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Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries ... community arts innovation
(Guelph Arts Council, Arts in Guelph newsletter) by Linda Craig Look up, look down, look around. If you do, you might just start to see some rather exciting, unusual and thought provoking artwork appearing inside, outside and around the town. In fact, you might already have seen some of the pieces on the back wall at the Farmers' Market, or at the Guelph Jazz Festival. If all goes according to plan, Guelph is going to become one large gallery for the many pieces of artwork that are being created by community participants in an innovative project called Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries. It's all part of a collaborative pilot program called Artists and Communities funded by the Laidlaw Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council, with the aim of bringing together professional artist and non-artist groups "to engage in the creative process." Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries is one of only four projects funded in Ontario. Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries will test the parameters of community art. "It also intends to raise the artistic consciousness of our community, raise the profile of the visual arts scene in Guelph, and promote personal growth through creativity," says Sue Richards, Project Co-ordinator. Sue is the inspiration behind the project, and the spark plug that gives it energy and forward momentum. She describes the undertaking as a series of workshops for adults, designed to be fun. This is the Art Jam phase when the artwork will be created, while the Guerrilla Galleries will display the finished pieces. Guelph AIDS Committee and Guelph and District Multicultural Centre, as the project's two non-arts partners, play an important role in diversifying the base. Pat Joannie, Executive Director of the Multicultural Centre, notes that she can bring people to the project who Sue might not be able to reach easily. Other critical team members include five professional artists who act as facilitators. Along with Sue Richards, they plan the creative side of the workshops, generate themes, choose and mix the colours, gather the materials to be used such as feathers, rocks, doors, tables, chairs or other found objects, and take the participants through the artistic process. Lynda Grinnell sees their role as one of guidance and instruction, while ensuring that participants' design possibilities are not limited. "Simply put," says Sue, "it's a painting project." But its a painting project wiht a difference! One thing that sets it apart is its size - by the end of the projects life there is an expectation that 1000 members of the Guelph community will have participated! One's background or training is irrelevant. All that is required is enthusiasm, and $5 (the registration fee). So far, Art Jam workshops have included participants from various local businesses and community based organizations such as the Multicultural Centre, AIDS Committee, Guelph Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Laidlaw Foundation. The summer was used to design the process, plan the workshops, and practise on some willing guinea pigs. Now Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries is going public, starting with a grand opening late in October, and a series of fourteen workshops planned in November and December. Initially, the plan called for the Art Jams to move around to various locations. Sue and the facilitators quickly found out that this was too much work, requiring energy that could better be directed into the project. Never one to miss an opportunity, Sue approached the Upper Grand District School Board and managed to strike a deal to rent a portion of the recently-closed Torrance School. Now Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries has a home in which it can carry out its objective to raise the profile of the local visual arts scene. For more information about Art Jam/Guerrilla Galleries, call (519) 767-0142. |
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