Sacred Spaces in Profane Buildings

Storefront for Art and Architecture presents Sacred Spaces in Profane Buildings: A New York Archive, a project by Matilde Cassani opening on September 13th. The project unveils the hidden spaces within New York dedicated to the different beliefs of its citizens. As part of the upcoming exhibition, Storefront and Cassani are developing a New York Archive of Sacred Spaces in Profane Buildings, and are calling for submissions from the public:

This is an open call for contributions that explain either a story or the memory of a visit, a sketch of a known space, a photograph of a street sign, a location in a map, anything that might help us construct the most comprehensive guide to the sacred unknown of New York.

Do you know of a secret-sacred building in your neighborhood?
Do you know of a shop that has become a Mosque?
Or an apartment that has become an Iglesia Evangelica?
Is there a prayer space in your block?

We are looking for profane buildings transformed into the sacred: private shrines; new bespoke religious buildings; and unofficial spaces for prayer.

To participate, please submit your material to: www.sacredspacesinprofanebuildings.com
For questions please contact us at: info [at] sacredspacesinprofanebuildings.com.

Matilde Cassani (1980) is an Italian artist and architect.
Cassani studied architecture at the Politecnico Di Milano, the Univesitade Tecnica de Lisboa, the Architecture and Urban Culture-Metropolis Institute at the CCCB (Centro de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona), and at the UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. She has been a fellow at the Akademie Schloß Solitude in Stuttgart.
She is a PhD candidate and is currently teaching at the Politecnico di Milano and at NABA developing her project on "Holy Urbanism". Her practice investigates the spatial implications of religious pluralism in contemporary urban contexts.

Founded in 1982, Storefront for Art and Architecture is a nonprofit organization committed to the advancement of innovative positions in architecture, art and design. Its program of exhibitions, artists talks, film screenings, conferences and publications is intended to generate dialogue and collaboration across geographic, ideological and disciplinary boundaries. As a public forum for emerging voices, Storefront explores vital issues in art and architecture with the intent of increasing awareness of and interest in contemporary design.

Storefront for Art and Architecture
97 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012
Tel. 212.431.5795