Tag: public art

October 11, 2019

Collective IMPRESSIONS

project: #14

location: ELKO, NV

date: 26 – 29th Sept, 2019.

type: Collaborative mural. Mural Expo.

JUST OFF HWY 80.

If you drive too fast or get lost in the endless expanse of open desert and far off mountains you might miss it. Most do.

It’s a HWY stop, it’s a rail stop, it’s a stop from the gold rush West on that historic California Trail. And now, as fresh paint has had a few short weeks to dry, Elko Nevada can proudly say it’s an Art stop as well.

As the big coastal cities continue to grow beyond means of land and tradition, the little high desert town of Elko is just getting it’s feet wet. With promise of a simple life where your community has your back the town is opening doors and arms to those brave enough to take Elko into it’s next age of prosperity. The long time locals, who laid the first dusty bricks that grace tourists with old west nostalgia, now yearn for new attractions on grandeur scales. The willingness to share tradition with modern artistic flare has made Elko, NV a new hot spot for public art and a trend-setter for those small towns still trying to find their way into the next century of what is America.

THE ELKO MURAL EXPO.

It all began about a year back…

Art Spot Reno, an art promotion organization, had just wrapped up their first Mural Expo in Reno’s downtown district. The event mastermind’s had a well deserved pat on the back coming but all they could focus on was where to next. With that lingering thought in mind a few letters were written and out of the wood-work came Elko.

Art Spot got some insider help from The Elko Art’s & Culture Board and a kick-off mural was created by Reno Artist Eric Burke… making the entire community sweat with anticipation. As months went and seasons changed the brewing excitement lead to an entire town working together to make this event one to not be forgotten.

Then, as summer passed it’s torch to autumn and a chill brought the morning sun, 40 international and local artists hit the streets with brushes and spray cans in hand. It was a mad creative time-warp… Four days of non-stop painting, live music, culture walks, and creative conversations. A town full of history and stories was now creating the next chapter of their existence.

LAMOILLE MEMORIES.

Alley Art always aims to work with a Community to help showcase what that Community stands together for. So it didn’t take more than a bat of the eye to recall memories of camping and painting in Elko’s iconic Lamoille Canyon as the most impressionable place to start. An unfortunate fire had recently scarred the canyon… leaving ashes and char in the place of the cherished Aspen and Sage which flourished there for generations. The only collaboration that made sense to honor how much the Elko community has done to preserve their region was to have each individual leave their unique mark on a landscape which means so much to each of them. This landscape would only be an impression on a wall… but hopefully through the action of creating, it would leave an inspiring impression on the community who helped create it.

THE TASK.

Leave behind your inhibitions and get back to your creative instincts. Make your mark in the most simple yet meaningful and unique way… a thumb print.

It’s not all so black & white, is it?

Collective Impressions…

As the last thumb marks dried and the artist’s of the expo prepared for a final paint day the clouds rolled in like a J.M.W. Turner Tribute party. All paint covered hands on deck! With the clouds came wind. then snow… and it all seemed to bother nobody, as the artist’s still worked and the patrons still strolled. A surreal moment for all fortunate to witness it.

And as the sun came back to warm the streets the fresh paint glistened…

artists: J.Charboneau,

Artists as part of the Mural Expo: buZ blurr, Erik Burke, Sebastian Velasco, Alain-Derok, Stephane Cellier, Dr. Chip Thomas, Nathaniel Benjamin, Hernan Borrero, Mike Lucido, Joe C. Rock, Bryce Chisholm, Ernie Upton, Eric Brooks, Jamie Darragh, Katy Ann Fox, Edgar Garcia, Gina Holmberg, Justin Johnson, Leslie King, Bill Louis, Arthur Richmond, Seth McCorkle, Anthony Ortega, Matthew McDowell, Colene Paradise & her students, Sage Elementary School Art Dept. Students, Rachel Pittario, Dale and Jake Slingland, Angie Terrell, Simone Turner, VAKA, Simo Vibrant, Derek Yost, Peter Whittenberger, Kela Downs, Phil Nichols. (anyone else I may have missed please let me know!)

contributors: 75+ people of the Elko Community.

Local students creating their own Mural.

detail of @joecrock with an addition from legend @buzblurr

team from Spain, @sebasvelasco1 @alaintherock

the solo work of lead alley art artist, @j.charboneau

we should have helped paint this guy… Note: ‘White King’ is now fully restored!

Alley Art Project #14: “Collective Impressions of Lamoille” 75+ community hands.

