Updated:August17

SITE-RESPONSIVEEXHIBITIONCONVENES18INTERNATIONALARTISTSTOREFLECTONHUMANIMPACTANDINCREASINGCOMPLEXITYOFNATIONALSECURITYINOURTIMEFOR-SITEFoundation’sHomeLandSecurityOpensSeptember10,2016ArtworksActivateHistoricMilitary-DefenseStructuresinthePresidioOverlookingSanFrancisco’sGoldenGateandCelebrateNationalParkService’sCentennialYear

SanFrancisco,CA,June23,2016—Continuingitsfocusonartaboutplace,theFOR-SITEFoundation,inpartnershipwiththeNationalParkService,theGoldenGateNationalParksConservancy,andthePresidioTrust,presentsHomeLandSecurity(September10throughDecember18,2016).CuratedbyFOR-SITEFoundationExecutiveDirectorCherylHaines,thethematic,site-responsiveexhibitionwillbeinstalledinformermilitarystructuresoverlookingtheSanFranciscoBay—someopentothepublicforthefirsttime—andbringstogetherworkby18contemporaryartistsand

collectivesfromaroundtheglobetoreflectonthehumandimensionsandincreasingcomplexityofnationalsecurity,includingthephysicalandpsychologicalborderswecreate,protect,andcrossinitsname.“TherecentexperienceofpresentingartworksbyAiWeiweionAlcatrazIslandhasfurtheredmyinterestinworkingwithartistswhoseideascreatedialoguearoundsocialchange,”saysHaines.“Byplacingartthatexaminessecurity’shumancostinsideformermilitarysites,HomeLandSecurityprovidesapowerfulcontextforconsideringtheperceivedneedfordefenseandsurveillance,andlookingathowfearof‘other’canobscurecommonalityofhumanexperienceandcontributetoculturalmisunderstanding.”Newcommissionsandrecentworksinvariousmedia—sculpture,painting,installation,performance,andvideo—willtakeoverfivehistoricstructuresatFortWinfieldScott,theformerheadquartersforcoastaldefenseofCaliforniaattheGoldenGate.Thecomplexofdeactivatedmilitarybuildingsincludesaseriesofgunbatteriesandaregimentalchapel—alllocatedintheheartoftheworld’slargestnationalparkinanurbanarea,theGoldenGateNationalRecreationArea.TheexhibitionsitesarepartofaformerUSArmypostandrepresentdistinctchaptersintheregion’scoastaldefensehistory.Theparticipatingartistshaverootsintwelvedifferentcountries,andeachprovidesauniquelensonuniversalthemes:definitionsofhomeandsafety,ideologicalextremism,forcedmigrationinthewakeofconflict,theconstantshiftofweaponryandtargets,andtheunwaveringbeliefinthenecessityfordefense.HighlightsincludevideosfromBillViola’simmersiveMartyrsseries,abouttheenduranceandinflictionofsufferingforbeliefs(EarthMartyr,AirMartyr,FireMartyr,andWaterMartyr,2014);PropellerGroup’ssculpturalfreeze-framesofbulletsfiredintoballisticsgeldesignedtosimulatetheeffectofwounds(UniverseofCollisionsseries,2015);LizaLou’shovering,gatelikesculpturecoveredinmillionsofgold-platedbeadsandprovidingnoreal

