There’s a hefty compendium attached to the “do it” exhibit that has a list of 250 directions for art projects — as designed by artists around the world.
And, when it opens on Wednesday at the Art Gallery at Evergreen, visual arts manager Katherine Dennis has high hopes to tackle 41 of them by Sept. 2.
do it is the widely produced interactive art show that was started in 1993 in Paris by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, in discussion with fellow artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier, about how to keep an art display going forever.
Now overseen by the Independent Curators International, in New York City, it calls for participation from communities to create innovative art and activities reflective of their surroundings and styles, based on the set list of instructions.
This month, Evergreen officials got a head start on the directions, hosting events for Canada Day and performances with the summer improv campers.
And more are planned next month during the city’s Kaleidoscope Arts Festival.
Dennis is also bringing in other partners to check off the 41 do it instructions including the Glen Pine 50Plus Seniors in Coquitlam, a freestyle hip hop class at Pinetree community centre and the Vancouver Soundwalk Collective.
For Soundwalk’s presentation on July 28, members Jamie Dolinko, Jorma Kujala and Igor Santizo will follow artist Max Neuhaus’ Listen instruction to listen to sounds during a guided walking tour; afterwards, they’ll share their experiences.
The aim is to see how communities interpret the art instructions and to never let it wind down. “It’s supposed to be the never-ending show,” Dennis said.
Besides Coquitlam, other venues following the instructions this year are: Pike School of Art (McComb, Mississippi); Mobile Museum of Art (Mobile, Alabama); Clay Center for Arts and Sciences of West Viginia (Charleston, WV); Sanafest (Holen, Norway); Complejo Cultural Parque de Espana (Rosario, Argentina); Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kalamazoo, MI); and the Anna Leonowens Gallery at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (Halifax).
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