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

October 9, 2019

CONNECTIONS @ RNO

project: #13

location: Reno-Tahoe International Airport

date: 7/1.2019 [event date] 7/1-7/31.2019 [painting display period]

type: 1-minute interactive portraits. Live painting.

CONNECTIONS

It only takes a moment to make or miss a connection. Within a blink of an eye you could meet your soul mate or miss your train. This subtle but spontaneous act of Being forces you to be anxious. to be observant. to be present…

Imagine how many *missed-connections there are these days with the lack of attention to the world that surrounds us.

We must re-connect to reality to re-establish a presence.

We must connect to exist.

RENO IS ARTOWN

Each year in the hot month of July, Reno Nevada becomes a bustling creative town full of life, music, art, and celebration. Artown is a month long art festival that captivates the city and highlights what is ART in Reno. From live band stand shows in the park to dance performances scaling building walls the events throughout the month offer a unique showcase of any and all kinds of artistic creation.

As a Kick-off Event for Artown 2019, Alley Art left superstitions behind and hosted project #13 in The Reno-Tahoe Airport Terminal… welcoming arrives’ and waving goodbye to those flying on.

There was no bad luck passing through these creative gates as attentive airport-goers got free portraits and earned a roll in the making of a collaborative painting lead by artist, J.Charboneau.

THE TASK.

GET YOUR PORTRAIT DRAWN ON THE COLLABORATIVE CANVAS & DRAW A CONNECTION LINE TO THE NEXT PERSON’S PORTRAIT.

One-minute portrait’s done by artist, J.Charboneau

FLY ON YOU CREATIVE SOULS… FLY ON.

No passports were required for this creative journey. AND REMEMBER… Staying Connected = Staying Conscious.

artists: J.Charboneau

contributors: Reno-Tahoe Airport passengers on July 1.2019. Reno Community.

Artown Pride art show @ Sierra Arts Gallery. 2019

Reno Artist Killbuck representing his works during Artown/Nada Dada. 2018.

A Dance Group performing on the side of Reno City Hall. Artown 2018.

Alley Art collaboration mural. Artown 2017.

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

July 17, 2019

Together WE SEE sparks

SPECIAL EDITION: SEEN ‘ZINE

project: #12

location: The Streets of Sparks. (Victorian Square)

date: 6/23 – 9/20. 2019

type: community newspaper. ArtBike. 1-minute portraits

SPARKS…

A city with 100+ years under it’s rusty & wind blown belt has a story to tell.

With Time, wisdoms and wise tales begin to define what is significant. What should be said? What should be seen? What should be preserved? And what should be the goal for the future?

Sparks is a city with grit, grandeur, and glory days… Only it’s people can preserve it.

TOGETHER WE SEE SPARKS.

“In 2015, the City of Sparks began one of the largest redevelopment projects in its history in downtown Victorian Square. Planned for completion by 2022, a six-square-block area of downtown Sparks called Victorian square will be transformed into housing (apartments and condos) for 5,000 new residents, new restaurants and retail spaces, an event venue, a central plaza, and gathering space. The city’s has allocated funding for a new streetscape plan includes new public sidewalks, planters, curbs, and landscaping. A portion of the streetscape plan allocated a portion of the budget for art.

To leverage the arts, culture, and creativity to help drive this change, growth, and transformation, the city was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant in 2016 to create an art master plan for the area. This planning process and the implementation of the plan relies heavily on community input using the creative placemaking model.”

The project is called: Together We See Sparks.

FIND US AT THESE SPARKS EVENTS:

6/23 – sierra Nevada Lavender & Honey Festival. @ Victorian Square
7/27 – Water Lantern Festival. @Sparks Marina
8/28 -8/30 – Best in the West Rib Cook-Off. @ Victorian Square

YOUR TASK.

INTERACT WITH THE BIKE-NEWSPAPER STAND!

Grab an index card and write a story, favorite memory, place of note, or words of Sparks wisdom. **Keep it short and sweet and it could be featured in the Special Edition “Seen” ‘zine!
Get a one-minute portrait done by artist, J.Charboneau
Look at an art book… get an art postcard

artists: J.Charboneau

contributors: City Of Sparks. Sparks Community

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

February 10, 2017

SECRET MOVING MURAL

project: #11

location: The Streets of Reno.

date: 7/1 – 7/31. 2016

type: collaborative sharpie drawing. Scavenger Hunt.

THE SECRET IS OUT.