protection(Barricade,2007−8);andacommissionedwalldrawingbyTirtzahBassel(Concourse,2016)thatexamineshowfamiliaremblemsofairlinetravel—freedom,adventure,globalconnection—havebecomeentangledwithnotionsofvulnerabilityanddisempowerment.Thefulllistofexhibitionartists:ShivaAhmadi(bornIran,basedinUnitedStates);TammanAzzam(bornSyria,basedinDubai);TirtzahBassel(bornIsrael,basedinUnitedStates);YasharAzarEmdadian(France);AlFarrow(bornandbasedinUnitedStates);DíazLewis(CaraMeganLewisandAlejandroDíaz-Perera)(establishedCuba,basedinUnitedStatesandCuba);LizaLou(bornUnitedStates,basedinUnitedStatesandSouthAfrica);MandanaMoghaddam(bornIran,basedinSweden);TrevorPaglen(bornandbasedinUnitedStates);ShahpourPouyan(bornIran,basedinUnitedStates);MichelePred(bornandbasedinUnitedStates);PropellerGroup(MattLucero,TuấnAndrewNguyễn,andPhunamThúc)(establishedVietnam,basedinVietnamandUnitedStates);LuzMaríaSánchez(bornMexico); DoHoSuh(bornSouthKorea,basedinUnitedStates,UnitedKingdom,andSouthKorea);BillViola(bornandbasedinUnitedStates);AlexiaWebster(bornSouthAfrica);KrzysztofWodiczko(borninPoland,basedinUnitedStates);andYinXiuzhen(bornandbasedinChina). HomeLandSecurityisthelatestinaseriesofcollaborationsbetweentheFOR-SITEFoundation,theNationalParkService,thePresidioTrust,andtheGoldenGateNationalParksConservancythatcreatenewmodelsforengagingparkvisitorsthroughsite-specificartpresentedonpublicland.TheprojectalsohelpscommemoratetheNationalParkService’s100thanniversary,activatinghistoricsitesforbroaderpublicappreciationandsignifyingtheinnovativeuseofurbanlandsthattheparkserviceenvisionsforthefuture.“TheexhibitionresonateswithakeythemeoftheNationalParkService’scentennialyear,whichistoconnectourindividualliveswiththelargerworldaroundusthroughmeaningfulexperiencesonparkland,”saysChristineLehnertz,superintendentoftheGoldenGateNationalRecreationArea.“Carefullyselectedartworksinstalledinthelong-abandonedcoastalgunbatteriesoftheGoldenGateinvitereflectiononthetimelysubjectofborderdefenseintheUnitedStatesandbeyond.”“ThePresidioTrusthasbeenembracingplace-basedartasaninnovativewaytowelcomethecommunitytoexploreandconnectwiththeirnationalpark,”saysMichaelBoland,actingexecutivedirectorofthePresidioTrust.“HomeLandSecurityrepresentsanextraordinaryopportunityforvisitorstorediscoveralesser-knownsitesintheareawhileexperiencingthought-provokingartaboutimportantcontemporaryissues.”“Bringingpublicartandpubliclandstogetherthroughthisuniquepartnershipmakespossiblenewperspectivesonthesignificanceofournationalparksforeachofusindividuallyandforoursocietyasawhole,”saysGregMoorepresidentandCEOoftheGoldenGateNationalParksConservancy. Toencouragedialogueabouttheexhibition’smultilayeredthemes,HomeLandSecuritywillprovideateamofartguidespositionedattheinstallationsites,offeringbackgroundabouttheartworksandthehistoryofthearea.FOR-SITEisalsobringingwi-fitothesites,allowingvisitorstodelvedeeperintotheexhibitiononlineandtointeractthoughsocialmedia(#ArtAboutPlace).AdditionalfacetsoftheprojectwillbesharedonFOR-SITE’sblog,FieldNotes,andthroughvideosavailablebothonsiteandonlineforaudiencesunabletovisitinperson.ArtinConversationwithHistoricSitesFortWinfieldScottandthecoastalartillerybatterieswerebuiltinthewesternpartofthePresidioattheturnofthe20thcentury,whentheUnitedStatesArmytookongreaterresponsibilityforcoastaldefense.Theforthoused17largegunbatteries—amongthefirstmodernmilitaryinstallationsusingconcreteandelectricity—thatoverlookedanunderwaterminefieldattheGoldenGate;theywerearmedandmannedbetween1891and1946.BytheendofWorldWarII,coastaldefensehadchangeddramaticallyandtheartillerysystemwasreplacedbymodernairpower,amphibiouswarfare,andnuclearweapons.In1956,FortScottofficiallyclosedasamilitarypost.BatteryGodfrey,apartiallyunderground,reinforced-concretebunker,heldthelargestofthedefense-systemguns,thefirstoftheirsizetobemountedintheUS—asignoftheimportanceplacedonthedefenseofSanFrancisco’sharbor,whichwassecondonlytoNewYorkinstrategicvalue.

