Storefront for Art and Architecture

Storefront for Art and Architecture is a contemporary art and architecture institution in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, founded by Kyong Park in 1982. Storefront for Art and Architecture is a nonprofit organization committed to the advancement of innovative positions in architecture, art and design.BackgroundThe organization was founded by Kyong Park with R.L. Selman in 1982 in a tiny storefront at 51 Prince Street. With co-director Glenn Weiss (1984-86), the Storefront implemented its "civic dialogue and activist" project format and moved the Storefront to its location at Kenmare Street. The artist Shirin Neshat co-directed the Storefront with her husband Park until the mid 90s and Park was the Executive Director from its founding until 1998. Subsequent Directors include Sarah Herda, Joseph Grima, Eva Franch i Gilabert (2010–present). Storefront's program includes exhibitions, events (performances, artists talks, film screenings, conferences), competitions and publications with the stated intention of "generating dialogue and collaboration across geographic, ideological and disciplinary boundaries."At the beginning, Storefront balanced solo or group exhibitions with idea competitions and exhibitions to functionally and/or poetically address NYC issues with social implications including the polluted Gowanus Canal '83, NYC Homeless Shelters '85–86, preservation of Adam Purple's "Garden on Eden" '84 and removal of Richard Serra's "Tilted Arc" '85. Early exhibitors included Lebbeus Woods, Coop Himmelblau, Dan Graham, Carolee Schneemann, Michael Sorkin, Richard Serra, Imre Makovecz, Neil Denari, Zvi Hecker, SITE, Steven Holl, Thom Mayne and Tehching Hsieh.