.jpg) ISEA2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness -- Re-envisioning Art, Technology and Nature
!8th Annual Symposium on Electronic Art
CALL FOR ARTISTS –
Amigos Bravos is part of ISEA2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness
organized by 516 ARTS, www.isea2012.org
Sponsor: Amigos Bravos Inc., Friends of the Wild Rivers
105-A Quesnel St./P.O. Box 238, Taos NM 87571
Tel: 575.758.3874. http://www.amigosbravos.org
Contact: Brian Shields
Project Name (working title): Gravel to Grass: Ex Machina Space
Media: Land-based art, sculpture, video, photography, computer graphics
Site Location: Google Earth coordinates: 36º21’00.34”N, 105º42’47.54”W, Elevation 2,034m. Taos County Road C-110 closure three miles west of UNM-Taos Klauer Campus – Also known as the trailhead for the Río Pueblo de Taos landslide trail -- Taos, NM. There is no on-site electricity or water.
Project Goals:
≈ To tear up a portion of highway and reclaim the area back to its natural state
≈ To construct a trailhead and block motorized access through a combination of land-based art and sculpture
≈ To clean up abandoned vehicles and trash from an adjacent deep arroyo and possibly use some of the materials in the restoration efforts
≈ To create learning opportunities regarding the impacts of vehicles and trash on the landscape
Additionally, we seek proposals that document and evaluate the project.
Project Area and Desired Outcome:
In the Taos Valley, the Río Grande and the Río Pueblo de Taos form eight hundred foot deep basalt canyons that are the product of the Rio Grande continental rift. The Rio Grande gorge creates a formidable barrier to motorized travel. In the early 1990’s a large landslide obliterated a portion of highway inside the 450’ deep and narrow Río Pueblo de Taos gorge. Due to environmental concerns the road was never reopened. Where the road enters the gorge at an elevation of seven thousand feet, the road is closed with a series of concrete barriers. Here, one is mesmerized by the spectacular 360º views of the gorge dissecting the mesa to the west and the Sange de Cristo Mountains to the east. Shortly after the road was closed, the area became an illegal dump ground (for old refrigerators, furniture, and household goods), an impromptu firing range, and the party site for drunken revelers – the area is now covered with broken glass and spent bullet casings. Meanwhile, many local residents enjoy walking down into the gorge on the old roadbed that is slowly eroding and is more frequently used by wildlife. The trail crosses the landslide area and continues down to the Taos Junction Bridge, which provides one of only three crossings of the Rio Grande Gorge (which stretches 60 miles from Pilar north to the New Mexico/Colorado border). Consequently, the area that comprises the end of C-110 and the trailhead, one of world’s most spectacular places, has become a “machine wilderness” in Horvath’s sense of the term – a place where vehicular access leads people to recreate and trash. By tearing up the old road and returning it to a “wild” state, by building natural barriers to mechanized travel, and by removing trash and transforming it into educational sculptures, the site provides a perfect opportunity to re-envision social relationships to nature and thus further the ISEA2012 goal of redefining Machine Wilderness.
Sponsorship and Available Resources:
Established in 1988, Amigos Bravos is dedicated to restoring and preserving the ecological and cultural integrity of New Mexico’s rivers and watersheds, and is recognized nationally as a model for linking environmental protection with social equity principles, while addressing issues of Environmental Justice. With a staff of five and nearly 2,000 members, we are well-respected for our innovative approaches and strong advocacy in efforts. For information about our current projects go to: http://www.amigosbravos.org.
The US Bureau of Land Management has offered technical and biological assistance as well as manpower and the use of earth-moving equipment for various aspects of the restoration efforts.
Amigos Bravos will provide a one-month (possibly 2-month) residency and will seek funding to purchase materials and help compensate the artist(s). Amigos Bravos will also secure a venue in which to show drawings, photographs, and videos produced as part of the project.
Call for Project Proposals:
Amigos Bravos seeks proposals for achieving the project’s stated goals.
Proposals should be submitted electronically and include:
≈ Visual rendition of final product(s)
≈ Working drawings to present for approval by Taos County
≈ Narrative description of work and how it achieves the project goal(s)
≈ A plan for documenting and evaluating the project
≈ Budget
Proposals will be chosen according to the following criteria:
≈ The final product is economically and technically feasible
≈ The restoration work and road closure structures incorporate and meld in with the surrounding landscape and use native vegetation
≈ Full closure to off-road vehicles is achieved at the trailhead
≈ The work incorporates social media and educational tools
≈ Preference will be given to work that incorporates collaboration with other artists, sponsors, and local residents
Proposals will be chosen by a committee made up of representatives of Amigos Bravos, the Bureau of Land Management, Taos County, the landowner, and local artists.
Deadline for proposals: November 15, 2011…Project work to start summer/fall 2012
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