a festival of art and action
In 2019, Artichoke Dance Company produced Gowanus Visions: A Festival of Art and Action to bring awareness to and education around a highly toxic superfund site, the Gowanus Canal. Participants envisioned the future of the neighborhood, slated for the largest scale rezoning in New York City in 20 years. The festival also featured local Gowanus artists and organizations.
June 15, 2019
Gowanus Waterfront/Sponge Park
(between 365 Bond Street and the Canal)
1:00-2:00pm: Dance Workshop
2:00-3:30pm: Performances:
Lee Taylor (Singer and Songwriter)
Sweet Aminata (Storyteller)
Gowanus Wildcats (Step team)
Dance students from Murrow High School
Artichoke Dance Company
3:30-4:00pm: Oyster Demonstration by the Billion Oyster Project
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Participatory activities 1:00-4:00pm
(Sponge Park, between 365 Bond Street and the Canal)
Canoeing with the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club (in Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse)
Interactive and Educational Activities
Model House Boat building with KoKoNYC
Create your own story with Storyteller Sweet Aminata
Visual Art Exhibit: Sediment/As Above, So Below exhibit (in Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse)
Eco walking Tour
(meet at the Union Street Bridge)
1:00-1:45pm: Led by the Gowanus Canal Conservancy
Clean and Green Volunteering
(9TH STREET BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AVENUE)
10:00am-1:00pm: Did you know that street trees around the Gowanus Canal provide environmental services, including carbon dioxide capture, air quality improvements and stormwater capture, equal to $360,000? Engage in tree stewardship with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy. Registration is required.
DJ Dance Party at Public Records
(233 Butler Street)
4:30-6:30pm: Celebrate Gowanus at this free dance party featuring DJs for Climate Action (Spinning: Jesse Mann)
Refreshments are available for purchase (bar open for adults 21+). Space is limited. Make a reservation.
tiny houseboats Launch into the canal
(Sponge Park)
7:00-8:30pm: Join KoKoNYC in launching the miniature houseboats you created into the Gowanus Canal.
ALL EVENTS ARE FREE
Background
The Gowanus Canal was given Superfund status by the US government because it is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States. This festival provides education and participatory activities and produces a performance spectacle along the canal. Gowanus Visions is held on Global Water Dances Day to raise awareness and spur activity around the Gowanus Canal and impending remediation and rezoning.
This program is support, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, as well as the Brooklyn Arts Council, The Harkness Foundation and Puffin Foundation.