The biggest little city holds secrets and hidden treasures around every corner. Take a walk around the streets. Pay attention to the walls, the sidewalks, the signs, the people. Pay attention. You just might find something worth looking at.

THE HUNT.

It was the month of hot July. Art was on the minds of everyone. Sidewalks and parks became the hip scene. Melodies and wet paint heightened senses on every corner. As I watched the creativity unfold I realized an artist could blend in with this crowd. I did just that.

The people. The creators. Would not have to search far to collaborate… but they would have to search smart. I was here. I was there. ready for the urban art hunters to get their hands dirty.

THE TASK.

GRAB A SHARPIE AND MAP OUT HOW YOU GOT HERE. USE BASIC SYMBOLS AND LINES. YOU MAY CROSS OVER OTHER’S ROUTES.

LAYING DOWN TRACKS.

The project finished with 4+ Alley Art spottings and creatings. Sharpie’s ran dry and the board was a chaotic mess of direction. But under closer inspection I do believe you can begin to see tracks. Tracks telling stories. Tracks guiding. Tracks following. Look close. You will see the beginning of something.

What? Well, we will have to lay down some more tracks for that answer.

artists: J.Charboneau

contributors: Artown . 30+ Reno art hunters

where it should always begin… in an alley.

artists always find each other in a crowd.

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

August 1, 2016

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

project: #10

location: Reno. Arch District.

date: 5/6 – 5/8. 2016

type: collaborative found art sculpture. Reno Sculpture Festival.

THE REVIVAL.

A new age of art and culture is brewing in the biggest little city. You can feel the impact and the influence at each color-filled corner. Public art is filling in long lost spaces. Spaces meant to be seen. Details frequently missed by busy moving minds.

Metal-works mold the River walk. Artworks stand tall from burns years before. Murals brighten walls with memories and messages. And festivals celebrate and honor the vibrant art and artists driving it all forward.

LARGER THAN LIFE IDEAS.

The idea… collaborate. create big. create fierce. create the impossible.

then… share it with 30,000 people. For free.

The result… Reno Sculpture Fest is a “larger-than-life” art, music, and culture festival spanning across the urban jungle known as Reno.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

As the people wandered in and out of the giant sculptures that lined the Downtown ReTRAC Alley Art Project #10 awaited their time and interaction.

A simple idea. A bold statement. Most search beyond the ‘box’ for inspiration. This project’s aim was to build the ‘box’. deconstruct it. and finally rebuild it again into something new.

A SINGLE STROKE OF INSPIRATION.

The ‘box’ stood as a giant easel and canvas of scrap woods abstractly attached to each other. As the people wearily approached the piece they were greeted with a brush dripping with wet paint.

A single brushstroke is all each individual would get… but as the crowds filed through the individual strokes began to connect and flow across the uneven surface. The chaotic yet individually precise lines shapes and colors were building something.

WRITE WORDS OF WISDOM OR TRUTH.

An old beaten saw-horse piled high with wood scraps meant for the yard stood next to the easel. A fresh coat of white paint would fast be covered with scribbles in black sharpie ink.

With each new person came reflection over the words others had left. Then, a moment of poetic inspiration would come and a new wisdom would be etched in among the others.

MERGING AT DAWN.

Sunday. A final festival dawn of hazy grey skies and subtle mists of rain or inspiration. I stripped the thoughts and color from their original places. To reinvent. To revive. For it’s when we merge our words with our actions that we can create new and inspired ideas.

GIVE THE PEOPLE BACK THEIR VOICE.

Just as the early morning coffee drinkers and book readers settled into their lazy Sunday routine I stood back from the newly constructed scrap wood canvas of three dimensions.

‘The People’s Philosopher’. As old of an idea as the wood grains he was created from.

Created by the hands and words of the Reno Citizens. Reconstructed by the artist, J.Charboneau. Art for the people, by the people.

– Take back your words. Take back your ideas. create. create. create. –

artists: J.Charboneau

contributors: Reno Sculpture Fest . 100+ Reno community members

AA-19 — Alley Art is pretty good at finding interesting alleys.

AA-2 — set-up for the giant orange octopus took a giant fork lift and a long wet afternoon. sculpture by Peter Hazel.

AA-3 — Alley Art Project #10. start creating.

AA-12 — excited for her single inspiring addition to the working collaboration. another smile worth the journey.

AA-11 — making their unique -out of the box- mark.

AA-4 — REno Camping sculpture. By Chris Wyatt Scott.

AA-14 — The addition of the umbrella was a last minute thought. A kinetic sculpture by Kai Prescher.

