If people can’t come to the art, You Are Here will take art to the people.
The downtown Jeannette gallery is being transformed temporarily into a maker space for collaborative, original works of art to be placed at locations around the community.
“It seemed like everyone we talked to was saying, ‘I can’t wait for things to be back to normal.’ But there’s going to be a new normal,” said gallery co-founder Mary Briggs.
With current restrictions on gathering sizes, she said, “It’s not realistic to think we could have a show in this small space. So we said, let’s rethink ideas of how we’re presenting art. Let’s take art out to the people.”
Beginning Friday, the space at 406 Clay Ave. will open its doors for community members to take part in the MAD*LAB experiment.
“’Mad Labbers’ will cooperate and collaborate by working on a design, painting or drawing on a bench or mural that will be then added to by other artists,” according to a release. “The premise is that an individual will continue the creative process by adding on to the work from a previous artist. Artists may come for as little as two hours, but longer and more often if they are so inclined.”
Work hours will be noon-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-3 p.m. Sundays through the end of October.
Jennifer Palmer, leader of the gallery’s Women in Art group, will facilitate. No artistic experience is needed to participate.
Projects will include painting of park benches upcycled from old bed head- and footboards, along with canvas murals and nylon flags. Some of the materials to be used have been donated, others are coming from the gallery’s Oh Scrap! art materials thrift store.
Jeannette Public Library and Jeannette Historical Society already have requested benches to be placed outside their facilities, said YAH co-founder Jen Costello.
“We’re hoping that if anyone wants a bench, they could give us a little money that we could funnel back to some of our artists,” Briggs said.
A canvas already mounted on one gallery wall is the medium for what Briggs calls a “guerrilla art mural project.”
“I can’t really say where we’re going to put it,” she said. “They say it’s easier to for ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.”
Exciting evolution
MAD*LAB participants will be scheduled to insure appropriate social distancing, with no more than four persons in the space at a time. Masks will be required.
“We’re still limited in socializing and limited in things to do, so we’re establishing something that is limited but still creative,” Costello said. “We’re excited to see the evolution of the works as people work successively.”
“Rather than aiming at the finished product, we’re aiming at the process,” Briggs said.
Finished works will be announced when they are placed on view in public places.
All MAD*LAB participants will get a T-shirt (“and cookies,” Briggs added).
Gallery organizers are planning the annual “Off the Wall” cash-and-carry show and sale from Nov. 14-Dec. 18, but more projects like MAD*LAB might be the new normal, depending on how pandemic restrictions unfold.
“Going forward, we’re not expecting that the entirety of our art will be exhibitions,” Briggs said.
For more information or to sign up for a work slot, email yah406clay@gmail.com.
