Flower Garden Public Installation Day | An Art in the Loop Event

Help the Flower Garden come to life by participating in the installation of colorful, acrylic flowers. Use your creativity and select a flower to press onto the streetcar structure. See how each layer of transparent color interacts with each other to create new color combinations. Meet the artist and celebrate the creative process by taking part in a community-created public art installation.

While helping the garden to grow guests will be able to enjoy the musical styling of local contemporary jazz musician Alber from 6 – 7 pm.

This event is free and open to the public so bring your family and friends to join in on the fun! Guests need only bring themselves to participate in this fun community art installation.

FLOWER GARDEN PROJECT INFORMATION

The Flower Garden celebrates the process of art-making and public collaboration through a community flower garden made out of colorful and reflective acrylic flowers. The Flower Garden comes to life when participants assemble flower shapes and press them onto the streetcar structure throughout the duration of the installation. The shapes of the flowers are derived from digital scans of kids’ drawings created at a children’s art studio in Kansas City. The Flower Garden celebrates the act of making as a community to invite everyone into the creative process. Often someone is told they weren’t “good” enough to draw or paint so they stopped creating, dreaming, and imagining. As an artist, I often take for granted that creativity isn’t present in everyone’s life. Public art has the opportunity to make art accessible to all. Celebrating the act of making celebrates the value of creative, individual, innovative thinkers which are necessary to every community. The Flower Garden opens up someone that may be stuck, allows them to reflect, engage with others, and bring the best version of themselves to their community.

MADELINE MARAK | Marak is from Shreveport, Louisiana. She received her Masters of Fine Art from the Sam Fox School of Art and Design at Washington University in St. Louis and her Bachelors of Fine Art from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has exhibited at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis, Meadows Museum of Art in Shreveport, Louisiana, Des Lee Gallery in St. Louis, UNO Gallery in New Orleans, Carol Gallery in New Orleans, and more. She has been an artist in residence at Mildred Lane in Beach Lake, PA, Forest Park Forever Artist Residence in St. Louis, MO, Casa Na Ilha Art Residence in Ilhabela, Brazil, Burren College of Art Residency + Programme in Co. Claire, Ireland, and Shreveport Regional Arts Council Summer Artist Residency. Aside from her art practice, Marak has been dedicated to serving her community by teaching for the Noel Methodist Community Art Program, Bossier Parish Community College, serving as Executive Director of the Marshall Regional Arts Council, and Executive Director of the North Louisiana Arts Council. She has recently moved to Kansas City to join the vibrant arts community and continue as a practicing artist.

ALBER | Alberto Racanati is a contemporary jazz musician originally from Italy and now working and living in Kansas City. Performing under the moniker “Alber,” Alberto’s music is deeply influenced by his connection to the city and his survey of its various musical cultures. A studious evaluation of these cultures creates a cohesive composition that tells the story of Kansas City’s musical history. A synth-heavy electronic beat describes the bright lights of downtown and playful trumpet melodies gestures to the rich jazz history. Music that engages many generations and many cultures can culminate in a musical cocktail that pushes the boundary of what music can be. Hopefully, eventually, this boundary pushing will provide a foundation for future musicians.