After months of planning, designing, and fabricating, Daily tous les jours, a Montreal-based design studio, is in town to install Amateur Intelligence Radio (AIR) at Union Depot this week as part of Northern Lights.mn’s Interactive Multimedia Artwork Platform.
Night Visions (173 days)
Last Saturday, the StarTribune reprinted a story, which they called “Stop counting followers,” at least in the print edition. It was called “Quality over quantity in social media” in the original Chicago Tribune version. I’m not sure if this a difference that makes a difference, but the article caught my eye because Northern Lights.mn is currently going through a process to better understand the 40,000 people or so who show up at Northern Spark.
This process is part of our organizational work through the Arts Midwest ArtsLab Peer Learning Community, which is designed to support Resiliency in the arts community and enable the development of ideas and skills that strengthen the Ability to adapt to Change.
One aspect of this project is functional: to implement a Customer Relationship Management system. I have no doubt that this alone will allow us to communicate more efficiently and more effectively with our various audiences: donors, attendees, artists, volunteers, etc. You can only go so far with spreadsheets and Google docs.
But the real thrust of the program is to “move” some of that 40,000 audience to or toward the “core.” What is that core, you might ask? I know I do. The obvious marker is how do we get someone who attends and enjoys Northern Spark, a free event, to contribute to it. We sometimes call this the MPR model. But what is our pledge drive? More importantly, contributing is a potential outcome and not an actual description of this core. It’s about more than a transaction.
In my fantasy notion of the MPR model – I have no inside knowledge of their actual process or thinking – this non-transactional core is exemplified by the “driveway moment.” And we have something similar at Northern Spark, at least from my point of view: “night visions.” These are the moments that some people describe in our surveys of the event, and on social media.
“I had so many beautiful interactions with the city and her art, but the part I never expected was walking back to my car across the Stone Arch Bridge, sun rising over the smokestacks of the power plant as the city was slowly waking up around me. The river was inexorably making her way to NOLA, and I stopped and realized how amazing the little apple is. I have lived here for ten years and never experienced her in such a way before. It was our little secret: the river, the little apple, and me. A magical night!”
I have curated art and created cultural platforms for over 20 years, and never have I experienced so consistently such genuine enthusiasm about an event. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t criticisms. There are, of course, and there should be. But these night-vision-driveway-moments, quite honestly, keep us going. Keep us trying to make Northern Spark something that is truly Sustainable, Resilient, and with some Awe.
My goal as Artistic Director and our goal as an organization is to support the artists, build the audiences, and create the environment that enable these moments to occur. It is also our goal and desire to understand them. If you have a night-vision-driveway-moment, we’d love hear about it and for you to share it.
Northern Spark: 175 Days
175 days. A little less than 6 months.
As we settle into some holiday relaxation – or at least a different kind of frazzle – June 14, Northern Spark, seems like a long way off. But we have learned from experience that it’s not. The deadline for project proposals is open through January 13 and partner proposals still have some leeway as well, so we don’t even know the full line up of the program yet. At the same time, web deadlines, print deadlines, contract deadlines, permit deadlines, kicksstarter campaign deadlines, sponsor support deadlines, press deadlines, budget deadlines are all advancing like demographics, inexorably.
Over the next 175 days, I want to give an insider perspective on putting this event together. Not just the daily what-I-had-for-breakfast minutia or the here-comes-the-next-appeal appeal, although I’m sure some of that will be mixed in. It’s part of our friending, tweeting, rough and tumblring micro-cultures that sustain the new environment of Sustainability, Resiliency, and Innovation we all find ourselves in.
But I’m also interested in sharing our version, or at least my version of the thrill of victory and agony of defeat that is the human drama of artistic experimentation at Northern Spark’s free, annual, multidisciplinary, multi-venue, multiple partner, dusk-to-dawn, public arts festival.
Sincerely,
Steve Dietz
Founder and Artistic Director, Northern Spark
Chris Larson Limited Edition Artwork
Northern Lights.mn congratulates Minnesota artist Chris Larson on his inclusion in the 2014 Whitney Biennial!
Larson’s multimedia-based practice incorporates film, photography, drawing, painting, video and performance, often in installed environments. If these elements sound familiar, it’s likely you saw his project Celebration/Love/Loss during Northern Spark 2013. For this temporary architectural installation, Larson recreated a full-scale version of a 1962 Marcel Breuer home in Saint Paul which was lit afire. This project garnered national press coverage including an article in the New York Times.
We’re excited to offer the opportunity to purchase a limited-edition artwork by Chris Larson – a tabletop sculptural commemoration of Celebration/Love/Loss. Each piece in the edition is a unique sculpture that has been individually hand-poured, sculpted, and finished. Chris has created an edition of 25 and gifted a portion of them to Northern Lights.mn to help raise support for Northern Spark.
Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant
Northern Lights.mn is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant for Neighbors By Way of Water: A Big Watershed Game. For this project, we are partnering with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and game designer Ken Ecklund to develop a large-scale, location-based game that uses the watershed landscape and cultural features as a game board.
