The Making Temple - Leonardo Patane
The Making Temple
Today, artists and makers often find themselves pushed away from the core of big cities; the facilities they need are remote and separated one from another. Sometimes, time equals productivity and productivity equals personal satisfaction. Making labs are sacred temples for artists and makers. And Westbeth, a West Village artist’s housing project, is a sacred place for its inhabitants. Existing making spaces are scattered across New York’s densely set high rises. Not all of them offer easy access to makers. My proposal creates a space located at the base of the Westbeth community, one that is open to every maker and artist. Called The Making Temple, it has been designed to be simple to navigate: Once you step in, no further action is required, a moving walkway takes you to your preferred space, and all you need to do is “create.” Making is so sacred to some of us, and that is why — linking back an historical element of Westbeth — its original synagogue is situated at the bottom of the Making Temple. Making and creating often means to slow down. By joining the two acts (making and reflecting or worship), all makers and artists can stay sane. And this beautiful knitted idea of MAKE + TEMPLE gives birth to The Making Temple.
