Minneapolis, MN Sept 4, 2012 – The first ten “creative placemaking” projects have been chosen to launch the Arts on Chicago initiative. Projects range from a Urban Nature Walk to a pedal-powered poetry mobile, as well as artist designed bicycle racks, glowing LED wall murals, and “Art Stops” that transform public gathering places. (See info sheet on p. 2.)

Important details:
• The 10 artists and organizations include; Eric Rieger (HOTTEA) and Forrest Wozniak, Wing Young Huie, Natasha Pestich, Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, Stephanie Rogers, Loretta Day and the TAWU Artist Group, Molly Van Avery, Kelly Brazil, Pillsbury House + Theatre, and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and the photographers of Powderhorn365.
• Artists will receive support ranging from $5,000 to $9,000 to implement their proposed projects.
• All artists selected live or work regularly within the Powderhorn, Central, Bancroft, and Bryant neighborhoods.
• Another TEN projects will be selected in late October.
• The second deadline for proposals is October 19, 2012. Artists and groups interested in applying to the Arts on Chicago should attend public workshops and informational sessions at the Pillsbury House + Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 26th (6pm-8pm); Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 6pm-8pm; or Saturday, Oct. 6th (10:00am-noon, Spanish-interpretation available).

ARTS ON CHICAGO – TEN PROJECTS SUMMARIES:

• Stephanie Rogers
An urban nature walk that examines the ecology of Chicago Avenue. At least 30 signs combining images and descriptive text will be installed in public spaces, creating serendipitous encounters. Photography will focus on a macro view, encouraging a closer look at our surroundings.

• Wing Young Huie
Photographing the cultural diversity along the corridor using concepts to connect neighbors who don’t know each other well or at all, and traditional documentary techniques, accompanied with explanatory text based on interviews with those photographed.

100 photos will be exhibited inside ten businesses, with separate openings at each venue.

• Natasha Pestich
A travelling gallery, the “PHAT mobile” (Pillsbury House and Theatre mobile), that will travel through Powderhorn, Bancroft, Bryant and Central neighborhoods, showcasing the work of resident youth primarily, and pffering arts-based workshops and public events.

• Loretta Day + TAWU Artist Group
TAWU Artist Group will transform the bus stops between 32nd and 42nd into “Art Stops.” Every trash receptacle and bench will become a work of art. The “Art Stops” will blend into the Chicago Corridor by reflecting the area’s cultural diversity as well as complimenting surrounding businesses.

• Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
A mural installation for the highly visible north wall of the building on 38th and Chicago. The mural design combines elements of the building’s movie theater history with an homage to the fiery work being produced at CAFAC and incorporates sculptural metal pieces and LED elements, fabricated by youth from the Hennepin County Home School.

• Eric Rieger (HOTTEA) & Forrest Wozniak
This project includes a mural and sculptural elements about “Universal Pleasantry.” It will speak of our human condition to fill the void within our lives and how artwork can be a tool to convey messages like this.

• Molly Van Avery
At the heart of this project is the act of people writing and receiving poetry. The poetry will not be written in isolation but will instead be born out of and inspired by the street it will be written on: Chicago Avenue (through use of the “poetry mobile” a writing desk on wheels that will be a piece of art in and of itself.).

• Kelly Brazil
Welding 5 separate bicycle racks along proposed corridor incorporating themes or flavors of each location and completed in partnership with youth from the Trans Youth Support Network (at 34th and Chicago).

• Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association
PPNA will wrap 6 utility boxes along the Chicago Avenue corridor with collaged photographs from the Powderhorn365 photography project (powderhorn365.com). Images will be voted on and selected by residents and community members.

• Pillsbury House + Theatre
An exterior public gathering space at the corner of 35th and Chicago that transforms a drab area into a vibrant public square. The vision for this project was developed by the PH&T staff and community stakeholders through the Pillsbury House and Theatre Cultural Community Hub Institute sessions.

ABOUT
Pillsbury House + Theatre with its partners the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, Professor Natasha Pestich, Upstream Arts, and with support from the Ward 8 Council Office of Elizabeth Glidden, was one of 47 organizations to receive funding from Artplace, a collaboration of twelve of the nation’s leading foundations, eight government agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, and six financial institutions across the U.S. Arts on Chicago will implement TWENTY art projects in ONE YEAR to knit together existing creative assets in the Central, Powderhorn, Bancroft, Bryant communities along Chicago Avenue from 32nd Street to 42nd Street, using the process to build a framework for the ongoing support of a vibrant arts and cultural district.

WHAT IS CREATIVE PLACEMAKING?
Creative Placemaking furthers the use of the arts in neighborhood locations to encourage social interaction, support the growth of local businesses and safer streets, and to promote a sense of neighborhood identity and ownership.

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