The Road To Refresh...

THANKS to the first 50!

In June, when we added the spinning globe, international-hit/stat-counter, to the bottom right of our site (the flattened version is above), we had no idea what to expect. We just thought it would be a fun way to keep up with how many states and countries were finding our website and research online. But now, since the stat-counter server is about to go down for "a few hours of maintenance" tomorrow, we thought we'd post this ...just in case our stat info disappeared somehow.

To say the least, we're definitely surprised with how it panned out ...as 50 countries found our site(s) before all 50 states (at 32 states when posted).

So with that, we'd just like to say "thank you!" to The United States, Germany, Canada, The United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, India, Taiwan, Spain, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, The Russian Federation, Pakistan, Singapore, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, Korea, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, Lithuania, Greece, Sudan, Israel, Madagascar, The United Arab Emirates, Iran, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan and New Zealand.

Together, you've all made this quite the fun, international time for us!

Till next time,
parProjects

Available for purchase.

The first suite of prints we'll be using to fundraise has been launched! More information about ordering our limited edition silkscreen prints is available over at http://bit.ly/parKickoff so please check them out.

Our edition is not only affordable, but 100% of the profits generated go to the Northside Art & Education Center Building Fund!

Please click the above image to give the prints a closer look. Worth noting: you may need to click again to magnify the prints after linking.

Sunday, May 29th: Let the FUNdraising begin...

The parProjects Poster Drive and Phase 1 Fundraiser kicks off May 29th @ The Comet (4579 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, OH). This is an all day event, so come on our before, after or during your holiday celebration!

We'll have "featured" drink specials, limited edition hand-pulled silk-screen prints to order** and a good lineup of LIVE music to groove and dance to! Donations may be suggested, but only good times are required.

Brunch served: 11AM - 2PM
Dinner served: 4PM - 1AM

Scheduled to perform:
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Elise Hoffman ~> 1:30p - 2:30p
http://elisehofmann.bandcamp.com/

Kelly Fine ~> 3:00p -4:00p
http://www.myspace.com/kellyfinemusic

DJ &/or Act (TBA) ~> 4:30p - 7:00p

The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars ~> 7:30p - 10:00p
http://www.myspace.com/cometbluegrass

DJ Matt Joy ~> 10:30p - 2:00a

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See you soon!
parProjects

**Prints will also be available to order on-line after kickoff the event.

VOTE TWICE TODAY
...and every single day in May!

We're officially in the race!

Please vote TWICE today (and every other day during May) by:

Texting: 106104 (the code) to 73774 (the phone number)
Online: By clicking the image above or visiting: http://pep.si/parVote

We thank you in advance for your help this May. $50,000 would do great things for our organiztion. ...plus, odds are great ..as the top 10 win!

parProjects team UNITE!

We've been selected. Please spread the word!!

So now: Please help us build our mailing list (at the top of the page in the yellow bar).

Our initial plan is to send out daily reminders to vote starting May 1st. So now we need all the help we can get!! It's going to take a few thousand daily votes to win (top 10 in our category).

Only YOU and your friends can help make this happen!!

Our Promo Video is out!

This is the video we included with our Refresh application back in May 2011...

To say the least, we were happy to see the "Well Done!" message when our application finally made it in...

And while we weren't the winners of a $50,000 grant, we gained a tremendous amount of support because of the competition and hope you all continue to support Pepsi's efforts ...over at http://RefreshEverything.com.

Thanks again for all of the support!
parProjects

"Narrative Figuration" at the Weston

Daniel Brown's curating project at the Weston Art Gallery features five Cincinnati painters who explore narrative themes through figurative subjects. The show includes five friends and colleagues who all attended the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

Robert Anderson, Daniel O'Connor, Tim Parsley,

Emil Robinson and Tina Tommaro represent a look into what Brown suggests is "the makings of a new Cincinnati school."

After observing the 40 plus paintings in the exhibition, one thing that becomes clear is that these artists are distinctive. The paint handling and compositions are clearly different takes on the observed world.

Daniel O'Connor stands out as the most relevant painters of the group. The collection of works present a theatre of mundane life as a cluttered presentation. O'Connor's compositions contrast the group of painters, by the complexity of elements in the arrangements. In the world of art trends, painters are often forced to simplify. Thankfully O'Conner goes against the grain of minimalism and has the guts to say that life is filled with stuff and creates paintings that celebrate a less idealized existence. The imagery is stuffed full with books, shelves, tables, blankets, and couches. Figures fill the compositions in unusual ways, often presented in a juxtaposition between two figures or portions of the figure. The open compositions look into an intimate environment, appearing to be a more appropriate reflection of the times.

Daniel O'Connor's group of paintings are all about the paint. It is refreshing to see the material dance on the surface and it is easy to see that Daniel is interested in what the material's do. In these paintings there is no need for an even blend, nor to shy away from the palette knife. The paint is thick and juicy, layered to perfection. Approaching O'Connor's painting is recommended.

Narrative Figuration runs from March 25 - June 5, 2001 at

The Weston Art Gallery.

