Now that the Masseys have confirmed, we are knee-deep in logistics - flights, accommodations, scheduling, etc. The finalized dates for the visit are Friday, Feb. 25 through Monday, Feb. 28.I am excited to announce that I have booked the Artists Gallery Residence, owned and furnished by local artist Miki Boni, for the Masseys overnight accommodations. Great downtown location and beautiful artwork - what a fitting alternative to a hotel for our visiting artists! I'm including some photos of the residence in this month's post.
As for flights, I've been watching for prices to drop, and I just found a great itinerary/price combo - waiting for the Masseys approval and then we'll be set to book!
I've also made a Save-the-Date for a charrette (brainstorming session) with the Masseys on Monday, Feb. 28, and that should go out by the end of this week. The event will (of course) be free, thanks to MakeWork funding, and I'll be asking people to register via e-mail. Details to come.Grosso modo, the charrette objectives are to create dialogue among city planners, social entrepreneurs, public art enthusiasts, and other interested parties about what a re-revitalization of Chattanooga might look like. What do we want the future of Chattanooga to be? How do we further our reputation as a hub of creative activity in the South?
The charrette will also address the role public art could play in our vision for the city's future. I think it will be helpful to differentiate the work I do with my organization, Mark Making, from other examples of public art in other cities - to give Chattanoogans a broader context for the role of public art in city development.
My goal for the Massey visit is not necessarily to create a Massey-style project in Chattanooga. Instead, I want to discuss the "Massey model" of public art and community development in the context of our city, its present strengths, and its future opportunities. The Masseys' visit will allow the thinkers and doers in our city to explore, absorb, and learn from the Masseys' philosophies, teaching methods, BIG thinking, logistics, and marketing.·
