WRITING
LETTER TO PRINCIPAL DALIPI OF P.S.305
Dear Mr. Dalipi,
I am Luca Celestino, a student at The New School, at the midpoint of my Junior year. I am writing to propose a unique sculpture on the grounds of P.S. 305. One which may serve as a catalyst for a more personal and necessary art. I am not asking for funding of any sort, I would simply appreciate the opportunity to discuss this proposal with you at a time of your liking.
My proposal is as follows:
The installment of two refurbished antique bolt-down elementary school chairs at the Seneca Avenue and Stockholm Street B38 Ridgewood bus stop for P.S. 305.
Title: To P.S. 305 (From my grandfather Celso and my mother Danielle)
These chairs, designated as sculpture, meet required standards designated by the City of New York under the DOT NYC Site Selection Guide (Page 9 included within). I have enclosed more specific material of my proposal and recent work which you might find of interest.
My practice pertains closely to site-specific engagements with the public aiming to transform the material conditions of everyday life.
To P.S. 305 serves a number of spatio-temporal critiques of our environment while simultaneously producing a fundamental necessity—a place to sit. School chairs are part of the educational and disciplinary apparatus, tools used to organize and structure the behavior and positioning of bodies within an institutional space. By displacing them to the street, you reveal the cultural practice behind the object itself, exploring the emotional impact of domestic objects and the evolution of education, discipline, and authority in public institutions.
The placement of these chairs in relation to a bus stop transforms what is typically a “non-place” into a space that offers new meanings and experiences beyond its usual function. A transient, impersonal space becomes a layered space that invites reflection on time, movement, and the institution(s) behind it, inviting students and the community to critically engage in their environment. We transform an ordinary moment of waiting into an opportunity for dialogue and contemplation.
I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss this proposal and explore how we can collaborate to materialize To P.S. 305.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.