Civic Studio: On the River's photostream

On The River
Civic Studio’s Current Project

Showing during and after ArtPrize from:
September 1 - December 19, 2009

Location: Interurban (Gillette) Bridge over the Grand River, Downtown Grand Rapids

ArtPrize: September 23 - October 10, 2009

ArtPrize Artist Voting ID: 3510

On The River is a project by Civic Studio. The studio uses visual art to investigate public life in specific contexts. Our current project takes place in a portable studio on the Interurban Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan from September 1st to December 19th, 2009.

Open Studio Assignments On Display During ArtPrize:
We are beginning our project by doing basic research on different aspects of the river and site. Open Studio Assignments structure and map activities and findings along the Grand River. These assignments explore various ways that rivers are incorporated into aspects of public life. Rivers are forms that are natural, cultural, experiential, social, recreational and industrial. Our use of rivers reflect social imagination and necessity.

Bare Feet By The River
Body And Space
Go Sketch
Outside In/Inside Out
River Finds
River Water Samples
Grand River’s Re-Rapids

The public can follow along or do their own Open Studio Assignments. Ongoing results are shared online in a publicly editable wiki at: civicstudio.org/river. During ArtPrize a sampling of results will be shown in this evolving display.

Songs About The Grand River:
The studio is inviting area songwriters to write songs involving the River. More information can be found at: civicstudio.org/river/index.php/Songs_About_the_Grand_River

Text And Image Projections:
Each night during Artprize, the studio will present text projections on the large screen over the river at dusk. The projections are visible to the north and south for several blocks. The public can view them from a distance or stop by and talk with studio members.

Video Projections:
Each Friday and Saturday of ArtPrize, Civic Studio will present video projects on the large screen. Videos deal with fish, early public transportation on the river and cycles of experiments in simple water cycles. Video projections will start at approximately 8:30.

*All projects are subject to good weather.

Portable Cinema:
Civic Studio will partner with Portable Cinema to show a context-appropriate film at the River. TBA.

Studio Schedule:
Please check the studio schedule for these and other exciting events. We will be adjusting and adding to things as our project progresses during and after ArtPrize.

Links:
Civic Studio: civicstudio.org
Schedule: civicstudio.org/river/index.php/Schedule
Wiki: civicstudio.org/river
Blog: visualstudies.art.gvsu.edu/blo/river
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/civicstudioontheriver/
Twitter: twitter.com/civicstudio


Civic Studio operates with the idea that public life is plastic; it is changeable and embedded in material. The studio’s work is based on a commitment to expand the relevance and utility of art in everyday life in both practical and imaginative ways. The project is situated, public, and emergent. Members of the studio focus on the development and application of art processes that are about a particular place. The process itself is public. Our research, methods, and development are evident and visible. Studio work emerges from our extended engagement in a particular context.

Civic Studio is a project of the Department of Art and Design at Grand Valley State University. Since 1999, Civic Studio has worked to reset the relationship between art and the public through the development of methodologies and contexts for the creation and presentation of art in public. The studio has done 6 major projects.