The Encampment: Roosevelt Island's Past, Illuminated

This October, artist Thom Sokoloski will build 100 white tents on Roosevelt Island, and the public will be able to see the illuminated tents at night as well as explore what's in them. The project is called The Encampment and here is a description the website:

The Encampment is a large-scale public participatory art installation. 100 - 19th century luminous tents will be erected as a work of optical art on Roosevelt's Island Southpoint. From 7pm to 7am each night, New Yorkers will be able to view the luminous symmetries of the tents from both sides of the East River, as well as visit the actual site and experience the installations in each of the tents. It proposes an archaeological dig as its metaphor; the search for artifacts is replaced by the search for a collective memory of Roosevelt Island.

Sokoloski told Metro that Roosevelt Island's past, filled with hospitals, lunatic asylum and other facilities, inspired him, "When you go deep the history is so fascinating. This will be a kind of digital archaeology, a model of exchange where the community will uncover the stories of the island’s past.” He also calls it "a metaphorical, archaeological dig into the history of mental health."

On his website, he is asking for both patrons to sponsor the project ($250 per tent) and other people to collaborate. The project will run October 5-7, during Open House New York. [This is also a good time to mention that this year's Open House New York is looking for volunteers; for more information, go to their website.]

And Sokoloski is also working on a 2008 project for Governor's Island. Called Babel Symphony, it would "re-discover that one language of humanity and to re-build the Tower of Babel through a choral and symphonic arrangement of New York City’s spoken languages."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on August 16, 2007 1:17 PM

Comments [rss]

openmindedNYer

i love the way some of these negative art-bashing comments were made back in August.

wonder if they bothered to traipse overto thhe actual installation and experience The Encampment?

but then again, 'Reality Czech' probably would rather dis things he's ignorant of rather than explore it itperson and THEN share his insights on what IS and ISN'T considered "art"

guest

how come the tents aren't dirty? where are the pits they would have dug for latrines? why aren't there crazy people with their pants open lounging halfway inside some of the tents?

authenticy, people, come on!

Reality Czech

Oh, so the guy has already done it so his statement "When you go deep the history is so fascinating. This will be a kind of digital archaeology, a model of exchange where the community will uncover the stories of the island’s past.” is just a load of bullshit which I knew already but this proves it.

I don't care how "cool" this may look.

LukeC

Yeah Kevin, I was just going to mention the same thing. I live right by the park where he did it in Toronto, I loved how it was in that valley, it was incredible. I'm sure it will be just as neat if not better on Roosevelt Island.

Kevin Bracken

Re comment 1

To combat slow tourism growth from expensive hotels

NYC should open up campgrounds in the outer boroughs

lol

Kevin Bracken

Yeah, he did this at Toronto's Nuit Blanche last year :)

here's what it will look like in person

http://flickr.com/photos/scorchez/257655384/

Reality Czech

When you go deep the history is so fascinating. This will be a kind of digital archaeology, a model of exchange where the community will uncover the stories of the island’s past.” He also calls it "a metaphorical, archaeological dig into the history of mental health."

You see, it's this type of bullshit that differentiates artists from the rest of us. If anyone said, "I want to put a bunch of lit up tents on Roosevelt Island because it will look cool" people woudl think yo;re looney. But come up with a bunch of BS and POOF! It's art!

MT

I had no idea. I thought the whole area was sealed off all this time. Thanks for the heads up!

guest

That part of the island is open to the public from dawn to dusk almost every day of the year. The only part that is inaccessible is the area around the ruin itself.

guest

you can explore it now. you just can't go in the smallpox hospital itself. unless you re a graffiti artist.

curious how no residents here i talked to knew a thing about it.

MT

Is going to be all the way down on the southern end by the old hospital ruins? It would be so cool to get a chance to explore that part of the island!