The meaning of 'Home' has become ever more elusive and complex, especially in urban setting and in these times of financial uncertainty. The HomeBase Project is a unique public art project which creates a platform for a multi-disciplinary artistic exploration, by planting itself for two months in the heart of a vibrant urban community, outside of the gallery's 'white box', and by promoting cross-cultural dialogue and a community-based examination of the notion of Home. The result is an unprecedented mixture of unique art projects, live events, textual reflections and cultivation of community which stem from the history and context of the HomeBase site, as well as from a personal perspective of Home. After the great success of HomeBase III which took place in 2008 in Sugar Hill, Harlem, we are now embarking on our journey towards creating HomeBase IV, this Spring 2009, in New York, the Lower East Side.

 

 

Mission statement:

 

HomeBase is an artist-run international art project, which aims to nurture a rich contextual exploration around the archetype of home.  In pursuing this exploration annually, HomeBase seeks to integrate contemporary art into the everyday urban experience and to challenge the role of art as an educational tool for cross-cultural dialog and community cultivation.

 

 The HomeBase model consists of marking a temporary base, a raw urban architectural site in a neighborhood undergoing change, and inviting international artists to engage in a three-week workshop that includes study, dialogue and communal dinners. As artists explore the personal and critical aspects of home and city dwelling, they create site-responsive installations in rooms in the base location.

 

The workshop is followed by a 3 week happening.  The HomeBase site opens its doors to the public free of charge and features lectures, art talks, performances, and interactive events which transform the site into an exciting temporary urban platform. By merging community, architecture, and art, HomeBase becomes a home to an intercultural and inter-disciplinary experience.

 

Selected by New York Magazine's Jerry Saltz as Critic's Pick in 2008 and featured on NY1 and many other notable media channels, HomeBase has welcomed thousands of visitors through its doors and is expecting many more in during its future projectst in New York, Berlin, and London.

 

HomeBase was founded in 2006 by Artist and Curator Anat Litwin

 

 

STRUCTURE

 

PHASE 1: Inhabiting the space & HomeBase Workshop - 3 weeks: During the first phase of the project, each artist occupies a room in the space for three weeks, creating in it a new site-specific installation in various mediums (dance, theater, visual art,  video, etc) which relates to the notion of Home. Artists participate 6 group  dinners/lectures that help to cultivate a sense of exploration on the topic, as well as cultivation of community. 

 

PHASE 2: Public Happening - 3 weeks: The second phase of the project begins when the location opens up its doors to the public free of charge, with an exciting cultural program that includes lectures, performances, workshops, and interactive events.

 

PHASE 3: Documentation of the Project: The third phase is the publishing of documentation of the project through a book, video, film and online streams, creating a long-lasting educational tool, and continuing the project’s effect beyond its temporary existence. The creative process of the artists, group dynamic, interaction with public, and installations are all documented for this process.  These forms of documentation serve as an educational tool aimed to promote the arts, and deepen cross-cultural dialog.

 

HOMEBASE IV, New York, Lower East Side.