One of the 20 sandwich-board artworks on display. Ths one is by Munir Kahar. / Photo by Alan Berks. Those sidewalk signs you see, advertising a sale on Dr. Pepper or Doritos? Don't be surprised in the next few days if you see the familiar sandwich-board signs covered instead in original art work along a stretch of Chicago Avenue in south Minneapolis.
Twenty artists from the Powderhorn and Central neighborhoods teamed up with a group of middle-schoolers to create CurbCulture, a public art show that will be displayed on sidewalk signs outside stores on Chicago Avenue between 32nd and 38th streets.
All the artworks will be gathered for a free reception on Thursday (Aug. 2), 5-7 p.m., at Pillsbury House and Theatre, 3501 Chicago Av. S. Beginning Saturday, they will be on view in front of various businesses on the street. The timing coincides with this weekend's Powderhorn Park Art Fair.
The CurbCulture exhibit was created by a group of middle school youth working with professional artists Masa Kawahara, Xavier Tavera, and Peter Haakon Thompson. The youth involved in CurbCulture created an open call for artists, constructed the sandwich boards, selected the artists for exhibition, and went door to door to meet business owners to secure locations for artwork to be exhibited. The artist's donated their time and talent.
The project was developed in partnership between Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and the Pillsbury House + Theatre youth program. It is funded in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the Legacy Amendment.
These are the artists whose work will be on view: Megan Longo,Florence Hill, Levi Oftelie, Kelly Brazil,Molly Van Avery, Bruce Silcox, Christopher (CREW youth), Ellie Kingsbury, Joanne Jongsma, Flo Razowsky, Natasha Pestich,Munir Kahar, Angela Olson,Khyla (CREW Youth), Michelle Barnes, David Steinman, Maria Cristina Tavera, Xavier Tavera,Peter Haakon Thompson and Pramila Vasudevan.
