Celebrate Stamford’s Significant Architecture with a Public Art Exhibition at the base of St. John’s Towers!

What’s Up Stamford is a collaborative project between Stamford’s newest contemporary art
space, Franklin Street Works, and Stamford Downtown, Stamford, Connecticut.
This site-specific exhibition puts the spotlight on a selection of downtown
architecture that is unique for its design or important in relation to the
history of architecture. These buildings were chosen based on the suggestions
of eight local architects who were informally surveyed by the show’s curator
Terri C Smith. The display goes on view October 9, 2013, and will be on view
through the winter. A public ribbon cutting for the project will take place at
the base of St. John’s Towers (101 Tresser Blvd) on
October 9 at 4:00 pm.

The buildings included were
designed in different eras, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of a city and
its architecture. Featured downtown buildings include: Old Town Hall (1905);
One Atlantic St. (1929); the First Presbyterian Church (1958); St. John’s
Towers (1971); Landmark Square (1974); 400 Atlantic (1980), and 75 Tresser (2013).

This project presents
architecture we look up to, both literally and figuratively. It also is
indicative of the rich knowledge base and informed perspectives of local and
regional historians and architects in Connecticut – a state that has a rich
history of cutting edge architecture, ranging from Philip Johnson’s Glass House
in New Canaan to John Johansen’s Labyrinth House in Southport (now demolished)
to Paul Rudolph’s Temple Street Parking Garage in New Haven to the Landmark
Square building in Stamford by Victor Bisharat.

What’s up Stamford’s
theme of celebrating the city’s significant structures was inspired by the
location of storefront windows at the bottom of St. John’s Towers -- a
residence whose futuristic design was, arguably, cutting edge at the time it
was completed in 1971. This design by Victor
Bisharat, who was hired by local developer F.D. Rich & Co., is a stellar
example of the utopic impulse in
architecture. Today, these buildings are significant for their rarity as one of
only two remaining example of cylindrical multi-family homes in the United
States.

Cici Artist On Tresser and Bell
Streets:

While What’s Up Stamford’s images of downtown architecture
inhabit the windows along Washington Blvd, the photo banners are bookended at
Bell Street and Tresser Boulevard by large-scale paintings made by local talent
Cici Artist, who donated her time to the project.  In keeping with the What’s Up Stamford theme, Cici’s acrylic-on-canvas murals
colorfully depict close-ups of faces with their eyes looking toward the sky. Her
installation also has an online component, which can be found on the artist’s
website: www.ciciartist.com. The artist also encourages community members and
passerby to post photographs of their own eyes looking up via her Facebook page
for the project: https://www.facebook.com/WhatsUpStamford. Materials for the murals were
supplied by the Phoenix Management Corp. and BreadBooks.net.

ABOUT STAMFORD DOWNTOWN SPECIAL SERVICES
DISTRICT:

Stamford Downtown is responsible for
creating, managing and promoting a quality environment for people, which
enhances the economic vitality of the Downtown.  Our event calendar
includes a summer-long outdoor sculpture exhibit, 11 outdoor concert's, a
Farmers' Market, an arts & crafts show, a UBS Spectacular Parade and our
annual Holiday Heights & Lights event.

ABOUT FRANKLIN STREET WORKS:

Franklin Street Works is a not-for-profit contemporary art space, café, and
social gathering place in Stamford, Connecticut. It produces original on-site
and off-site exhibitions, artist projects, and related programming. Located in
renovated row houses on Franklin Street, the two-story space includes three
galleries and a café. Franklin Street Works embraces innovative art and
exhibition practices, a DIY attitude, and a workshop approach to its
programming, audiences, and organizational structure. The activities and
attitudes of the café reflect and expand on the organization’s mission as a
contemporary art venue.  Visit www.franklinstreetworks.org for
more information about Franklin Street Works’ activities and programming.