About I In The Sky
Interactive public art project will allow NYC residents and visitors to see themselves larger than life in the heart of Times Square.
NEW YORK - Internationally-acclaimed artist Raul Vincent Enriquez has joined forces with the Durst Organization and chashama, a non-profit arts organization, to present I in the Sky, an exciting and interactive public art project. From February 21-April 26, 2008, New York City residents and visitors will have the chance to see themselves larger and brighter than life - 48 stories above Times Square.
I in the Sky comprises a street-level photo-booth at the chashama gallery paired with the Conde Nast Lumacom electronic display sign. The Lumacom will broadcast digital portraits taken by photo-booth visitors that have been animated by Enriquez to resemble flip-book images. The process will take about 20 minutes and is free of charge.
"I find portraits to be a timeless and accessible art form", said Enriquez. "In each portrait, several photos are sequenced and animated, framed to create the impression of extreme eye contact. My goal is to make provocative art that captures viewers".
In a cityscape that is increasingly generic, I in the Sky interrupts the commercial congestion with artwork that restores the sense of community, individuality, and aesthetic brilliance that made New York City famous.
"We could not be more excited to work with Mr. Enriquez on this extraordinary installation that New Yorkers and tourists alike can enjoy and experience," said Anita Durst, founder of chashama. "This project reshapes how we look at a familiar landscape".
I in the Sky and the Lumacom are best seen in Manhattan on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, and 9th Avenue at 44th Street. The portraits are also viewable from the New Jersey side of the Hudson.
The Michael Caselli-designed photo booth at chashama is located at 112 West 44th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. The gallery is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 12-8PM.
I In The Sky Team
Rachel Fleit (producer)
Rachel Fleit currently resides in Manhattan where she is an independent producer of film, art projects and events. Most recently Rachel produced Giving It Up, a feature documentary about former LA Gang Members who are now Hollywood Paparazzi. From August 2002 through April 2007, Rachel worked full time at chashama where her primary focus was to raise money to transform vacant New York City real estate properties into temporary affordable arts spaces. Rachel has worked professionally with the Roundabout Theatre Company in NYC and Donmar Warehouse in London. Rachel has produced two short films, Little Match Boy (2006) and Fools’ Errand (2005). She developed the live performances, Rode Hard and Put Away Wet (2003) and Creation Nation (2003-2005) and produced two major site specific projects MedeaMachine (2002) and 3 Mutants (2001). Rachel is an Ithaca College Clarence Straight Award winner, was voted one of The Real Hot 100 of 2006 and is a 2008 recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Award from the National Organization of Women.
Michael Casselli (photo booth installation designer)
"I work all over, in theater and the visual arts, using whatever media fits the need of each project. This allows me to stay away from stylistic repetition, and constantly challenges me to come up with something different from the last thing I did. I have been lucky to work with other artists who also embrace this mode of discovery. My scenic work for Reza Abdoh was more installation then set design, my machine design for Elizabeth Streb was exciting as it was potentially dangerous if put in the wrong hands. In my installation work, I employ the viewer as a necessary component of the work, allowing their reaction to the situations I create further the intention of the piece. I see everything I do to be a combination of theater, of performance and of interaction. There is an essential physical relationship and response and that is the most prevalent stylistic thread that I utilize in my work. It continues to offer me a endless range of possibilities to work within. WIth I in the Sky, I am able to collaborate with Raul, to design for him the portal through which his work gets funneled, an object and an environment that hopefully adds to the overall experience of the portrait by bringing it out in a playful and engaging way."
Key Participants
Executive Producers: Anita Durst and Helena Durst
Gallery Administrators: Juliana Francis Kelly, Chloe Walters Wallace, Sarah Karp
Animators: Rachel Hoffman, Kathleen Tobin, Ominike Akinyemi, Lolourien Siwu
Photo Booth built by Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg
Interaction Design: Ryan Holsopple
Publicity by Sunshine Sachs & Associates
Graphic and Web Design: The Rascal Room
Very Special Thanks:
Douglas Durst
Barry Fagan
Jordan Barowitz
Pat Mollin
Martin Vendel
Vesel Adamej
Michele Schoonover
The chashama Staff
The Durst Organization Staff
New York Theatre Workshop
