thom sokoloski
CREATE - DEPLOY - ENGAGE
VIDEOS BELOW
THE ENCAMPMENT 2007
New York City
(History of quarantine on Roosevelt Island}
The Encampment was produced by Thom Sokoloski & Jenny Anne McCowan in partnership with openhousenewyork. An amazing undertaking by New Yorkers to realize a much ignored history of their city.
This version expressed and engaged the public in the history of quarantine on Roosevelt Island from the beginning of the 19th century to the end of the first half of the 20th century. This history included prisons, poor houses, hospitals, asylums, etc., as well as temporal quarantine facilities to deal with influenza, small-pox, and tuberculosis.
It was presented at dusk on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island with the view of Manhattan and Queens on either side.100 tents were set-up referencing the 100-beds once available in the existing historic, yet abandoned, small-pox hospital situated on the north end of the installation.
Over 150 public participants, production personnel and volunteers were involved in a 2-month creative process, and over12,000 people experienced the work on-site during its three evening presentation from sunset to midnight. Over 60% of the attendees who resided in NYC had never been on Roosevelt Island in their lifetimes. The installation could be seen by thousands in buildings overlooking the East River as well as ferries, boats, planes, etc.
CREATIVE COLLABORATORS:
Jose Altu, Maria Alinea-Bravo, Regenia Anderson, Michael Bae, Ronald Becker, David Bengali, Judy Berdy, Kevin Carroll, Alexandre Casimir, Theresa Chamberlain, Kim Chapman, Donna Clovis, David Corbin, Liz Cullen, David Glick, Christina De Roos, Jerome Dilberto, Deborah Dillon, Brendan Dunlop, William Fasbender, Bob Fields, Vicki Fienmel, Chantel Foretich, Amanda Baehr Fuller, Chris Fuller, Marie Garnier, Gia Maniera, David Glick, Alexandra Gray, Joann Gull, Brian Hill, Nicole S. Hill, Chandler Holland, David Hopkins, Blaine Horton, Tanisha Hunter, Sara Jimenez, Beckett Josiah, Bruce Kauffman, Emelia Kendal, Samarra Khaja, Soo Jong Kim, Thom Koshonski, Marianne Labriola, Jin Young Lee, Jung Eun Lee, Rani Mackeich, Tom McPartlon, Fern Miller-Baily, Osmana Mitchell, Gina Mainiero, Michael Montayne, Ronit Muszkatblit, Alison Natasi, Xenia Pachikov, John Pack, Erin Partridge, Marilyn Peoples, Gina Pollara, Peter Natasi, Alison Natasi, Bolivia Ray, Robert Rhee, Jisoo Rho, Emily Roisin Remensperger, Yoi Kim Sam, Miguel Santiago, Jeremy Sarantitis, Barbara Schaefer, Danielle Schwartz, Darryl Short, Hannah Shreefter, Judy Sky, Yvonne Smith, Matt Standeven, Linda Suber, Annie Sullivan, Wallace Taylor, Art Thompson, Michelle Tong, Michael Toste, Fernando Vargis, Lance Walker, Logan Wallace, Thomas Weert, Stephen P. Williams, Theresa Williams, Christopher Wittman &
David Yi.
COMPOSER:
John McDowell
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Lucy Walters / New York
Yvonne Bambrick / PR Toronto
DEVELOPMENT:
Ellen Peck
SITE-MANAGER:
Alexandra Spadea
TENT SET-UP COORDINATOR:
David Brunelle with the Penetang Gang
DONORS:
Michael Wurstlin, Sheldon & Mary Berlow, Sturla Bruun-Meyer, The Theatre Centre, Toronto, Patrick Hagarty, Jeff Stober & The Drake Hotel, Darlene McCowan, Rob Kingston, Frank Farance, Ellen Peck, Lori Wahl, Marco Repola, Brown Cafe / Green Catering, Barbara Kramer, Pamela T. Boll, Gina Pollara, Anne Pollack, Elmhurst Hospital Center, Stephen DeLeon White, Rone Baldwin, Victoria Levchuk, Anonymous
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
openhousenewyork
Roosevelt Island Historical Society
Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association
Coler Goldwater Memorial Hospital
Camphill Farm
VOLUNTEERS:
Steve Catullo
Jessica Lappin
Rebecca S. Lowery
Jens August Lundbaek
Laura Madden (Video)
Research Assistant
Marianne Labriola
TRUMPET PLAYERS
Eric Hennies
Russell Moore
Cameron Summers
Brent Grapes
FRONT OF HOUSE
Yvonne Bambrick
Magdalena Sokoloski
Oksana Sokoloski
FLYER DESIGN
BethWilson
PRINTING
Digital Propaganda
GROUP PARTICIPANTS (TentSet-Up):
The Child School & Legacy High School
OUR WARMEST THANKS TO:
Judith Berdy and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, The Sports Park: Donna, Carol and Joe, Vince Baldassano, The Youth Centre: Tina Fernandez and Debbie Matthews, All the staff at RIOC, Tad Sudol and RIVAA, Matt Katz and RIRA, Ron Becker and the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility, Peter McDowell, Camp Hill Farm Artist Residency Program, Larry and Marg, Terry Halsey, Council Member Jessica Lappin, Sheryl Karpowicz and Maari at The Child School, Sara Jimenez, Lilli Weisz, Matthew Maneri, Laura Bolton, Jeanine Harrington, Roosevelt Island Starbucks and The Water’s Edge Restaurant.
Selected PRESS