Image Top: Daniel O'Connor, Four Feet of Spring, Oil on Linen, 52.5"x51", 2009

Image Bottom: Daniel O'Connor, Dear God, Thank You for Friends, Oil on Linen, 43"x53.5", 2009

Thanks

parProjects

Steve Zieverink

Artist, Steve Zieverink's interactive installations are among the strongest I've seen in recent memory. A few highlights include his installation entitled, "Live Station" at The Weston Art Gallery held last year in 2010 and his Installation entitled "12 + 12 " at the CAC's UnMuseum in 2003-04.

Steve currently resides in Chicago, where he teaches, curates and heads up the art collective UNIT 2, We are excited that Steve has agreed to exhibit in one of our mobile installation spaces. This summer he will be given a 20 ft shipping container space to exhibit his piece entitled "Good Luck With Your Horn."

Mark your calendars! Opening June 25: "Movement!" at the CCAC and Beyond...

Thanks,

parProjects

Our 8 seconds of bliss. Eight is great right?!

This is simply a pan of our proposed facility. Once complete, it will house three artist-in-residence studios, two exhibition spaces along with two education spaces.
Any opinions out there??

Thanks again,
parProjects

Its Pepsi Refresh Time Again!

If you hadn't noticed by the title of this blog, we'd really enjoy winning a Pepsi Refresh Grant to launch Phase 1 of our arts center. But, we need your help!

Above (in the yellow area), you can sign-up for our mailing list to keep up with our status ...and if we make it through the peliminaries, we'd like to send you voting reminders during the voting period (an entire month of "THE MOST VOTES WINS" system). Plus, the grant we'll be applying for is worth $50,000 ...enough to construct our entire first phase.

Details about Pepsi Refresh Grants ...including how to obtain a User Name for voting purposes can be found at:

http://www.RefreshEverything.com

...so PLEASE sign up and help make this project happen. We'll need a city worth of daily votes to win!

Thanks again,
parProjects

Golan Levin

On this cold "spring day" thinking about kinetics will keep you warm.

One place that kinetics and art collide and flourishes is at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. At the forefront of this research and exploration is Golan Levin. In his TED talk, Levin makes art that looks back at you...

Golan Levin is an artist educator living in Pittsburgh, PA. He currently teaches at the Carnegie Mellon University, where he directs the Studio for Creative Inquiry, an interdisciplinary arts-research center. Levin's web site, FLONG showcases his work along with his collaborators.

Enjoy,

parProjects

Cleveland's... Sculpture Center

When our plans were solidified to visit Cleveland, several friends and artists persistently suggested "The Sculpture Center is a must see while your in Cleveland." On the tail end of our successful journey, we drove down Euclid Ave. and turned onto East 123rd Street -- the easternmost edge of University Circle -- where just to the right visitors are greeted with several outdoor sculptures as they pull into the parking lot. What we found in the U configuration of buildings is a thriving place with an outdoor sculpture garden, where art is archived, sculptors of Ohio showcase their talents, and the wonderful collection of one of the most prominent sculptors in the region, David Davis has its home.

The sculpture center was founded by David Davis in 1989 and since it's creation has given hundreds of emerging Ohio sculptors opportunities to showcase their talents. According to the Center's web-site, one can expect to find four to six early career Ohio sculptors showcased in solo shows throughout the winter and into early spring. Our visit fell in the second installment of The Sculpture Center's W2S series (Window to Sculpture Emerging Artist) and on the compound we visited the solo shows of Qian Li and Daniel McDonald.

William Busta when in Cleveland

As promised in our last week in review, we feel the need to mention some of the great experiences we had when we were in Cleveland last weekend. And for the record, I must say "Wow, what a welcoming place!"

Surely another interaction or two will be mentioned along the way, but for now it's fitting that we start by saying "When in Cleveland, visit the William Busta Gallery." It was our first stop into town ...so we recommend it be one of yours too.

For us, it was kind of like the Carl Solway Gallery (Cincinnati) of their city. And to clarify, I mention that as to say, they both are large, well lit, fairly amazing spaces with friendly staff and equally genuine owners ...which parProjects has thankfully shared interactions with (Thanks again for the solid in-town food recommendations Bill). Plus, if this past grouping of artwork is indeed the norm, they both host outstanding shows!

While I could go on and on about the outstanding works of Lorri Ott (something quiet), Mark Cottle (The Geometry of Clouds) and Darice Polo (Through A Galss, Darkly) , I'll focus my energies on Andrea Joki and her show "Crossing" ...which closes April 23rd if you happen to be in the Cleveland area.

A prospering talent...

As you all may (or may not) know by now, we like to use Tuesdays to focus on our ongoing curating efforts. This Tuesday is no different. Featured below is a video from another artist who has accepted our invitation for involvement in the upcoming kinetics exhibition "Movement!"

His name is Alex(ander) Lidsay and he's currently finishing up his MFA studies at Cranbrook Academy of Art. So, if you find yourself with a little free time, click some of the links below and see what this artist will be bringing to the table.

Relevent links include:
http://www.adlindsay.com
http://vimeo.com/adlindsay
http://www.cranbrookart.edu

Thanks again,
parProjects

Another Rendering (50%)...

