UMD Students Design And Create Public Art

Art and architecture students constructed ten temporary sculptures to revitalize Montgomery County’s Long Branch Neighborhood and stimulate community engagement.

WHAT:

A sidewalk exhibition of ten interactive design installations—including a glowing cocoon or recycled plastic bottles and a 45’ long canopy of intricately placed colored strings—will debut May 6, 2013 in Montgomery County’s Long Branch Neighborhood as part of a unique cultural collaboration between community groups and the University of Maryland. The temporary installations, designed and built by University of Maryland art and architecture students, seek to add energy and vitality to the Long Branch Neighborhood, and inspire those who live and work in the community.

WHEN:

On view beginning May 6, 2013

An official unveiling will take place during the Long Branch Super Block Party, Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 2 – 5 p.m. (rain date: May 18)

The Long Branch Super Block Party is a community festival offering food, entertainment and activities for the whole family. This event is free and open to the public.

WHERE:

Montgomery County Long Branch Library
8800 Garland Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20901

WHO:

Artists:

Koray Aysin
Alison Boliek
Renard Edwards II
Kristen Fox
Rochelle Heyworth
Nicole Hinkle
Joe Largess
Ava Lowe
Rachel Mihaly
Matthew Miller
Stephen Neuhauser
Kurt Pung
Molly Seligman
Carolina Uechi
Kristen Yeung
Eric Zeldis

Faculty:

Ronit Eisenbach
John Ruppert
Mark Earnhard, TA

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The Long Branch public design project is part of a newly piloted public art/design studio administered by the University of Maryland’s art and architecture programs. Under the guidance of Associate Professor of Architecture Ronit Eisenbach and Professor of Art and Sculptor John Ruppert, 16 students spent the semester designing and building temporary public art/design works inspired by the university’s Public Interest Design Institute spring workshop and the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation’s Kibel Gallery spring series, “Agency, Intervention, and the Public Realm.” The studio is working in partnership with the Long Branch Business Association, the Montgomery Housing Partnership, the Montgomery County Library system and IMPACT Silver Spring. Their combined effort is part of Long Branch’s business revitalization, affordable housing protection and planning and community building efforts.

For more information, see the press release here.