Community Collaborations
The Street Arcade, Summer 2015
The Street Arcade project launched in June. Plug-In Studio artists Steve Ciampaglia and Kerry Richardson are collaborating with 13 teen artists @ the Hyde Park Arts Center. Each teen is choosing an issue as the theme for an original retro-style videogame. Teens are designing the gameplay, creating the artwork and programming their games.
The project culminates in a public Street Arcade on September 2 from 7-9:30 pm. We're installing an outdoor videogame arcade with custom-made, old-school console controllers and large screen video projection. Teens will be on hand to introduce their games and discuss the issues they address. At the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave in Chicago. This project is generously supported by A Blade of Grass Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art.
REVELATIONS: Augmented Reality Graffiti, Fall 2015
The Plug-In Studio will be collaborating with The Graffiti Institute on an Augmented Reality Graffiti project this fall. Lead Artists Miguel Aguilar and Kerry Richardson will collaborate on this digital graffiti project that appropriates the marketing technique of "augmented reality" (AR) as a platform for teen artists to create and install digital and traditional street art. More details to follow, including how to sign up. Funding for this project generously provided by the Chicago Art Department.
ArtMakerSpace
Electronics + Cardboard!
The Plug-In Studio hosted a series of free pop-up, drop-in, art + tech maker events at community partner sites around Chicago. Artists Steve Ciampaglia, Lindsey French, Stephen Germana, and Kerry Richardson invited young people and their families to make interactive kinetic artworks with electronics and recycled materials.
We brought littleBits, Squishy Circuits, and LOTS of cardboard to four community partner organizations: Yollocalli Arts Reach, Evanston Art Center, Hyde Park Art Center, and ElevArte Community Studio. Kids and families dropped in, learned about electronics and circuit-building, and made sculptures that move, make sound and light up.
See photos + videos from all four events here.
Funding for the ArtMakerSpace series is generously provided by The Propeller Fund.