Stories and Shoes Needed!
A MILE IN OUR SHOES is a storefront artwork that invites the public to contemplate the links between housing, transportation, and employment through the diverse experiences of Twin Cities residents. It is being created at the Shoebox Gallery near the corner of Chicago and Lake in South Minneapolis. To complete this work, we need your shoes and stories! The planned installation will feature pairs of shoes paired with stories collected from people who move through the Chicago-Lake neighborhood on a daily basis.
We need: your stories. What’s it like to walk a mile in your shoes? How do you get to and from the places you need to go? What challenges do you face in your daily travels? How do you overcome these challenges? Has lack of transportation ever kept you from taking a job? How does transportation figure into your choice, or lack thereof, in the places you live, work or play?
We need: a pair of your shoes. We’d love to display a pair of your shoes for approximately 7 weeks as part of this installation. Don’t worry about cleaning ‘em up or lending us your fanciest pair. They can be an old pair, any old pair. If they help illustrate your story, that’s even better. For example, if your story is about your work, what does a pair of work shoes look like for you? Do you have an old pair that you can spare for 7 weeks? If so, we’d love to include them in the display along with your story!
Pairs of shoes and quotes from personal stories will be on display at The Shoebox Gallery at Lake and Chicago for approximately 7 weeks. Your participation can be anonymous if need be.
If you are interested in being a part of this project, please get in touch with Colin Kloecker at Works Progress by Monday, May 21st. Shoes and stories will need to be collected by Thursday, May 24th to be included in this project.
Email: colin@worksprogress.org
Phone: (612) 839-0810
Sidewalk Reception // Friday, May 25th from 4-8PM
Join us on the sidewalk for refreshments and conversation. Visitors will be invited to share their own connections to these issues by answering the question: What’s it like to walk a mile in your shoes? The Shoebox Gallery is located to the right of 2948 Chicago Avenue South (the Robert’s Shoes building). This public installation will be on display from Friday, May 25th to Friday, July 6th.
Who we are
Works Progress is an artist-led public design studio that creates projects that inspire, inform and connect; catalyzing relationships across creative and cultural boundaries; and providing new platforms for public engagement. EquityNowTC is a diverse group of passionate people and organizations who believe that by working together, we can achieve equity for Minnesota and beyond. The Shoebox Gallery is a storefront window display located to the right of 2948 Chicago Avenue South in the Robert’s Shoes Building.
On Saturday night Colin & I went to The Soap Factory to experience Joe Madrigal and Amber Ginsburg’s FLO(WE){U}R project. Throughout the night the artists were busy making clay bomb casings, re-imagined as seed shakers. Visitors were invited to fill them with seed mix and to take them outside for a walk around the neighborhood, scattering seeds. A century ago, similar terra cotta casings were manufactured, filled with baking flour, and used as test bombs. In this project, the artists used those original blueprints to create something entirely different and generative.
There are a couple of seed-scattering bike rides planned for the coming weeks, and an event as part of the Northern Spark festival on June 9th. All of that information can be found on The Soap Factory’s website.
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Photo by Zoe Prinds-Flash
Not to rub it in your tear-streaked face or anything, but if you couldn’t make it to Tuesday’s Salon Saloon: The Whale Show, you definitely missed out. The night was a veritable “sea” of golden moments, many of which I attempted to capture during my first live-tweeting experience (which, ludditey enough, also coincided with my first experience using an iPhone).
For those of you who weren’t glued to your iMac, iPads, iPhones (or whatever you technologically-current people use these days) scoping our Twitter feed all night, here’s a quick recap:
Golden Moment #1
Filming from her underwater lab in the Pacific Northwest, Maggie Ryan Sandford appears on the big screen for a three minute video detailing just how much sharks are absolutely not whales. What about whale sharks you ask? Still not whales. She’s got the homemade drawings to prove it.
Golden Moment #2
Musical saw player Rosalyn Claret invites Andy to try his hand at the saw. Andy looks about as comfortable as you might expect from someone holding a torso-length instrument of death.
Golden Moment # 3
Writer David Hansen asks the hard questions about American literature, cetaceans, and siphonaptera. “Q: What’s the difference between a flea and a whale?” “A: You can’t write Moby Dick about a flea.”
Golden Moment #4
Carolyn Swiszcz, artist and New Bedford, Massachusetts native, charges onstage carrying her very own 6’+ harpoon. Andy looks about as comfortable as you might expect from someone looking down the nose of a 6’+ harpoon.
