Archive

Our First Cold Day on The Bridge

Published
by
kelly
on September 29, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

As I type this, I am situated inside the west POD with four classmates.  We are all bundled up and sniffling while wishing for some heat from the small space heater to reach us.  Today was our first experience of clouds, wind, and cold! Many of us are wondering how we will last here until December, nevertheless, our work day went on with hot tea in our hands and jackets zipped to our necks.  Today was ultimately an updating day.  ArtPrize has been upon us for almost a week now and it was time to share stories, ideas, and improvements.

There were many laughs about the Raft Races that occurred years ago on the Grand.  We heard about Michael’s experience with the WLAV radio station who once hosted the event.  Another blog entry will be posted about his experience.

After a quick rundown of the schedule for class we were released to complete any task we needed to.  Some of us went and explored/attempted to complete more assignments.  The facilities crew cleaned up a bit, organized, and created a clean/used cup labeling system above the water jugs.  Other committees met to discuss any progress that could be made.  Paul performed a quick demo for printing those handy images you see outside of the PODS.

We met up again around 4 o’clock to make committee reports and discussed this blog and the workings of it.  We realized we need to get some more information on this blog system! We can make that happen!

Committee Highlights:

Facilities- Made several requests for us to be sure to a) put things back where we found them, b) if you make trash be sure to take it with you so we don’t get RATS!, c) bathrooms are made available to us by the Amway Grand Hotel — no worries when the public restrooms close.  They are working on ways to deal with the elements as these cold days become longer and more frequent.

PR and Social-  BLOG, BLOG, BLOG, TWEET, TWEET, TWEET, FB, FB, FB!!!!! The group hammered out an immediate task list for these; hopefully our information about past and upcoming events will be updated faster! (i.e.- Thursday’s invite to all to show images/stories of their experiences with the River Raft Races!)

Programming- Discussed displaying new assignments to the public on our PODS! There were talks of our houseboat assignment being used.  The sketchbook that is used for public sketching will now be used for public river stories to be shared too! The stories can be written by anyone who wishes to share.

Our class concluded with information about an event - the studio will be hosting GVSU Art & Design Alumnae, Julie Upmeyer on Thursday, October 15th on site at the river to speak about her work.

Until next time feel free to stop by our site, hopefully the space heater will be plugged in for ya!

- Kelly

The Looming Rain and Eve of ArtPrize (Part 1)

Published
by
marypo
on September 23, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

Hello, welcome to the Daily Progress Blog!

We started off the studio time at around 1:30pm today when Megan and I met up with Paul at the site on the river. This was the first day since setting up here September 1st that we had a cloudy day, and we hoped it wouldn’t rain. Megan and I began trying to de-clutter the studio space by moving a couple of carts, extra wood and hoses into the pop-up storage trailer. In the process, we ended up rearranging the trailer and right towards the end of the ordeal it started raining. We made the decision to clear out one of the PODS and use it as a temporary shelter for the rain. We then agreed to send Paul off to get a fan from his studio since the container was really muggy. Meanwhile, we finally got the wireless internet hooked up with the help of Joe.

All working away!

All working away!

We all met up at 2:30 which is our formal meeting time. Stephanie M. returned with Kevin Buist with our official ArtPrize Venue sign, as well as other signs to display for ArtPrize. After we fare welled Kevin, we sat down and talked for an hour about the various things we needed to get going by tomorrow, the opening of ArtPrize, and then we got to work.

Placing the Vinyl Lettering

Placing the Vinyl Lettering

Michael, Amber, Stephanie V., Christie, Dulcee and Jackie worked on cutting out and placing the vinyl lettering onto the PODS. The Public and PR committee worked on the new Flickr account, the flyers for ArtPrize, the Blog, the Facebook page, and the website. Stephen worked on getting the printers up and running. Some of us have to leave for classes, work and practice — but check back later for future posts about the rest of today’s progress!

Thanks for reading!

-Mary Beth

On The River

Published
by
lindsayr
on September 22, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

On The River
Civic Studio’s Current Project 

Showing during and after ArtPrize from:
September 1 - December 19, 2009

Location: Interurban (Gillette) Bridge over the Grand River, Downtown Grand Rapids

ArtPrize: September 23 - October 10, 2009

ArtPrize Artist Voting ID: 3510

On The River

On The River is a project by Civic Studio. The studio uses visual art to investigate public life in specific contexts. Our current project takes place in a portable studio on the Interurban Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 1st to December 19th, 2009.

Open Studio Assignments On Display During ArtPrize:
We are beginning our project by doing basic research on different aspects of the river and site. Open Studio Assignments structure and map activities and findings along the Grand River. These assignments explore various ways that rivers are incorporated into aspects of public life. Rivers are forms that are natural, cultural, experiential, social, recreational and industrial. Our use of rivers reflect social imagination and necessity.

Bare Feet By The River
Body And Space
Go Sketch
Outside In/Inside Out
River Finds
River Water Samples
Grand River’s Re-Rapids

The public can follow along or do their own Open Studio Assignments. Ongoing results are shared online in a publicly editable wiki at: http://civicstudio.org/river. During ArtPrize a sampling of results will be shown in this evolving display.

Songs About The Grand River:
The studio is inviting area songwriters to write songs involving the River. More information can be found at: http://civicstudio.org/river/index.php/Songs_About_the_Grand_River

Text And Image Projections:
Each night during Artprize, the studio will present text projections on the large screen over the river at dusk. The projections are visible to the north and south for several blocks. The public can view them from a distance or stop by and talk with studio members.

Video Projections:
Each Friday and Saturday of ArtPrize, Civic Studio will present video projects on the large screen. Videos deal with fish, early public transportation on the river and cycles of experiments in simple water cycles. Video projections will start at approximately 8:30.

*All projects are subject to good weather.

Portable Cinema:
Civic Studio will partner with Portable Cinema to show a context-appropriate film at the River. TBA.

Studio Schedule:
Please check the studio schedule for these and other exciting events. We will be adjusting and adding to things as our project progresses during and after ArtPrize.

Links: 
Civic Studio: http://civicstudio.org
Schedule: http://civicstudio.org/river/index.php/Schedule
Wiki: http://civicstudio.org/river
Blog: http://visualstudies.art.gvsu.edu/blo/river
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/civicstudioontheriver/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/civicstudio
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grand-Rapids-MI/Civic-Studio/133396904517?ref=ts

Civic Studio operates with the idea that public life is plastic; it is changeable and embedded in material. The studio’s work is based on a commitment to expand the relevance and utility of art in everyday life in both practical and imaginative ways. The project is situated, public, and emergent. Members of the studio focus on the development and application of art processes that are about a particular place. The process itself is public. Our research, methods, and development are evident and visible. Studio work emerges from our extended engagement in a particular context.

Civic Studio is a project of the Department of Art and Design at Grand Valley State University. Since 1999, Civic Studio has worked to reset the relationship between art and the public through the development of methodologies and contexts for the creation and presentation of art in public. The studio has done 6 major projects.