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Public Address is a platform for wide-ranging discussion of innovative projects, and practices. Read here for news, announcements, and postings and sign up for our e-newsletter here.

Contemporary art is increasingly “untethered” and moves from the white cube of the gallery to any site – including the virtual – to engage the public in its own realm. Public art is an ever-expanding field of inquiry, with artists of all stripes exploring the public realm. Beyond murals, monuments, memorials (and the occasional mime) public art has become a vibrant and engaging practice. From the spectacular to the quotidian, permanent to ephemeral, sited to virtual, material to performative, conceptual to cinematic, we believe there are unprecedented opportunities for new art practices in our shared environment. This is the critical focus of Public Address.

Northern Spark #7 on METRO 100 list

Author
mediachef
Post
10.11.2011

Metro magazine's Top 100 list includes Northern Spark at #7

7. Northern Spark, June 4 to 5, 2011

“Modeled after nuit blanche events in Paris and St. Petersburg, the Twin Cities’ first-ever all-night art party spanned galleries and green space on both sides of the river (it even spilled into the mighty Miss via a variety show aboard an old paddleboat). The highlight? Artist Jim Campbell’sScattered Light” installation at Upper Landing Park in St. Paul: hundreds of glowing glass bulbs strung together to create Northern Spark’s unofficial nightlight. We’ve been catching lots of Z’s in preparation for next summer’s citywide sleepover, which promises to be bigger and better than the first. northernspark.org

Save the dates: July 9-10, 2012

Irrigate

Author
mediachef
Post
10.10.2011

Irrigate: Art happens here

Placemaking is the act of people coming together to change overlooked and undervalued public and shared spaces into welcoming places where community gathers, supports one another, and thrives. Places can be animated and enhanced by elements that encourage human interaction – from temporary activities such as performances and chalked poetry to permanent installations such as landscaping and unique art.

“We Are Working All the Time!” Wants You

Author
mediachef
Post
10.7.2011

If you have visited with the Empty Words (so that we can do our living) performance during the Northern Spark festival on June 4-5, chances are you have walked away with one of the “We Are Working All The Time!” posters. These posters were printed during the performance and distributed to the audience. I am writing to ask you a simple favor:

Bruce Charlesworth: ISEA.2

Author
mediachef
Post
09.21.2011

Hot room, Çemberlitas Hamam

I bought my ticket, a yellow plastic tab, and was given a small cardboard box. A cluster of topless Turkish men in plaid towels gestured toward one of the narrow staircases. I climbed to the second level balcony where I was ushered into a wooden cubicle. I stripped down, wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped into some plastic sandals. The attendant asked for the yellow tab, then locked the room and handed me the key.