
Other artists in this series were Vincent Jefferds, Hun Sook, Francine Agapoff, and Eugenia Ursj. This program (originally known as Outdoor Artworks) was ongoing for over four years and was funded through grants from the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. In addition to grants, collaborative support came from various arts organizations such as Beyond Baroque, LACE, Barnsdall Art Park, Santa Monica Museum, Bliss, and in kind support from the LA City Parks and Recreation Department.
Video Production Access [1991-92]
This FAR program gave artists access to Southwest College's TV Studio including production studio, editing facility and staff. Recipients of the open call were Skip Arnold who produced a series of short video works, and Dave Familian who created a video utilizing still photography manipulations.
FAR Director of Project: Robert Gero
Storytellers - A Serial Fiction Anthology [1985-86]
FAR published two collections of Los Angeles based authors edited by Benjamin Weissman
Volume 1 published in 1985 featured the work "True Voice" by John Miller
Volumes 2, 3 & 4 published in 1986 included works by Lydia Davis, Charles Baxter, Robin Metz, Robert Gluck, Amy Gersler, Jim Shaw, Lynne Tillman, Dennis Cooper, Elaine Equi, Bernard Welt, Dana Duff, T.S. Martin, Thaisa Frank, Bruce Boone, Jonathan Strong, Richard Burgin, John Mandel, and Peter Schjeldahl.
Women In Media: Critical Representation Symposia
Panel discussion of women film and video makers who are also media theoreticians. Panelists were Coco Fusco, Yvette Nevez-Cruz, Rene Tajima, and Trin T. Min-Ha.
November 7, 1989 UCLA (co-sponsored by UCLA) FAR Project Director: Robert Gero
Body Forth [1991]
An exhibition of short video works (single and multi channel) and two dimensional works by Los Angeles based media artists; Skip Arnold, Hilja Keading, Craig Schlattmann, Chuck Z, Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan, which explore and challenge ideas of self as physical construct. Curated by Gina Lamb and Beverly Ginsburg. Co-sponsored by FAR, LA Freewaves, and the American Gallery.
Images from Body Forth
Jan Hout Lecture [1989] Lecture at MOCA about curating Documenta 9.
Goethe Institute co-sponsored event.
FAR Project Director: Robert Gero
Media Shelters [1985-86]
Artists works were installed in light boxes at city bus shelters. This series integrated the function of both art and advertising by locating art in an environment normally reserved for advertising.
FAR Project Director: ?
Images from Media Shelters
Projections in Public [1987]
Exhibition of artists slides projected into the public environment utilizing the streets and sidewalks of the city. Co-sponsored by Laica.
More Information on Projections In Public
Scene Missing [1987]
Screening event of film and video works by artists from all over the US and abroad. The focus of the program was on the cultural, sexual, and political aspects of representation. Many tapes and films presented that evening were premiere showings.