Open Call for Projects: Northern Spark 2014
Northern Lights.mn has two separate open calls for projects for Northern Spark, June 14, 2014:
- Open call for proposals for up to 10 projection projects
- Open call for proposals for up to 10 projects of any medium
Application deadline
The applications for both calls are due 9:00pm, CST, January 13, 2014.
More Information
For more information, visit the open call for projection projects and the open call for projects of any medium.
Creative City Challenge: Proposals Due November 18
- Photo credit: Kristin Maywire
The second annual Creative City Challenge is a competition for a $75,000 commission to create a summer-long installation that transforms the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza in 2014. The winning installation will be unveiled at Northern Spark on June 14, 2014.
Proposals for the Creative City Challenge are due at 4:30 pm CST on Monday, November 18, 2013. Submission guidelines and the submission form can be found here.
Information Session: We will be hosting an info session on Tuesday, November 12, at 12:00 pm. The session will be held in room 204AB on the second floor of the Minneapolis Convention Center. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to ady@northern.lights.mn or on our Facebook page.
Creative City Challenge: Artist Info Sessions
Interested in submitting a proposal for the Creative City Challenge? Attend one of three info sessions on October 15, October 22, or November 12, to find out about the submissions process.
Creative City Challenge Call for Entries
Minneapolis Interactive Macro Mood Installation (MIMMI), winner of the 2013 Creative City Challenge
The second annual Creative City Challenge is calling for proposals for a $75,000 commission to produce a summer-long installation on the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza. The winning project will be unveiled at Northern Spark on June 14, 2014.
Entries are due by 4:30 pm CDT on Monday, November 18, 2013.
Read more about the Creative City Challenge
Artist Info Session: Northern Spark 2014
Are you an artist interested in presenting a project at Northern Spark? Come learn about about the application process and get your questions answered at our artist info session.
Northern Spark 2014 Artist Info Session
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
5:00pm
Continue reading…
Art(ists) On the Verge 5
Save the date: The fifth edition of Art(ists) On the Verge opens at The Soap Factory on March 8, 2014.
AOV5 fellows: Katie Hargrave, Alison Hiltner, Aaron Marx, Peter Sowinski, Emily Stover.
Stay tuned for a new round of Art(ists) On the Verge fellowship opportunities coming soon!
Northern Spark 2013 Lights Up the Night!
Ananya Dance Theatre at Revolver's Write Fight
This year’s Northern Spark was a shining success. Lowertown was alight with art and friendly faces from dusk to dawn. The city shone in a whole new (moon)light and offered spectacular wonders around every corner.
Thank you to all of Northern Spark’s artists for sharing your engaging talents and ideas. And thank you to everyone who attended the festival this year — you are the ones who make the night magical. And another special thank you to Northern Spark’s partners, sponsors, and host committee. We couldn’t have ignited this spark without you!
Volunteer at Northern Spark
Do you love striking up a conversation? Are you that person who always gets asked for directions? Volunteering for Northern Spark 2013 could be the thing for you. Be a part of Minnesota’s newest tradition — YOU can help light up the night!
Centered in Lowertown, Saint Paul, this night-long festival is a portal to a new experience of the Twin Cities. With nearly 80 artist projects indoors and out, there will be a lot to see on June 8!
FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER ROLES INCLUDE:
• STAFFING AN INFO HUB: give information about Northern Spark art and events to festival goers.
• ROVING INFO GUIDE: help with the flow of festival foot traffic. Info Guides are present and available to deliver on-site information about schedules and area events, give directions, and distribute programs to festival goers.
• SURVEY SEEKER: talk with the public and collect feedback about the festival experience.
In addition to gaining an inside perspective on the festival and meeting artists, all volunteers will receive a fabulous Northern Spark T-shirt and will be eligible for exciting prizes.
SOUND LIKE FUN?
Visit http://2013.northernspark.org/about/volunteer to learn more about the benefits of volunteering.
Sign up to volunteer at http://tinyurl.com/NS2013-volunteer.
QUESTIONS?
Contact our volunteer coordinator at
birdie@northern.lights.mn
Join a kazoo band
Perform with us at Northern Spark 2013! From sundown on June 8th to late into the night, our intrepid Kazoo Band will parade through Lowertown, waving artist-made banners and entertaining the public, all while encouraging them to support Northern Spark with donations. We’ll learn a few pop songs that relate to money and giving, and you do not need to be able to read music to participate.
Kazoo Band performance during Northern Spark is organized into two sets: First set is from 9pm to midnight, second set is from 1am- 3am. You can participate in one or both sets. Kazoo Band performers get all of the perks of volunteering– food truck tickets, a free T-shirt, entry into prize drawings, and invitations to Northern Spark gatherings. You’ll also be able to keep your kazoo.
If you’re interested, contact Molly Balcom Raleigh at mbalcomraleigh@gmail.com. We’re accepting volunteer performers through May 17. Volunteers are required to participate in 2 practice sessions between May 20- June 5. Participation will be collaborative and fun– bring your ideas!
Listen to Art(ists) On the Verge
Some great interviews by Ned Hurley with Art(ists) On the Verge artists prior to the opening of their exhibition on Saturday, May 4 at The Soap Factory.