BatteryBoutelle,atwo-storyconcretestructure,wasarmedwiththree5-inchgunsthatcouldfireupto30roundsperminutetodefendagainstminesweepersandfasttorpedoboats.AshellfiredfromBatteryBoutellecouldreachsevenmilesouttosea.BatteryMarcusMillerhousedthreeabove-ground,large-calibergunsanda43-mancrewduringwartime.Alocalnewsreportfrom1907describeshowthecity’snotoriousweatheraffectedfiringexercises:“Thetestswerestoppedatnoonbyaheavyfogwhichsettleddownwherethetargetswereanchoredofftheentrancetotheharbor.”TheNikeAdministrationBuildingwasheadquartersfortheMilitaryIntelligenceGroupDetachmentanditsNikeMissileProgram.With12launchsitessurroundingthebay,theprogramwaspartofasophisticatednationalsecuritysystemspawnedbyColdWartensionbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionastheycompetedforadvantageinweaponstechnology.FortScottChapelwasbuiltin1941,whenmilitaryinfrastructurewasunderrapidconstructioninthePresidioastheexpandingarmymobilizedforWorldWarII.Withacapacityfor300worshippers,thesymmetricalwood-framechapelwasintendedtoservevariousdenominations.DiverseVoicesAddressContemporaryIssuesKrzysztofWodiczko’smultimediaaccountofwarandsacrificeinIraqandAfghanistanfillsthelong-silentchambersofFortScottwiththevoicesofsoldiersonceagain(Veterans’Flame,2009);MandanaMoghaddam’shauntingvideoofabandonedbaggagefloatingontheoceanrecallsthehumanlivesadriftanddisplacedthroughforcedmigration(Exodus,2013).SanFrancisco−basedsculptorAlFarrowusesscalemodelsofachurchandamosquefashionedfromspentammunitionandweapons’partstoturnaspotlightontherolereligiousextremismplaysininstigatingviolence(MosqueIII,2010).KoreanartistDoHoSuh’slarger-than-lifesuitofarmor—composedofthousandsofmilitarydogtags—embodiestheideaofpowerinnumbersandthetensionbetweenindividualandcollectiveidentity(Some/One,2013).ChineseartistYinXiuzhencontributesasuspendedinstallationofprojectilesmadefromusedclothingandotherfoundtextiles,contrastingtheobjects’materialsoftnesswiththeirsuggesteddesignationasinstrumentsofharm(Weapon,2003−7).BayAreaartistMichelePred’sassemblageofsharporcombustibleitemscollectedfromairlinepassengersatSanFranciscoInternationalAirportcaptureshowtheeventsof9/11transformedinnocuoushouseholditemsintosymbolsofthreat(Encirclement,2003).InYasharAzarEmdadian’svideoperformanceDisintegration(2012),theartistshaveshistorsoinapublicspace,hisbodybecomingtheboundarybetweenamigrant’smoltingofpersonalidentityandhisintegrationintoanotherculture.ShivaAhmadi’sanimationLotus(2013)addressesabusesofpowerandcorruptioninadelicate,ornate,watercolorstylethatrecallsthePersianandIndiantraditionsofminiaturepainting.TrevorPaglen’sCodeNamesoftheSurveillanceState(2014)traversesvastdistancesanddiverselandscapestoinvestigatetheshadowyrealmsofgovernmentintelligence.AlexiaWebsterpresentsaphotoseriestakeninmobileportraitstudiosshesetupinstreetsofrefugeecampsaroundtheworld(BulengoStudios,2014).LuzMaríaSánchezattemptstoquantifythenumberofindividualswholosttheirlivescrossingtheUnitedStates−Mexicoborderbetween1993and2006inhersoundinstallationtitled2487(2006). Intheperformancepiece34,000Pillows(2016–ongoing),artistduoDíazLewistakesontheUSCongress’smandatethatgovernmentimmigrationagenciesmaintaina“bedquota”of34,000detainedimmigrantsperdayintheirfacilities.Invitingparticipationfromexhibitionvisitors,theartistswillsewpillowson-sitefromusedclothingdonatedbyundocumentedimmigrantsandformerdetainees.Creatingnewworkfortheexhibition,SyrianartistTammanAzzamreturnstohisrootsasapainterwithatriptychthatconveysthemagnitudeofdevastationinhishomelandthroughabstractcityscapesravagedbywar.AlsopresentingcommissionedworkforHomeLandSecurity,ShahpourPouyancontinueshisongoing“projectile”

sculptureseries,which,informedbyhischildhoodexperienceoflivingthroughtheIran-Iraqwar,mergesformsresemblingmissilesanddroneswiththoseofartisan-craftedIranianhelmetsandelegantantiquechainmail.

