Sara Daleiden

Artist’s Statement

My principal guiding value as an artist has been to focus on participant experience through the creation of identity systems and interventions within the city. Throughout my career as an artist, I have embraced and facilitated collaborative, interdisciplinary production processes. I believe that the artistic result that emerges from a dialogue of multiple viewpoints creates a rich experience for the participant and provides firm civic ground to elicit many voices.

Since 2004, I have found an engaging outlet for these artistic values as a sustaining core member of an interdisciplinary collective, The Los Angeles Urban Rangers. A site-sensitive, conversational art practice, the Los Angeles Urban Rangers embody the role of the National Park Service Ranger to interpret our contemporary urban landscape with the same wonder and sense of discovery often reserved for such majestic, natural places as Yosemite or Yellowstone. To facilitate a strong connection to and curiosity about place, we offer guided hikes, campfire programs, maps, field kits and other site-investigative responses. We have developed interpretive programs and tools to engage such everyday environments as an Echo Park vacant lot, Hollywood Boulevard, the L.A. County Fair, and Malibu beaches.

My key contributions include identity formation of the authoritative, yet friendly ranger persona and developing on-site investigations. Working with the collective at this stage of my emerging artistic career not only offers a creative platform to investigate my artistic goals, but has also heightens my own sense of participation in Los Angeles, dialogues about public space and critical place-making.

Website: laurbanrangers.org

Biography

Collaborative Projects

2004-present
Core member, Los Angeles Urban Rangers, Los Angeles

2007-present
Consultant, MAK Center Urban Futures Initiative, West Hollywood, Calif.

2008-2009
Installation coordinator, U.S. Presentation at 11th International Cairo Biennale, West Hollywood, Calif., and Cairo, Egypt

2007
Women’s group coordinator, Stories of Work and Survival, Los Angeles

2006
Exhibition coordinator, The Gen[H]ome Project, West Hollywood, Calif.

2004
Co-designer, Showdown!, West Hollywood, Calif.

2003
Improvisational troupe member, Seduction of Space, Milwaukee
Theater design, OISTAT Architectural Design Competition, Milwaukee

2001
Performer, Travelling Wearables, Milwaukee

2000-2002
Curator, Wearable Sculpture Fashion Show, Milwaukee

Select Group Exhibitions and Projects with the Los Angeles Urban Rangers

2008- 2009
Actions: What You Can Do With the City, Canadian Center for Architecture, Montréal
We Are Here Maps Archive, Independent Curators International, Chicago

2008
SITE2F7 Festival and Localisms, Enough Room for Space, Museum de Paviljoens, Almere, Netherlands
Animal Estates, Whitney Biennial, New York

2007-present
Malibu Public Beaches, Los Angeles Urban Rangers, Los Angeles

2006
Out There Doing It, Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, Los Angeles
Fair Exchange, Millard Sheets Gallery, L.A. County Fair, Pomona, Calif.
Hollywood Confidential, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Hollywood, Calif.
Interstate: The American Road Trip, High Desert Test Sites, Joshua Tree, CA; Mess Hall, Chicago, IL and Socrates Sculpture Park, New York

2005
Temporary Services’ Construction Site, Outpost for Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
A Walk to Remember, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Hollywood, Calif.

2004
gardenLAb, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Calif.

Select Exhibitions and Projects with Other Collaborations

2008-2009
South Park Urban Trail, Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, Los Angeles

2002
Emerging Waukesha Artists, Carroll College Rowe Art Gallery, Waukesha, Wis.

2000-2003
Rust Spot·Dye House I & II, Rust Spot III-V, Milwaukee

2000-2002
Wearable Sculpture Fashion Show, Oriental Theater; Milwaukee and Modjeska Theater, Milwaukee

2001
Rinse & Repeat, Miramar Theater, Milwaukee

Professional Experience

2009
Independent Study Adjunct Faculty, Graduate Public Practice Program
Otis College of Art and Design

2000-present
Cultural Production Consultant

2005-2009
Adjunct Faculty, Interior Architecture and Architecture Departments
Woodbury University

2005-2006
Senior Programs Coordinator
MAK Center for Art & Architecture at the Schindler House

2004-2005
Communications Coordinator
Cliff Garten Studio

2000-2003
Continuing Education Coordinator
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

1998-2000
Communication Designer/Manager
Citizens for a Better Environment

Select Awards: Los Angeles Urban Rangers

2008
Annenberg Foundation Grant
Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority Funding

2007
Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review,
Americans for the Arts Annual Convention

EDUCATION

Master of Public Art Studies, 2008
University of Southern California, Los Angeles

B.A., 1997
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.