open engagement 2012 presentation

7/31/2019 Open Engagement 2012 presentation

1/64

Saturday, May 19, 12


2/64

Big Car began as a collective of creative thinkers, many of us influenced by thephilosophies of Dada and Surrealism. We began with a focus on collaboration and building

a group of artists who work in different ways but work together on projects.



3/64

We put on art monthly art shows, poetry readings,music shows, dance performances and plays bringing all kinds of creative people together

through collaboration.



4/64

We also became a nonprofit organization. First, we werevolunteer run. Our annual budget in the first couple ofyears was about $10,000. It was $30,000 two yearslater. In 2008, we expanded our programs into the

community and received a $50,000 grant, by far ourlargest. But all of that went toward project costs. Aftermuch volunteer labor, weve been able to grow to nowemploy four full-time people and three others part-time.



5/64


6/64

Empathy =

Audience

Early on, we figuredout that creativework about other

people (besides theperson making it) isfar easier for otherpeople to enjoy. And

everybody reallyenjoys things theyget to help make.

above: ThriftStore Music

left: SevenSimultaneousLectures



7/64

big foot sightings project at Big Car Gallery in 2008



8/64Saturday, May 19, 12


9/64Saturday, May 19, 12


10/64

who are you and what do you wantBig Car, 2008



11/64

collage party at Big Car 2009Saturday, May 19, 12


12/64

musical performance inside asculpture at Big Car, 2010



13/64

After four years of programing a gallery space bringing thousandsof people to a struggling neighborhood for the first time, we couldsee we were helping lead an economic turnaround for this place.

We figured out we could accomplish a lot if we took some of thoseideas and set out to make a broader difference in our city.

playing AndyGoldsworthy



14/64

And we knew we wanted to help make our city a more livableplace for everyone, not just art students, hipsters and creatives.



15/64

So we began figuring out ways to use our skills to connectwith people who werent part of the existing arts scene.



16/64

Made for Each OtherIn 2008, we began working on community art

projects in seven neighborhoods acrossIndianapolis. These varied, but all involved,

engaged and assisted people in ways theyrequested. MFEO projects are about people andplace versus the creation of traditional art

products. This is the project that received the

$50,000 grant from a community developmentorganization, not an arts funder.



17/64

MFEO was all about exploring a real lovefor our city and our neighbors and

making things together while helping the

community in small ways.

Kountry Kitchen with The Project School



18/64

Near East house drawing projectSaturday, May 19, 12


19/64

the process start with gathering ideas and talking

invest real time in a place, in people team up to form a great idea for a project work with neighbors to make things happen bring all together to experience and celebrate it document things along the way



20/64

As an adaptive and flexible

cultural organization, Big Carbrings people of allbackgrounds together to spark

creativity in lives, invigoratepublic places, and support

neighborhoods. Big Car is acreative community builder.



21/64

21

Our work tends to be politically neutral.But we allow space for people to makestatements of their own.

The central issue we address is theimportance of everybody being creative,encouraging people to take risks and beactive in being part of making the world.



22/64

Project at Saraga International Market with Harrell FletcherSaturday, May 19, 12


23/64

23

service center for culture and community - April 2011



24/64

24

service center for culture and community - today



25/64



26/64



27/64



28/64

Text



29/64



30/64



31/64


32/64


33/64



34/64



35/64



36/64

36



37/64

37



38/64

38



39/64

39



40/64

40



41/64



42/64



43/64



44/64

44

square share

march-may, 2012Saturday, May 19, 12


45/64

In 1 neighborhood in a little over 2 months wegathered 507 stories about wishes or objects

from 353 kids and 154 adults. We set up story-gathering sites in 6 neighborhood story sites,engaged 4 schools and partnered with 3organizations.

10 paid facilitators engaged 44 volunteerartists, including 3 photographers, 3 writers, 3designers, and 38 illustrators who together

completed 453 volunteer hours. This breaksdown to 102 hours gathering stories, 215 hoursdrawing, 76 hours scanning, typing, and filing,

and 60 hours designing.Saturday, May 19, 12


46/64



47/64



48/64


49/64


50/64



51/64



52/64

52



53/64

What is free, beautiful, healthy and good for everybody?

Garden-grown vegetables. As a grandmother, I grow tomatoes,

peppers, broccoli, green beans, sage, and thyme in the garden

at home near Clermont. My grandson Jeremiah waters them. Jeremiahs

favorite veggie is broccoli, which he likes even without cheese. Why broccoli?

Because its juicy! he cries. I steam it for him. No chemicals touch myveggies. I cook them with ginger and turmeric, and mix them with veal, lamb

or couscous, Moroccan style. Sometimes, I slip raw spinach on Jeremiahs

sandwich, and hes learning its good. Until the garden is growing,

Jeremiah & I buy pretty peppers together. Our eyes are full of light.

ABELTAHnadia



54/64

54



55/64

squaresharepics

55



56/64

squaresharepics



57/64



58/64

58



59/64



60/64

squaresharepics



61/64

61


next: public places/spaces


62/64

62

next: public places/spaces



63/64

63



64/64

wishardhospital

open engagement 2012 presentation

Documents