Hall of Gowanus
a community-curated archive related to the history of the Gowanus Canal
Sasha Chavchavadze, Footnote: Gowanus Lost, Archival Pigment Print on Canson, assemblage of mixed media art and artifacts from the Hall of Gowanus collection, 12” x 24”, Edition of 12
The Hall of Gowanus is a community-curated archive of art, artifacts and documents related to the history of the Gowanus Canal, a post-industrial waterway that has played a central role in Brooklyn history. The archive was conceived and co-curated by Sasha Chavchavadze and Tammy Pittman at Proteus Gowanus, an interdisciplinary exhibition space, from 2009 until the gallery closed in 2015. The Hall of Gowanus was a Project-in-Residence at Proteus Gowanus with a designated 12” x 25” exhibition space.
Artifacts were donated by community members to the Hall of Gowanus. Eymund Diegel, a Brooklyn citizen scientist, amassed many of the artifacts in the collection during his excursions in and around the Gowanus Canal, depositing the material at Proteus Gowanus and assisting with artifact installation and presentation. Artists were invited by Proteus Gowanus to respond to the artifacts, leading to ongoing, rotating exhibitions of art, artifacts and documents.
In 2014, Proteus Gowanus educator Angela Kramer and Sasha Chavchavade presented the Hall of Gowanus in a TedxGowanus talk.
After 2015, Eymund Deigel, Brad Vogel, Owen Foote and other members of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club community, continued to collect Gowanus artifacts, expanding the archive and creating the Gowanus Dredgers Hall of Gowanus collection, which is currently on display at the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse.