board meetings
project: #6
location: Minneapolis @ NE streets, sidewalks, and alleyways
date: May – Sept, 2015
type: collaborative board paintings (3 part series)
ROOTS.
Even the wildest and most untamed souls have roots. Roots that ground and stabilize. Roots that flourish from familiar soil. Roots that remind us that as much as we grow and reach outward we also continue to grow and learn from our beginnings. It was time to wander back to my roots.
WET HOT MINNEAPOLIS SUMMER.
Summer in the land of 10,000 lakes comes short and sweet. If you are not quick enough it blows by with the brisk autumn air before you even step out the door. Catch those blissful sunny days of summer and count on endless entertainment. Artwalks. Artfairs. Sidewalk Tours. Festivals. Neighborhood street parties. Parades on bikes, blades, boats and feet. Music by lakes, by rivers, on rooftops and open alley stages. This is wet hot Minneapolis summer.
MINNEAPOLIS BOARD MEETINGS.
Not your average board meeting. Not even close. 3 meetings over the course of 5 months. 7 Boards. And an estimated 200+ meeting members. Topics of discussion action… interactive art and collaboration.
BY DEFINITION.
Interactive art “is a form of art that involves the spectator in a way that allows the art to achieve its purpose.”
Collaboration is “working with others to do a task and to achieve shared goals.”
THE TASK COMES IN THREES.
May to September boards of 4′ X 6′ were primed, placed, and painted on the streets of NE Minneapolis. Three local artists did the instigating and the fine-tuning while the community of Minneapolis did the coloring and creating. The first “meeting” was held in conjunction with Art-A-Whirl. The second, joined forces with Open Streets NE. And the third held it’s own… leaving crayons for the street wandering crowds of Labor Day weekend.
A CREATIVE BATTLEFIELD. LEAVE IT IN THE STREETS.
Each “meeting” (as they became known) gave the paint soaked swords to the people. No blood was to be shed… these swords were meant to strike to the heart of creation. To give power and potential to the many hands of the city. With no shields to hide behind the creative community of Minneapolis left their paints, crayons, and imaginations out on the battlefield… The streets. Their creative victory to be witnessed by all.
artists: J.Charboneau . Jay Churchill . Justin Patrick
contributors: Barber Sharp . NEMAA (Art-A-Whirl) . Open Streets Minneapolis . Fair State Brewery . the Minneapolis community
