December 5, 2022
Contact: Elizabeth Geiger, elizabeth.geiger@arts.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech Arts is proud to announce a partnership with the arte_FITS Foundation through a $275,000 private gift from Friedel & Carolina Stubbe. The partnership features two interconnected components: the arte_FITS x GT Arts program and the arte_FITS Ephemeral Art Fund. Both components will have a transformative impact on both Georgia Tech students and the work of artists in Puerto Rico and beyond.
The first component of the project is the arte_FITS x GT Arts program. This five-year program will provide two or three Georgia Tech students each year with the opportunity to discover how their skills and academic training intersects with the work of artists. It will give these students an in-depth look at the creative process of a selected artist and provide time to introduce them to the wide range of arts practices taking place across Puerto Rico.
The Georgia Tech students will travel to Dorado, PR to work closely with a selected local artist. This work can take place anywhere along the creative process. Some years the students may contribute to the design or fabrication of a planned artwork, working with the artist in a studio to explore challenges in engineering, design, computing, audio technology, material science or other fields. Other years the students will be on the ground for installation of a work: learning how skills in design, civil engineering, material science, electrical engineering or other fields intersect with the complex task of installing a work of art. Student areas of study could also include manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and computer science, among others.
Aaron Shackelford, director of Georgia Tech Arts, reflected on the impact of the program
“The arte_FITS x GT Arts program will transform the perspective of participating students, allowing them to see first-hand how their academic training intersects with creative practices in contemporary art. These students will also have a deep appreciation for Puerto Rico’s contribution to the global arts world and develop meaningful connections with people across the island.”
The second component of the program is the arte_FITS Foundation Ephemeral Fund that will enable an ephemeral or land artwork to be installed on the campus of Georgia Tech. A new work will be installed every 2-3 years, depending on the size and scale of each project.
The selected artist will have previously served in the program, establishing a connection with Georgia Tech students. Additional collaborative opportunities with Georgia Tech students and faculty will be available during a site visit to Atlanta as well as virtually during design and planning for the work. The students who previously worked with the artist will serve as ambassadors for the project, connecting with faculty and students to build awareness and interest in the project.
The Ephemeral Fund will elevate the profile of both the arte_FITS Foundation and Puerto Rican artists and highlight Georgia Tech’s vibrant public art program. Each installed artwork will take its place on Georgia Tech’s campus alongside installations by renowned artists such as Robert Berks, John Portman, Dale Chihuly, and Patrick Dougherty.
The arte_FITS x GT Arts program will begin the selection process in December 2022 with the first student residency in Puerto Rico planned for the spring of 2023. Learn more about the spring 2023 project launch on the Georgia Tech Arts website.