AA-15 — snowflakes are more functional in the spring. Sculpture by Jessi Sprocket Janusee.

AA-21 — She is strong as stone. Sculpture by Mischell Riley Wrecking House.

AA-25 — day two of creating. reaching for spots untouched.

AA-28 — there will always be wisdom found and shared on the journey.

AA-24 — A lesson in welding. Sculpture demos from Mountain Forge Inc.

AA-17 — they have arrived. Sculptures by Vinnie Lucido.

AA-16 — create the walls if you have none to paint on. Art and sculpture by Joe C. Rock.

AA-29 — a think inside the box moment. Sculpture by Chad Rice.

AA-30 — as the sun sets… the final touches by the community are complete.

AA-42 — Alley Art Project #10. complete.

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

June 1, 2016

AS seen on 4th

project: #8

location: Reno. 4th Street.

date: 4/23. 2016

type: collaborative painting. 4th Street Block Party

A STREET OF ~~HISTORY~~ VICTORY.

At its earliest of days the street breathed character as thick as the streetcar exhaust that raced its ways. East. West. It stretched wings across the great America.

Victory Way had no mercy for the soft soul. Street lights flickered while the neon motels lit paths for transcontinental passengers. Nothing promised more satisfaction than to witness the honesty of the street. The rough and dirty outer shell just proves how long it’s been around. The inner core is where the stories wait to be told. It’s the stories and the honesty in their words that keep the character alive on 4th.

AND THEN CAME THE RENAISSANCE.

Rebuilding walls of brick and mortar doesn’t bring the beauty back. Actually, it was always there. It’s been there and will be there beyond your and my days.

4th Street leaks its secrets of beauty through the people walking it’s cold grey pavement day in and day out. Those wise enough. Creative enough. Open minded enough to listen to these secrets are those who keep Victory Way as beautiful and true as it began. The Renaissance of Reno is in motion. And Victory Way stands as a playground for those Renaissance Men & Renaissance Women brave, crazy, and inspired enough to honor the truth beneath the gravel and behind the walls.

A PARADE.

A Community gathered in celebration is stronger and more impactful than one gathered in protest and anger. Victory Way was a perfect setting to demonstrate this. It began with a rolling Viking Ship and costumed creatives. The road served as their runway as they waved and smiled towards crowds of morning watchers. The celebration of “Victory” rang out before it even began.

SEEN ON FOURTH.

4th street is mostly familiar to me as one glowing a midnight yellow from street lights and stars. Biking by tracks, buses, and empty alleys I keep a keen eye out for the next 4th Street story to lend itself to me. Victory Way is crawling with characters and the wild untamed jungles have nothing on this street. And, Behind all those heavy warehouse doors…

Bars. Breweries. Pinball junkies. Two-wheel mechanics. And thrifting gems. The road draws me back to wander it’s sidewalks time and time again. There is too much story to be told there, and you have to see it to believe it.

MAKER MADNESS.

Alley Art was designed for a street like 4th. The recycled and worn wooden canvas rested much too comfortably along the blank concrete wall. The paints were scattered, and the action was just as spontaneous. Rules stopped after directions of color palettes, and the Reno community took full advantage of the open-ended creative process. Splatters. Drips. Words. And shapes began to suggest connections to the place. 4th street stories were emerging through the untamed layers of community creativity. Later, a few outlines from the artist, J.Charboneau would complete the madness.

PAVE YOUR PATH.

The creative dusts finally settled with the sun fading behind western mountain walls. The street stood as it was before the attention began, but a new glint of inspiration now lingered.

4th Street. Victory Way. It’s just a road… but roads give direction. They lead. They divide. They withstand more time than we.

They are paved by man, and the man who paves his own path is an innovator. A dreamer. And a creative victor.

Victory Way will be there for you to walk its course, it will offer you it’s stories, it will guide you through doors you may never have opened. Take what it gives you and make Victory Way a path of your own. It may not ‘just’ be a road after all.

artists: J.Charboneau

contributors: Fourth Street Block Party Artists . The Reno community

IMG_20160227_173543 — Pinball junkies found here.

IMG_20160227_182459 — behind warehouse door #2…

aa-4 — history. stories. characters. as seen here

aa-22 — it all began with a viking ship.

aa-20 — and finally… behind warehouse door #3…

IMG_20160519_161805 — project #8. piece #1.

IMG_20160526_175851 — project #8. piece #2

alley art facebook @alleyartproject alley art videos

alleyarteverywhere@gmail.com

November 1, 2015

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