We (attempt to) Paint! Target Store, Cincinnati, Ohio

Site: Target store off of Ridge Road in Cincinnati, Ohio
Time: 3:15- 3:32 pm, Wednesday October 31, 2007
Contributors: Alejandro and Devon (brothers)

Pictures

Today was a difficult day on the forefront of experimental community painting. Fifteen minutes after set up, the manager at Target walked outside where I was set up and told me: "Miss, you are going to have to leave. We don't allow these kinds of things to happen here." At this point, I told Alejandro and his brother Devon, who had already volunteered to paint, that they could paint while I packed up. I didn't do much thinking from there before I just packed up my things and left. I was quite upset that the gentleman didn't even ask any questions about my work.
Today's experience made me think a lot about our consumer culture. The people bustling in and out of Target consecutively ignored me or told me that 1 minute and thirty seconds is a lot of time that they needed to spend "buying stuff". I understand that people have a lot to do on a day to day basis, but I also think that we might benefit if we make time AND space, for new things to happen. It is difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that so many of the corporations that run this country (and many others) do not promote positive change, learning, or questioning the norm, among other values.
I plan on going back to Target to explain the project to the staff in more detail, since I was too flustered to stand my ground at the time of the incident. Even if they do not want this "kind of thing" to happen around the store, I would still like for those people who are there to understand it on a human level (not a profit margin level). Overall, I think that Alejando and Devon's work out-shines the negativity of the day. It is a positive piece of work.

We Paint! Newport, Kentucky

Site: Newport on the Levee at Newport, Kentucky
Time: 5:15 pm -6:45 pm
Contributors: Rachel, Mylan, Alex, Chris, Graham, Ed, Ashley, Brittany, Aaron, Amanda, Becca, Janet, and Coy

Pictures!

Today I set up later than usual. The crowd was thinner than a typical day at Newport on the Levee. A lot of passersby were runners or bikers, some of whom stopped to paint. Others had come to see the sunset or were finished with a day at work at the Aquarium. The sun was setting as I packed up at around 6:45.

We Paint! Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio

Site: Ludlow Ave. and Telford St., Cincinnati, Ohio
Time: Monday, October 29, 2007 from 4:15 pm-6:15 pm
Contributors: Laura Hughes, PFC. Bonner, William, Megan Hutch, Yana Negroutsa, Stephanie Defreitas, Ines Badillo, Amanda Smigovsky, Jeremy Guttman, Emily Kamholtz, Kelly Krouse, Randy Sauer, J. Arbenz, Andy Young, Molly Siler, Claude, Timothy Adams, Erin Tapke, Rob Hamrick, Jessie, Emily Ravenscratt, Caeli Good, Bri Cain

Pictures!

This group of artists proved to be incredibly enthusiastic and willing to jump into the project! Rob, one contributor of the day, was reminded of a film called "The Mystery of Picasso" when he approached the painting. Perhaps we should all go rent it so that we may see deeper insight into our joint work? Either way, I would love to hear feedback from the artists who made this painting possible. Please leave your thoughts, suggestions, and that like in the comments section below.

We Paint! Athens, Ohio

Site: Athens, Ohio at the corner of Court St. and Union St.
Time: Sunday, October 28, 2007 from about 12:30 pm- 2:30 pm
Contributors (while I have some names listed, I am missing quite a few. If you contributed and do not see your name, please contact me at ellison.rach@gmail.com): Ian Victor, Nora Mereckky, Bob Prebe, Bret Liebendorfer, Chris Tomazic, Michelle Grillo, Clare Conte, Krisi Nehls, Bennett, Sarah Ganson, Maxx Blank

Pictures are up!

I set up an easel and a blank canvas, some paints and brushes. I hold a sign that reads: "Please share 1 minute and 30 seconds of your day". With 1 minute and 30 seconds to paint whatever they desire, the artists/passersby take control of the work from there.
Although people were hesitant to join in at first, we created a beautiful artwork by the end of my stay. I would appreciate it if those who were present would leave reflections of their experience of this event in the comments section. Thank you for participating! This would not be possible without each artist present.

We Paint! Beginnings

"The artists involved in Open Engagement challenge our traditional ideas of what art is and does. These artist’s projects mediate the contemporary frameworks of art as service, as social space, as activism, as interactions, and as relationships. This conference is situated in the space between theory and practice, where participants and audiences will also engage in artworks. The topics explored include: What would new relational models of artwork, theory, and writing look like? What is the social role of the artist? What happens when people really connect with each other or with art? What could we do in our daily lives to form meaningful connections and build communities? What should art do? Can art provide an alternative? Can art provide an answer? The conference focused on relational art practices...striving for art that desires for something real to happen–not just the imitation of something real. The goal of Open Engagement is to bring together like-minded individuals (artists and audience) to confer on socially engaged art and forge lasting connections."

-(http://jendelosreyes.com/openengagement/about.html)

Open Engagement,: Art After Aesthetic Distance, was a a conference that brought together artists who share varying concerns regarding the possibilities of socially engaging art forms. As members of the conference, Brette and I met through a project that she proposed. Brette's Open Engagement project was a call for submissions for a tattoo design. She chose my design, entitled "One A Day", which is where our friendship and our work together begins. This original work has been a catalyst for a longer lasting connection than anyone might have expected.

Whether it is in the moment of tasting an apple or while embracing a loved one, it is necessary for each of us to be present in the moments of our days rather than lingering on past or future if we want to participate fully in all that life has to offer.
In creating this collection of work, it is important to us that "One A Day"s act as a moment in each day when we are fully conscious, acting with purpose. If we practice perhaps all of our moments can be lived in the now, with full awareness.

In this project, we have decided to elaborate on the theme of "One A Day". For the week of October 28- November 3, 2007 we will each conduct a project and share a fact about ourselves that we think a new friend should know. At the end of each day, the work and the posts will be exhibited in a Toronto gallery. Brette's embroidery is inspired by conversations she has during the day, while the communal paintings that I will orchestrate are expressions of collaborative work by people who may or may not experience this type of event in their every day lives.