Golden Moment #5
Danielle Everine throws down her mad anthropological knowledge of pygmy people and the pygmy whales they loved. It it real? Is it fake? Existential crises abound.
Golden Moment #6
Jake Mohan and Andy Sturdevant talk, at length, about the 1986 hit movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Andy speaks in a nerd voice, William Shatner coins my new favorite phrase “double dumbass on you,” and Jake earnestly explains the great cultural significance of the USS Enterprise’s journey back in time to save the humpback whales. Perfection.
Golden Moment #7
Clearly any show about whales wouldn’t be complete without a candle lighting ceremony and Led Zeppelin, right?
Thanks to everyone who made it out, hope to see you next month!
Salon Saloon:The Tent Show
Tuesday, April 24th, 7-9 pm
Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater
$6-12 sliding scale
Photo by Adam Hester Photography
Last night’s first meeting of our Adult Education Illustrated workshop series was, if we can be so immodest for a moment, a great success. Nearly 20 creative entrepreneurs, independent business owners, and freelance artists stopped by the Intermedia ArtsHub for light brewskis and legal banter.
Blake Iverson and David Friedman of local friend-to-the-arts law firm, Friedman Iverson, shared general information about taxes, contracts, business plans, and insurance, and answered attendees specific questions about their personal legal issues. Conversation covered the creative law gamut, from “What do I do to get this business started?” to “Oh yay, it’s going great! Now how do I cover my ass?”
The workshop was as informal and unintimidating as they come, with an open floor format that encouraged workshop attendees to ask questions, share stories, and swap information with other participants at any time.
Perhaps the most notable thing about the workshop, however, was the diversity of the attendees. Muralists, independent architects, newly published authors, professional stilt-walkers, theater actors, freelance designers, performers, small business owners, and artists of all kinds gathered around one giant roundtable.
It was a great testament to the richness of the Twin Cities creative culture and a good sign that the second workshop should be just as interesting!
Thanks so much to everyone who attended. If you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions on how to shape the next workshop, please feel free to email us, hello@worksprogress.org.
Hope to see both old and new faces at part two of our series, coming up on April 3rd!
Get it in Writing // Legal Contracts 101
April 3rd, 2012 from 4-6PM
Intermedia ArtsHub
Many of us work with other artists and organizations all the time, relying on handshake agreements and verbal confirmations. But what are the benefits of putting your agreements in writing? How do you even do that? We’ll review examples of common situations where legal contracts can be helpful, and will learn the basics of writing contracts that can protect both parties. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
-RS
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![We’re excited to announce a new program series we’re calling Adult Education Illustrated.
Here’s the idea: bring together experts with deep knowledge to share and creative practitioners. Illustrate the conversation. In real-time. Publish illustrated educational pamphlets following each workshop. It’s all based on the idea that the best knowledge is knowledge shared. In March and April we’re so happy to be partnering with Friedman Iverson law firm and Intermedia Arts to present the first Adult Education Illustrated volume on the theme of Creative Law.
As we’ve continued to navigate the ins and outs of making work and collaborating with others, we quickly reached the limits of our knowledge about things like intellectual property, contracts, and legal terminology. David and Blake at Friedman Iverson have been extremely helpful answering our questions and providing advice in a language we can understand. When they suggested that we work together on a public program, we were pretty jazzed.
Below is what we’ve cooked up together. All workshops are free, but space is limited! RSVP using this form. If you have any questions, please be in touch!
ADULT EDUCATION ILLUSTRATED // CREATIVE LAW
Join art & design studio Works Progress & Friedman Iverson law firm for this free series of workshops exploring legal issues that artists and other creative entrepreneurs often face. Each workshop will begin with a broad theme, but will be tailored to the unique experiences and questions of participants. Curious about legal issues, but don’t know how to talk to lawyers or where to begin? This is your chance to get to know the legal landscape in the fun and supportive environment of Intermedia ArtsHub! Adult beverages and otherwise will be available!
