Syracuse University

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) at Syracuse University and Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia will co-host "What Makes Public Art?" -- the second installment of the "Talk Serious" discussion series -- Friday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the main auditorium of The Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in areas adjacent to The Warehouse.

"What Makes Public Art?" will focus on public art, space and community. A panel will engage the audience on a variety of issues, including the challenges and benefits of public art, what constitutes a successful public art project, the importance of public art to individuals and communities, and the arts as an engine for economic development and urban renewal. The panelists are not public art experts, but rather local professionals engaged in promoting public art as an essential component of a great city.

"A background in the arts is not required for participation in our discussion," says Daniela Mosko-Wozniak, executive director of community art programs for VPA. "We encourage lively interaction between the audience and the panelists, so we hope to attract people who enjoy talking about public art and how it can enhance our community."

Mosko-Wozniak will moderate the panel with Natalia Mount, executive director of Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. Panelists scheduled to participate include:

• Lori A. Brown, architect, artist and faculty member in the SU School of Architecture. Her work employs collage, mapping and speculative design, through which she explores issues of domestic and public spaces and their construction through gender. Many of her projects are community-based collaborations that bring design to those who otherwise might not have access to it. She is a member of CoAct, a collaborative artists' group that creates projects that encourage dialogue.
  

  
  

• Brian E. Moore, program director for foundation initiatives at the Gifford Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people living in Central New York. Leading proactive charitable efforts at Gifford, Moore is currently focusing on a major neighborhood revitalization initiative being conducted by the foundation. He was previously a program officer at the Central New York Community Foundation.
  

  
  

• Joanna Spitzner, artist and faculty member in VPA's School of Art and Design and member of CoAct. Her work often takes the form of real-life performances and alternative organizations. She is currently working on The Joanna Spitzner Foundation, which raises funding for artists through working wage jobs.
  

  
  

• Ben Walsh, economic development coordinator for the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York (MDA), the region's business leadership and planning organization. Walsh focuses his efforts on the attraction and retention of youth in the community, increasing university-industry collaboration, and the revitalization of the region's urban cores.
  

"Talk Serious" is an ongoing arts discussion series sponsored by VPA and Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. The first installment was held in November 2006 and addressed "What is Art?" For more information, contact Mosko-Wozniak at (315) 443-0296
or dmoskowo@syr.edu.