6. Gowanus Used to Have a “Memorial Artyard”
In the early 1980s, Gowanus was the site of indoor and outdoor art exhibitions put on by some of the most famous artists in New York City’s history. The Gowanus Memorial Artyard was founded in 1979 by Frank Shifreen, Michael Keene, and George Moore. It attracted leading artists who contributed sculpture and multimedia works. Shifreen began hosting art shows at his Brooklyn studio, which was housed in a former munitions factory that was partly unrented. The building’s location right near the Gowanus Canal and abandoned properties led the artists to plan art exhibitions, the first of which was called The Monumental Show in 1981. After receiving thousands of applications, the artists selected 150 people to create works of “monumental art” within a 20-foot by 20-foot space. Keith Haring and Carl Andre participated in the exhibition, which pulled in over 4,000 people on its first day but led to Shifreen’s arrest. The exhibition was controversial for its inclusion of a painting of Hitler. this inclusion caused widespread violence after Jewish leaders slashed paintings.
A year later, the organizers put on another exhibition, this time called The Monument Redefined. The exhibition was framed around social responsibility and included artists such as Christo, Chris Burden, Fred Wilson, and Vito Acconci. Posters were displayed throughout the city, and once again, hundreds of artists wanted to take part. Many artworks were displayed across 12 acres outdoors, in addition to two indoor spaces sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation, Con Edison, and many others. The same year, the exhibition Gowanus Canal Redefined was launched as an architectural competition. The organizers arranged for a $1,000 prize for the best proposal to revitalize the Gowanus Canal area. Ultimately, the group disbanded after the three exhibitions.