I Fought the Law // Creative Law Crash Course
March 20th, 2012 from 4-6PM
In this installment of Adult Education Illustrated, we’ll hear an overview of legal issues and terminology with specific attention on those areas of the law that artists and other creative entrepreneurs commonly encounter. You’ll learn some basic information about writing contracts, protecting intellectual property, liability issues and insurance, and tax status. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
Get it in Writing // Legal Contracts 101
April 3rd, 2012 from 4-6PM
Many of us work with other artists and organizations all the time, relying on handshake agreements and verbal confirmations. But what are the benefits of putting your agreements in writing? How do you even do that? We’ll review examples of common situations where legal contracts can be helpful, and will learn the basics of writing contracts that can protect both parties. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
Protect Yourself // Intellectual Property Basics
April 17th, 2012 from 4-6PM
If you’re an artist or designer, you probably work in the realm of intellectual property, even if you’re not sure what that means! Copyrights, trademarks, patents - this workshop will help you sort it out! Whether you’re interested in protecting your own work, or getting proper permission to use the artwork of others, some basic info on IP can be helpful. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
All workshops will be held at Intermedia Arts on 2822 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis 55408. All workshops are free, but space is limited! RSVP using this form.
Artwork above by Shari Weisberg for the Federal Art Project, WPA, between 1936 and 1941. [Link 1, Link 2]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m06aibTBi51qbogafo1_r1_500.jpg)
We’re excited to announce a new program series we’re calling Adult Education Illustrated.
Here’s the idea: bring together experts with deep knowledge to share and creative practitioners. Illustrate the conversation. In real-time. Publish illustrated educational pamphlets following each workshop. It’s all based on the idea that the best knowledge is knowledge shared. In March and April we’re so happy to be partnering with Friedman Iverson law firm and Intermedia Arts to present the first Adult Education Illustrated volume on the theme of Creative Law.
As we’ve continued to navigate the ins and outs of making work and collaborating with others, we quickly reached the limits of our knowledge about things like intellectual property, contracts, and legal terminology. David and Blake at Friedman Iverson have been extremely helpful answering our questions and providing advice in a language we can understand. When they suggested that we work together on a public program, we were pretty jazzed.
Below is what we’ve cooked up together. All workshops are free, but space is limited! RSVP using this form. If you have any questions, please be in touch!
ADULT EDUCATION ILLUSTRATED // CREATIVE LAW
Join art & design studio Works Progress & Friedman Iverson law firm for this free series of workshops exploring legal issues that artists and other creative entrepreneurs often face. Each workshop will begin with a broad theme, but will be tailored to the unique experiences and questions of participants. Curious about legal issues, but don’t know how to talk to lawyers or where to begin? This is your chance to get to know the legal landscape in the fun and supportive environment of Intermedia ArtsHub! Adult beverages and otherwise will be available!
I Fought the Law // Creative Law Crash Course
March 20th, 2012 from 4-6PM
In this installment of Adult Education Illustrated, we’ll hear an overview of legal issues and terminology with specific attention on those areas of the law that artists and other creative entrepreneurs commonly encounter. You’ll learn some basic information about writing contracts, protecting intellectual property, liability issues and insurance, and tax status. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
Get it in Writing // Legal Contracts 101
April 3rd, 2012 from 4-6PM
Many of us work with other artists and organizations all the time, relying on handshake agreements and verbal confirmations. But what are the benefits of putting your agreements in writing? How do you even do that? We’ll review examples of common situations where legal contracts can be helpful, and will learn the basics of writing contracts that can protect both parties. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
Protect Yourself // Intellectual Property Basics
April 17th, 2012 from 4-6PM
If you’re an artist or designer, you probably work in the realm of intellectual property, even if you’re not sure what that means! Copyrights, trademarks, patents - this workshop will help you sort it out! Whether you’re interested in protecting your own work, or getting proper permission to use the artwork of others, some basic info on IP can be helpful. This will be a small group workshop with plenty of opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.
All workshops will be held at Intermedia Arts on 2822 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis 55408. All workshops are free, but space is limited! RSVP using this form.
Artwork above by Shari Weisberg for the Federal Art Project, WPA, between 1936 and 1941. [Link 1, Link 2]
Video killed the radio star, but Salon Saloon is bringing it back.
This month’s Salon Saloon theme is, you guessed it, radio, and we’re pretty dang excited about the all-star lineup we snagged. Joining Andy on the stage this month are some of the finest representatives from Minnesota’s radio industry, including Ron “Boogiemonster” Gerber from KFAI’s Crap from the Past, metro reporter Sasha Aslanian of MPR, Joel Stitzel and Chuck Tomlinson from the popular Cosmic Slop podcast, and Daniel Henry from the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting.