* **AbouttheFOR-SITEFoundationEstablishedin2003bycuratorCherylHaines,theFOR-SITEFoundationisanonprofitorganizationdedicatedtothecreation,understanding,andpresentationofartaboutplace.Recentprojectsencompasscommissions,artistresidencies,andeducationalprograms,andincludetheacclaimedexhibition@Large:AiWeiweionAlcatraz;InternationalOrange,agroupshowhonoringthe75thanniversaryoftheGoldenGateBridge;PresidioHabitats;andaseriesofland-artinstallationsbyAndyGoldsworthycurrentlyonviewinthePresidio.Moreatfor-site.org.

AboutthePresidioTrustThePresidioTrustisaninnovativefederalagencycreatedtosavethePresidioandemployapartnershipapproachtotransformitintoanewkindofnationalpark.Spanning1,500acresinaspectacularsettingattheGoldenGate,thePresidionowoperateswithouttaxpayersupport;ishometoacommunityofresidentsandcommercialtenants;andoffersuniquerecreation,hospitality,andeducationalopportunitiestopeoplethroughouttheSanFranciscoBayAreaandtheworld.Thetrust’sArtinthePresidioprogramwelcomesawiderangeofartiststorespondtoparksites.Tenexhibitionstodatehaveencouragedmorethan100,000visitorstoseethepark’snaturalandculturaltreasuresinanewlight.Moreatpresidio.gov/trust.

AbouttheNationalParkServiceTheNationalParkService(NPS)isafederalagencywithintheUSDepartmentoftheInteriorchargedwithmanagingthepreservationandpublicuseofAmerica’smostsignificantnatural,scenic,historic,andculturalresources.TheNPSmanagesthecoastalareasofthePresidioandGoldenGateNationalParks,aswellas400otherparksitesacrosstheUnitedStates.Moreatnps.gov.

AbouttheGoldenGateNationalParksConservancyTheGoldenGateNationalParksConservancyisthenonprofitmembershiporganizationthatsupportsthemost-visitedoutpostintheUSnationalparksystem.Theconservancyprovidesaidforsitetransformations,trailimprovements,habitatrestoration,volunteerandyouthengagement,andinterpretiveandeducationalprograms.Conservancy-fundedprojects,inpartnershipwiththeNationalParkServiceandPresidioTrust,arevisibleacrosstheparks’80,000acres—includingthePresidio,CrissyField,MuirWoods,LandsEnd,Alcatraz,andothers.Moreatparksconservancy.org.

CALENDAREDITORS,PLEASENOTE:FOR-SITEFoundationpresentsHomeLandSecurityEighteenartistsandcollectivesfromaroundtheglobeconvergeontheGoldenGateNationalRecreationArea,activatingformermilitarysiteswithartworksthatexaminesecurityandthephysicalandpsychologicalbordersthatwecreate,protect,andcrossinitsname.IncludesworkbyBillViola,thePropellerGroup,TrevorPaglen,TirtzahBassel,andmore.OrganizedinpartnershipwiththeNationalParkService,theGoldenGateNationalParksConservancy,andthePresidioTrust.

Exhibitiondates:September10throughDecember18,2016Location:FortWinfieldScottandthePresidio,inSanFrancisco’sGoldenGateNationalRecreationAreaHours:WednesdaythroughSunday,10a.m.to5p.m.Admission:freeInformation:for-site.org

Photocredit:BatteryBoutelle,oneoffiveHomeLandSecurityexhibitionsitesoverlookingSanFrancisco’sGoldenGate;photo:NinaDietzel

###MEDIACONTACTS:FOR-SITEFoundationandexhibition NationalParkServiceandPresidioTrust

RobynWise,StreetwiseCommunications DavidShaw,ParksConservancywiserobyn@gmail.com;415.269.7043 dshaw@parksconservancy.org;415.561.3064

AlisonKonecki,FOR-SITEFoundation HowardLevitt,NationalParkServicealison@for-site.org;415.362.9330 howard.levitt@nps.org;415.561.4730

DanaPolk,PresidioTrustdpolk@presidiotrust.gov;415.561.2710