Kickstarter

THE PROJECT New Trails aims to intelligently and provocatively activate empty storefront venues and outdoor spaces in the Philadelphia community of Chestnut Hill (Historic Germantown Avenue) through a series of arts exhibition events. Dynamic young & established artists who are actively utilizing recycled materials, environmentally aware concepts and/or sustainable practices as part of their creative process and output will create original works; site-specific, site-conscious projects in the shared regional outdoor space of the Wissahickon Valley.

The goal of this project is to extend the boundaries and the conversation regarding sustaining community development and outdoor urban resources through utilizing creative work as an exciting catalyst for appreciation, reflection and dialogue. New Trails aspires to foster a direct connection between the relationship community and commercial development shares with the natural world surrounding it: the outdoor corridor of the Wissahickon Valley and the parallel commercial corridor of Historic Germantown Avenue.

THE PLAN Bring a group of talented, motivated young artists to discover the Wissahickon Valley & Historic Germantown Avenue. Artists from Delaware, NYC, Wyoming, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and more. Through interpreting and responding to the parks history, landscape and usage these artists will create new original works for a 3 month public display. With nearly 20,000+ park visitors each Summer, these creative responses will enrich the dialogue the community has with the Wissahickon Valley as well as generate a challenging new one. A concurrent exhibition will be generated in a large vacant storefront along Historic Germantown Avenue. Our project partners for New Trails are the Chestnut-Hill Arts Initiative (CAi), Bowman Properties, Chestnut-Hill Business Association, Chestnut-Hill Community Association, the Friends of the Wissahickon and the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce.

THE CATALOG In conjunction with New Trails a comprehensive full-color, 6"x9" exhibition catalog/field-guide will be produced. The catalog will feature original responses to the project and works from Katrina Kuntz (Independent Curator/Critic, NYC), Margaret Winslow (Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Delaware Art Museum) and Bryan Rice (Programmer, Adaptation, Philadelphia)

WHO WE ARE Adaptation functions between day-jobs, on overzealous lunch-breaks and within the accruing minutes between on-time and late. We are DIY creatures (often nocturnal by nature and necessity). We exist as a "labor-of-love", working to create unique creative opportunities for artists to explore their ideas and generate meaningful projects. Adaptation is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas.

THE FUNDS The idea of inviting 15+ contemporary visual & performance artists from around the country to investigate a dramatic urban park system as a creative impetus is a wonderful and exciting challenge for our grassroots organization. We can't do it alone. New Trails requires your generous support to provide artist project materials, general logistics, site insurance, exhibition building materials and transportation to realize this unique opportunity for the artists participating.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Sincerely, Brookes Britcher, Bryan Rice and all the participating artists