Twelve Proposals for the Tiber

TWELVE PROPOSALS FOR THE TIBER

Between the bridges of Ponte Sisto and Ponte Mazzini, there is an extraordinary straight section of the meandering serpentine body of water that is the Tiber River. Since her first trip to Rome as a Fulbright Fellow in1983, Kristin Jones has been fascinated with the river, seeing its’ true potential as a stage for an ever-changing public art and performance that would galvanize artists to create vivid contemporary art in the midst of the historic city.

Starting in 2001, Jones initiated the research and early-stage planning to actualize a Roman non-profit to raise awareness of the Tiber River by facilitating artistic programming to encourage its’ protection and revitalization.  In 2004, with the cooperation of Roman Colleagues, the cultural association TEVERETERNO was established as a laboratory for Rome-inspired contemporary art. The project has since flourished in Rome, producing events that have attracted tens of thousands of Italian citizens and foreign visitors. Wildly successful projects by Robert Hammond, Jenny Holzer and William Kentridge, among others, have demonstrated that Piazza Tevere is a dynamic, contemporary art venue and thrilling public commons reaching beyond the confines of museum, gallery, or concert hall.

Aside from serving as founder and artistic director of TEVERETERNO, Jones independently developed one dozen proposals for artistic projects along the Tiber River, which she began formally documenting once returning to New York City after 9 years of producing projects in Rome. While some of these proposals are fully developed and some but pure ambition, the objective of ‘Twelve for the Tiber’ has always been to demonstrate the extraordinary potential of the dramatic site in the heart of the city. As an archive, these collections of ideas, images, and text are stand-alone artworks that serve as a testament to transformation through creativity.