Gather and Grow: June 2022 **Free Art Experience during The Lincoln Art's Festival**
Location: Haymarket Canopy Street, Lincoln, NE
Medium: Tree branch, jute string, resin, fabric, paper, wire, public interaction
Can data be collected in a new and fun way? And in the process of a survey, can people be inspired and impacted?
These were the questions that started the creation of "Gather and Grow," and interactive, data collecting, site-specific sculpture for the 2022 Lincoln Arts Festival.
After the Lincoln Arts Council saw the woven pieces of art I created for a group of Lincoln Early Childhood Development organizations, they asked if I would come up with a special piece for their festival. I agreed and decided to ask: Why did you attend the festival? What zip code are you from? and What are the ages of people in your group? With most surveys the party interested in the data takes from the participant, but rarely gives them something inspiring in return. I always aim to reach people on a deep level with my art and this was no different. Using a bit of an idea from The Breakthrough project, I created paper leaves with inspiring words written inside to hang on the tree to begin the project, hoping to replace all of those with the leaves representing the questions, by the end of the two-day festival. In this way, people would receive a paper leaf and replace it with their answer leaves. Due to the size of the project, I chose only to represent the first two questions on the tree, but still collect the ages of people in the groups for the council.
The festival was a challenge as it was hot and very windy, but somehow the tree and its leaves held up to the environment it was placed in. The festival started even before it was officially open and people walking in stopped to participate. Many were intrigued at first, finally were convinced to participate, and then left inspired. I had a few people come back and tell me what their word meant to them. I had one particular gentleman (a Veteran) stop in early on Day 1 and later that day brought his buddy back to participate in the project!
After 2 full days of the festival, almost 300 people participated in the project and the date collected, along with the final piece was sent to the Lincoln Arts Council. I was amazed at the reception of the project and honored to have the opportunity to participate in the festival AND interact with its guests.
Location: Haymarket Canopy Street, Lincoln, NE
Medium: Tree branch, jute string, resin, fabric, paper, wire, public interaction
Can data be collected in a new and fun way? And in the process of a survey, can people be inspired and impacted?
These were the questions that started the creation of "Gather and Grow," and interactive, data collecting, site-specific sculpture for the 2022 Lincoln Arts Festival.
After the Lincoln Arts Council saw the woven pieces of art I created for a group of Lincoln Early Childhood Development organizations, they asked if I would come up with a special piece for their festival. I agreed and decided to ask: Why did you attend the festival? What zip code are you from? and What are the ages of people in your group? With most surveys the party interested in the data takes from the participant, but rarely gives them something inspiring in return. I always aim to reach people on a deep level with my art and this was no different. Using a bit of an idea from The Breakthrough project, I created paper leaves with inspiring words written inside to hang on the tree to begin the project, hoping to replace all of those with the leaves representing the questions, by the end of the two-day festival. In this way, people would receive a paper leaf and replace it with their answer leaves. Due to the size of the project, I chose only to represent the first two questions on the tree, but still collect the ages of people in the groups for the council.
The festival was a challenge as it was hot and very windy, but somehow the tree and its leaves held up to the environment it was placed in. The festival started even before it was officially open and people walking in stopped to participate. Many were intrigued at first, finally were convinced to participate, and then left inspired. I had a few people come back and tell me what their word meant to them. I had one particular gentleman (a Veteran) stop in early on Day 1 and later that day brought his buddy back to participate in the project!
After 2 full days of the festival, almost 300 people participated in the project and the date collected, along with the final piece was sent to the Lincoln Arts Council. I was amazed at the reception of the project and honored to have the opportunity to participate in the festival AND interact with its guests.