Open Access: Exhibition Reception

On view October 8–November 13 at Van Alen Institute, Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design invites five artists and design teams to respond to our archive. Comprising thousands of competition boards, jury records, photographs, and correspondence, it's one of the most significant collections of American architectural history in existence.But an archive is never neutral. It reflects the priorities, blind spots, and values of those who built it: who was invited in, whose ideas were resourced, and whose were left out entirely. In Open Access, each project asks a different version of the same question: what does this archive tell us about who design has — and hasn't — served?On October 8, join us for a festive cocktail reception, take a first look at the exhibition, and toast the exhibiting artists: Annie Barrett, Daniel Pittman, and Paula Vilaplana de Miguel Matthew Bohne Kholisile Dhliwayo Friends Making Work Gillian Waldo Open Access is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Graham Foundation. Our work is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by the Goldman Sachs Office of Corporate Engagement through a grant recommended by Goldman Sachs Community Development Grants Program. ​​Notice of Access, Filming, and Photography Van Alen is committed to ensuring that all of our events are inclusive and accessible for all participants. Van Alen Institute is on the ground floor and ADA-accessible. If you require accommodations or have any questions about access needs, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to support your participation. When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction.