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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.

Call for Brass, Percussion, and Piccolo
Author
mediachef
Post
05.20.2011
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Trumpet, Trombone/Baritone/Tuba, Percussion, and Piccolo

Performance opportunity on the Stone Arch Bridge

for dawn or dusk // homeward is a 10-15 minute sound work for 100+ local musicians playing brass, percussion, piccolos and tiny whistles. The site specific performance will take place on the Stone Arch Bridge, stretching across the Mississippi playing overlapping melodies derived from the route of the river. The piece follows the route of the river south past St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico. The piece is written by Los Angeles based composer Chris Kallmyer who will come out to work with the group on June 3 + 4.
If you would like to participate, please contact the event coordinator, Phil Snyder.

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Provisions for an All-Night Journey
Author
mediachef
Post
05.19.2011
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Public Address asked Northern Spark food curator Sarah Peters to write about the culinary art of the Festival.

Mobile Food at Northern Spark

Border Tacos truck - Photo by Aaron Fenster

Border Tacos truck. Photo by Aaron Fenster

Trolling the Twin Cities all night long to experience a spectacular array of artist projects requires some stamina. You can always stop into your favorite neighborhood joint to grab a bite, but we’ve rounded up some of the best food trucks in the Twin Cities to provide sustenance along the way. Stationed in each Zone, these mobile chefs will keep you happily fed, caffeinated and recharged. Eat your way through the festival starting with a sunset dinner and ending with breakfast at dawn!

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A whiskey-jonesing-bar-hopper for art
Author
mediachef
Post
05.18.2011
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“IN 2006, NORTHERN LIGHTS.MN founder, president, and artistic director, Steve Dietz, helped organize the first Zer01 SJ biennial, a seven day festival of art highlighting the theme of “the interactive city,” which took place in San Jose, California. The event was a huge success, featuring the work of more than 250 artists representing over 40 […]

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Win big – volunteer for Northern Spark
Author
mediachef
Post
05.18.2011
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Be part of an amazing team; make the very first Northern Spark nuit blanche a success by volunteering. Every volunteer who commits to a three-hour shift will receive a t-shirt designed by Matthew Rezac, will have their name listed on the website, and will gain a unique and invaluable experience. Northern Spark appreciates its volunteers. […]

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Art X Detroit – New Works in the Public Realm
Author
mediachef
Post
05.15.2011
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Street Folk © Tyree Guyton. Photo Cezanne Charles

Art X Detroit was a five-day multidisciplinary celebration that exclusively presented newly commissioned works created by the 2008-2010 Kresge Eminent Artists and Artists Fellows, from April 6-10, 2011 with an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit ( MOCAD) and public art continuing to April 24, 2011. An exciting program of dance and musical performances, literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, public art and special exhibitions, Art X Detroit was hosted at more than a dozen venues located throughout Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center.

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Making the Band: Chris Kallmyer composes music for the opening of the Northern Spark
Author
mediachef
Post
05.14.2011
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Chris Kallmyer testing the sound properties of the site.

Chris Kallmyer testing the sound properties of the site.

Los Angeles based composer Chris Kallmyer has spent the last two days walking the Stone Arch bridge, testing survival whistles and sketching plans for new piece as part of the Northern Spark Festival on June 4th and 5th. for dawn or dusk // homeward is a 10-15 minute sound work for 100+ local musicians playing brass, percussion, piccolos and tiny whistles.

Chris states “The intent of this project is to host a range of musicians involved, and create a unique opportunity for younger musicians to pair with more experienced performers outside of a classroom or traditional band setting.” The score is written considering players of all levels and experience and will give the performers the unique experience of debuting an original piece created specifically for them.”

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Transitions, Transformations, and Traditions – Artist’s Role in the De-industrial City
Author
mediachef
Post
05.13.2011
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Public Address invited Cezanne Charles to guest blog about the conference Rust Belt to Artist Belt. Here is her report. Thanks Cezanne.

From April 6 – 7, Rust Belt to Artist Belt explored how artists and creative practitioners are transforming the landscape in Detroit and in other de-industrialized cities. Topics explored DIY culture, social justice, land use, prosperity and neighborhood and community development. Opening Keynotes from Maria Rosario Jackson of The Urban Institute and Judilee Reed, Executive Director of Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) set the stage for the conference, providing significant national analytics about the position and role of artists in society.

The context for the conference was Detroit and not just the urban center or the image of an American city in decline, which is the popular way this region is depicted. Instead this conference looked at the ways that artists and designers are rethinking and reimagining what is possible for a socially-engaged practice, especially practices that are situated in and suited particularly to the post-industrial context of the multi-centered city/region. The conference also added voices both national and international to the mix.

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AOV3 Fellows
Author
mediachef
Post
05.11.2011
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Northern Lights.mn announces the recipients of the third round of Art(ists) on the Verge commissions (AOV3). AOV3 is an intensive, mentor-based fellowship program for 5 Minnesota-based, emerging artists or artist groups working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture with a focus on network-based practices that are interactive and/or participatory. AOV3 is generously supported by the Jerome Foundation.

Drew Anderson
Michael Hoyt
Caly McMorrow
Anthony Tran
Aaron Westre

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Community conversation @NorthernSpark
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mediachef
Post
05.11.2011
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All My Relations Gallery

All My Relations Arts invites you to join us for a community conversation with local Native American artists Mona Smith, Bobby Wilson and Robert Two Bulls. They will be talking with guest artists Rigo 23, whose work Oglala Oyate will screen during the Northern Spark festival at AMRA. Joining them will be Tom Poor Bear from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Poor Bear worked with Rigo 23 and appears in the video. Curator and poet Heid Erdrich will moderate. Light refreshments will be served.

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Call for trumpet, trombone / baritone, percussion and piccolo for unique community band.
Author
mediachef
Post
05.4.2011
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Would you like to be part of a unique musical performance? Do you like the standing above/between the banks of the Mississippi? Do you play a brass instrument or percussion? Do you like bridges? Are you free the evening of June 4th? Do you like sparklers? Do you want to be part of something you will talk about for years? Do you have friends that fit the above description too? If so…we have something you are going to love.

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Artports Departs – a stylish, if cautious, Terminal 2 at SFO
Author
Northern Lights.mn
Post
04.27.2011
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Airport-commissioned artworks have a certain role to play as celebrations of flight and the human longing to fly, to travel, to meet each other. The opening of Terminal 2 at the San Francisco airport brings five new artworks to this site, including commissioned work by artists Walter Kitundu and Charles Sowers.

Walter Kitundu: Bay Area Bird Encounters

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