Our thanks goes out (again) to Brian Sykes, our architectural consultant. Below is a new rendering he's sent of the total Shipping-Container-Arts-Center build. And according to him, it's only about 50% complete at this point. So to say the least, our excitement remains high and we look forward to sharing further developments with you all.

Cheers,
parProjects

Bohen Foundation

Lot-Ek is at it once again. In their design for The Bohen Foundation they have made an astonishing renovation to an existing building. Imagine if your gallery could transform itself for every exhibition... the possibilities are endless.

The Bohen foundation is a private organization that supports contemporary art and culture. The space was designed for maximum flexibility to help it house a variety of exhibitions, of all different media types. Facing the windows, in the design, are container structures that slide on tracks. And beyond that, ten foot tall walls roll along the same tracks, giving curators the ability to create virtually any space configuration they might need for an exhibit.

The Bohen Foundation was commissioned by LOT-EK and completed in 2002, in New York City's meat packing district. This building is 15,000 sqf and was budgeted for 1,500.000.

415 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10014.

Thanks,

parProjects

3/21 - 3/26 In Review

A bit of travel and a bit of discussion would sum up the week for us. Luckily, within our journeys, we gathered a large amount of post-worthy source material for you all. So, please enjoy some of it in the week to come.

Aside from a Northside Community Counsel meeting, Monday and Tuesday were used primarily for in house business. Calls were made, emails were sent out, and miscellaneous items like the writing the script for our video-promo were taken care of.

On Wednesday, things started getting more interesting when we met with Celene and Jarrett Hawkins about our upcoming kinetics exhibition "Movement!" The two seem to be extremely interested, so we're now anxiously awaiting their proposal.

Thursday brought parProjects back down to Northside, to attend the "Save The Pool" fundraiser ...which featured a local "Surf Band," Elementz Hip Hop Youth Arts Center, as well as talented music duo Agape Alive. Over $1,500 was raised to help keep the Northside Community Pool open, so we were delighted to be part of such tremendous energy. (A YouTube video of Agape Alive is below.)

Then Friday came along and it was off to Cleveland, OH to meet some wonderful people, take in some regional talent, enjoy some cutting edge architecture and visit one of the state's (if not the nations) best museums! But, more on the trip will populate the blog in the upcoming days, so I'll stop there.

In essence though, we absorbed a tremendous amount of positive energy this week, and look forward to some of the developments we were able to put into motion. We hope you shared some of the great luck (and sometimes staggering timing) with us this week, in regard to whatever passion drives you.

Relevant links include:
http://hawkinsandhawkins.biz/
http://elementz.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Agape-Alive/107092582660681

Cheers to the future,
parProjects

A visit to Cleveland

...some Cell Phone Images from our art/architecture-filled trip.

Some reports from this trip will be posted later this week.

Relevant links include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gehry
http://www.clevelandart.org/
http://www.clevelandartists.org/

Cheers,
parProjects

A good show at Fabricate

Most Second-Saturday's, I visit Fabricate (Northside) to see their latest art-wall offerings, grab a Pabst Blue Ribbon or two, and chat it up. Plus, they always have THE BEST crafty odds & ends (from bags & bracelets, to handmade soaps). But, rarely do I feel the need to take pictures or jot down notes about their shows. "An Evening With Richard" -- their current art-wall-exhibition -- is/was a delightful surprise and a reason that norm has changed!

Heading into the show, featuring works by James Judd, I had no idea what to expect. So, when confronted with a rather aggressive installation, I couldn't help to think to myself "this really works ...especially in this setting."

In his own words, James Judd is peddling "Cheap Sh*t For Cheap F*cks," but the show really is much more than that. From what I've gathered, the artist creates a lot of small crafty pieces that transform into magnets, book ends, and really a host of "crafty" applications. Still his work shouldn't be dismissed. If nothing else it has flavor. He mixes "cutish" bulbous figures, with elements of grime and descent. Plus, he's not afraid to curse up a storm ...which, as risk-taking artist, I can definitely appreciate...

Repurposing Education

The discussion of education has made us ask the question

"How do you introduce sustainability to children?"

We ask ourselves this as we begin to develop one of our education programs for the CCAC. This program will introduce sustainability to 6-8 year olds over the summer. The goal of the program will be to continue our mission of combining art practices (in this case kinetics) with sustainable design (recycled materials).

The program will first introduce wind powered technologies... and will follow up with a hands on workshop where children will create moving pinwheels made entirely out of recycled/repurposed materials.

This idea of using recycled materials in creative ways, both as art and as an education tool, is not a new idea. One particular project, that has some similarities, will be introduced to the city of Cincinnati on April 8th on Fountain Square. The group Cincinnati Energy Alliance presents EcoSculpt, in celebration of earth day. Groups and individuals are asked to create sculptures that are made entirely out of recycled and/or recyclable materials. The project will continue thru April 28th.

Last years 2nd place was awarded to
Christopher Daniel and Sandra Gross with
"Vitro House," a card house made of reclaimed glass windows.

Thanks,

parProjects

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