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November 25 - December 1, 2012 - second visit
- LODGING: we are staying at the house of Brandi & Carlton Turner, the Executive Director of Alternate ROOTS in Raymond, southwest of Jackson. He had nominated us for this project.
- Arriving with THREE BUILDINGS as ARTWORKS IN PROGRESS.
Public presentation at the museum organized by the Museum and Carlton Turner.
- PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION? Coordinator takes inadequate pictures. No understanding of the relevance of documenting the work-in-progress. Pictures are of smiling people and distorted pieces. No museum staff attends the presentation except the Coordinator. For the Museum it is just a community meeting, not an opportunity to meet the artists of the 2013 C3 series; although part of the project, the Museum and its staff does not yet see itself part of the community being built.
And we hear the C3 project defined as CONSERVATION-Creativity - Community, instead of CONVERSATION -Creativity -Community.
We also are advised that the Capitol piece needs only a bit more color: "will be easy to organize and good for kids during spring break." Not quite our vision and expectation of what is community building with the arts! We expect adding, cutting out, creating content ..." even burning" , if need be, we say!
We have to train the Museum Staff!
- Need of an ORGANIZER/FIELD COORDINATOR: the museum coordinator has not networked with and firmed up our contacts when we were not in Jackson. "It should really be conveyed that, while we are in Jackson in November, we wish to have more than introductory meetings. We need to hold workshops that may include story telling, a visual experience, and a discussion about the vision. Also, discuss organizational matters necessary to really convey the project."
We contract with daniel johnson and Jayson Porter.
- We abandon the idea of a 'town/village' because of the complexity of the religious landscape. Focusing instead on BRINGING THE CITY TO THE MUSEUM'S GARDEN.
- Arriving with THREE BUILDINGS as ARTWORKS IN PROGRESS.
Public presentation at the museum organized by the Museum and Carlton Turner.
- PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION? Coordinator takes inadequate pictures. No understanding of the relevance of documenting the work-in-progress. Pictures are of smiling people and distorted pieces. No museum staff attends the presentation except the Coordinator. For the Museum it is just a community meeting, not an opportunity to meet the artists of the 2013 C3 series; although part of the project, the Museum and its staff does not yet see itself part of the community being built.
And we hear the C3 project defined as CONSERVATION-Creativity - Community, instead of CONVERSATION -Creativity -Community.
We also are advised that the Capitol piece needs only a bit more color: "will be easy to organize and good for kids during spring break." Not quite our vision and expectation of what is community building with the arts! We expect adding, cutting out, creating content ..." even burning" , if need be, we say!
We have to train the Museum Staff!
- Need of an ORGANIZER/FIELD COORDINATOR: the museum coordinator has not networked with and firmed up our contacts when we were not in Jackson. "It should really be conveyed that, while we are in Jackson in November, we wish to have more than introductory meetings. We need to hold workshops that may include story telling, a visual experience, and a discussion about the vision. Also, discuss organizational matters necessary to really convey the project."
We contract with daniel johnson and Jayson Porter.
- We abandon the idea of a 'town/village' because of the complexity of the religious landscape. Focusing instead on BRINGING THE CITY TO THE MUSEUM'S GARDEN.
- THE CAPITOL: discussions start. "We will take over the Capitol as a rainbow of people... with a freedom wall for African American men..." Splitting the five parts that make the Capitol among different groups: Rankin High, Holmes County. Pictures reading "I will not be erased", from the Southern Movement Assembly are added to The Capitol.
Thinking about Selma, Birmingham, Memphis ...
(On a personal note, we stayed at the St James Hotel in Selma on our way back to Charleston, this time. Our memory of such an abandoned city and the amazing reception we got at the hotel still feeds our understanding of the South).
Thinking about Selma, Birmingham, Memphis ...
(On a personal note, we stayed at the St James Hotel in Selma on our way back to Charleston, this time. Our memory of such an abandoned city and the amazing reception we got at the hotel still feeds our understanding of the South).
- OPERATION SHOESTRING: brick workshops: the idea is to rebuild a school, brick by brick first, then group of bricks by group of bricks; Jayson and Nicole Prahin accept to lead the task. To present this youth community we engage in a video project: "My name is... "
- FARISH STREET, a neighborhood, a history. Meeting with Tony Davenport, Jason Thompson, Pamela Junior (Smith Robertson Museum), Diane Williams (Mississippi Arts Commission). Attempting to involve local artists. "Interdisciplinary: Not just a rap in the air, but words directly on the structure."
- FARISH STREET, a neighborhood, a history. Meeting with Tony Davenport, Jason Thompson, Pamela Junior (Smith Robertson Museum), Diane Williams (Mississippi Arts Commission). Attempting to involve local artists. "Interdisciplinary: Not just a rap in the air, but words directly on the structure."
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- Meeting with MIDTOWN PARTNERS : (Monica, Shmea, Crystal, Bolton, Melvin): their passion rubs off on us. Seeing what we have done for the other groups, they explain: "a garden in the middle of a table, a table that could become garden, that is why Midtown Partners exist." Meeting also with artist and City Councilman Melvin Priester.
- Starting to work with TOUGALOO College: meeting Prof. Katrina Arrington and Prof. Bruce O'Hara, at MMA and then on campus. The vision: maybe a monument at the end of Farish St? Maybe based on interpreted elements of the Tougaloo Mansion?
- Tentative PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
"The 'C3 Project: Creativity-Conversation-Community' is the 2013 annual public art-making project hosted by the Mississippi Museum of Art. During March, the Museum presents Charleston, South Carolina-based visual artist team Gwylene Gallimard and Jean-Marie Mauclet. In collaboration with five community partners representing Jackson's diverse population, Gallimard and Mauclet will lead participants in creating 3D interpretations of five Jackson landmarks and the many creeks of Jackson. These interpretations will become "containers" for dialogues, activities, and dreams of the community. Upon completion, the project will be on view on the BankPlus Green in The Art Garden. This project is supported by a Challenge America Fast-Track Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.msmuseumart.org for more information and to get involved."
- Tentative PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
"The 'C3 Project: Creativity-Conversation-Community' is the 2013 annual public art-making project hosted by the Mississippi Museum of Art. During March, the Museum presents Charleston, South Carolina-based visual artist team Gwylene Gallimard and Jean-Marie Mauclet. In collaboration with five community partners representing Jackson's diverse population, Gallimard and Mauclet will lead participants in creating 3D interpretations of five Jackson landmarks and the many creeks of Jackson. These interpretations will become "containers" for dialogues, activities, and dreams of the community. Upon completion, the project will be on view on the BankPlus Green in The Art Garden. This project is supported by a Challenge America Fast-Track Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.msmuseumart.org for more information and to get involved."