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Health & Fitness

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).

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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.

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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.

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.

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