Left-of-center music, personal narratives, inflammatory political talk, sound effects, organ chords, dedications to loved ones, and crime-fighting serial heroes have all found a home on the radio airwaves. They will all find a home on this month’s show, as well.
And, as always, you can expect some bangin tunes from the Salon Saloon House band and a ragtag sing-a-long with deejay Sturdevant himself. Popular one-hit-wonder puns abound!
Salon Saloon: The Radio Show
Tuesday, February 28th 2012
7PM-9PM (doors at 6PM)
Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater
$6-12 sliding scale, buy at the door or pre-order here.
Last month the New York Times published an opinion piece titled “The Rise of the New Group Think.” In it, author Susan Cain argues that the professional world’s recent push towards group work-centered environments is actually squandering innovation and efficiency. The jist being: if you’re an introvert, you prefer to work alone the majority of the time. Forced socialization in the form of on-the-spot group brainstorming and offices that allow no individual, private space causes extreme anxiety in many employees and distracts them from focusing on the work itself—effectively rendering them functioning far below capacity.
When I shared this article on my personal Facebook profile and on the Works Progress group page it clearly struck a chord with many, and, not surprisingly, struck a nerve with quite a few others. Some people took issue with the obvious bias of the article, Susan Cain being the author of the recently released book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking (to which I would say simply: it’s in the opinion section), some people took issue with Cain’s romanticizing of “the lone genius” figure, and some people simply rejected the notion that collaboration rarely leads to creativity.
Overall though, most people on either side of the argument still acknowledged that the overriding lesson Cain didn’t quite hit is balance. Some group time is good, some individual time is good. The proportion of each necessary for producing the most innovative and efficient work is entirely dependent on the individual.
Despite Cain’s heavy use of evidence to support her point about the lone genius, to me, the more important message to be gleaned from the article was less “introverts do it better!” and more “everyone does it differently, but the recent trend more often leaves introverts with the short end of the stick.” Many people are experiencing or have experienced work cultures that stigmatize an individual’s need for occasional privacy by forcing employees into a space that can’t physically accommodate that need. No, having to work at a table instead of a cubicle is not the end of the world, but when a person is looked down on, called anti-social, or accused of not being a team player simply because they need to sneak off and work in the broom closet for a couple of hours, something is clearly off. A physical work space can be just as dynamic as the individuals that inhabit it, but to intentionally create one that implicates some of those individuals in a negative light is not only unnecessary, it’s also not conducive to a harmonious, productive organization.
So what can we do about this? Well, if you like your statistics Wikipedia-style like I do, you’ll accept that nearly 70% of the population is actually considered ambivert—possessing qualities of both extroversion and introversion, with no extreme leaning to either side. Running contrary to this cold, hard, Wikipediafied truth unfortunately, is the popular fad in the professional world of books, blogs, and articles dedicated to some variation of the topic “surviving as an introvert in an extroverted world,” or “networking for introverts.” While I’m all for the general message behind this writing—challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone and learning how to do it in the most painless way possible—I take issue with the constant need to boil people down into one label or the other.
Yes, there are absolutely some people (let’s go with another Wikipedia fact and say 16%) that are really, seriously introverted, and getting along in a culture that more and more frequently celebrates who you know rather than what you know is an incredible challenge. But for the majority of us who land somewhere in the middle, the repeated bandying about of the terms “introvert” and extrovert” often only perpetuates the problem. If I identify myself as an introvert and go about life with this label at the top of my mind, frequently trying to figure out how I can combat my prescribed short-comings, I’m most likely setting myself up for a self-fulfilling prophecy. True, there is certainly a real issue with stigmatization of others habits in the workplace, but how often do we actively contribute to this problem by stigmatizing ourselves?
What if instead of approaching life with the cut and dry attitude of “how can I, as an introvert, figure out how to survive surrounded by a bunch of extroverts,” we went in with the mindset of simply being a unique person, with unique needs, trying to work as best we can with a bunch of other unique people with their own set of unique needs?
Yes, work inevitably demands some sacrifices and compromises no matter what, and not everyone will always be happy. But I, as an introvert/extrovert/ambivert/lover of Certs, think we’d probably all be a lot better off if we’d just do away with the persistent self-labeling for a while, hearken back to lessons from our kindergarten days of yore, and focus on exercising empathy and respect for each others’ individuality instead.
-Regan