IN SERVICE OF COMMUNITY. MEETING Wed 5/27 6:00 p.m.
A BRAINSTORMING MEETING CREATING NEW FORMS OF PUBLIC ART TO COMBAT NOXIOUS GRAFFITI

Corcoran Neighborhood has received seed money and is seeking artists and other creatives to help brainstorm and develop a startlingly new ( to Minneapolis) graffiti prevention program that uses public artforms.

(Please note that around here we use the term ‘graffiti’ to refer to gang tags. Which are a serious problem in our neighborhood and are starkly different than public art, including aerosol art, including the great work that goes on at Intermedia Arts etc.)

IN SERVICE OF COMMUNITY. CNO organizer Eric Gustafson traveled to Oaxaca city, Mexico in April 2008. Oaxaca has problems with graffiti and tagging that are similar, or arguably worse, than Minneapolis’. Oaxaca also has a thriving creative class and “Do-It-Yourself” ethic that recalls the Corcoran/Powderhorn area of Minneapolis. Widely evident in Oaxaca City is a simple but compelling form of public art that any audience will recognize as serving multiple purposes. To beautify, to celebrate local culture and heroes. To provoke thought about ideas and issues, and to prevent future tagging.

Most of these images are simple graphic art that utilize minimal lines and shading to express an idea. Most are either per-printed or painted on durable paper and then applied to a wall surface with decoupage/adhesive (the same technique used widely to apply outdoor posters and advertising in Mexico). Or applied directly to the wall with a paint brush.At the meeting, Eric will share examples of public art in Oaxaca city, Mexico.

Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 27, 6pm. Susan Hensel has generously offered use of her gallery space (3441 Cedar) for the meeting. Please invite others, especially the creatively inclined.

The focus of Susan Hensel Gallery is on compelling objects, meaningful use of materials, and engaging sculpture. It is a gallery where experimental ideas and works of the hand join to create unique sensory experiences. Opened September 10th, 2004 Susan Hensel Gallery is a gallery/ workspace presenting 5-6 shows per year in an intimate space, with hardwood floors and high tin ceilings. In 2013 the interior space reverted to a working studio for Susan Hensel where she continues to work on small and largescale artwork that engages both sculptural and cultural space. You can find her current work at www.SusanHenselProjects.com.