Intersection Direction – an interesting art project

Joshua Coffy, an artist in the San Francisco Bay Area, is leading a really cool collaborative art project for Burning Man. The idea is to have 512 artists each create a 6″ x 6″ tile. The tiles will be assembled into 4 murals, displayed at Burning Man, and then each tile will be given away to a Burning Man participant.

Here’s the info from the website:

This year’s Burning Man theme “˜Caravansary’ has a lot to do with people coming together in one location or fixed point and sharing their story.  This has inspired me to create “˜Intersection Direction’.

 4 large murals created by 512 people from all over the world.

Artists and non-artists alike, are encouraged to participate in this project.  Here is how it’s going to work:

1. Sign up as a participant by emailing me here.  or (josh@undersong.com)
2. You will receive an email with detailed instructions and a small picture that you are to reinterpret as you see fit.  (Instruction emails will be sent out only once a week and on Mondays!)
3. You will create this painting on a 6×6 inch wood panel.
4. On the back side of your piece you will list some information and your life motto.
5. You will then send the panel to me.
6. I will assemble the 512 panels into 4 huge murals at Burning Man 2014.
7. On Friday, August 29th 2014, I will disassemble the murals and gift each panel away to the citizens of Black Rock City.

At first this project brings people together at an intersection”¦.and then it sends them off into the world with some direction.

For the most part what you create is your art.  You can be directly representational of the piece you are assigned or you can take more liberties with it and make something unique.  Your painting will share exhibition space with artists and non artists alike, and bring joy to all who see it.  The panels will be “˜mosaiced’ together to create a larger picture representing our collaboration”¦our artistic adventure.  Each of the 4 larger murals are inspired by the 4 directions and the 4 seasons.  It is also my hope that we can activate many people that cannot make it to the playa this year for whatever reason.  This project gives everyone a chance to be a part of something bigger.

Each piece will be documented and posted on a website”¦possibly The Gift Prolific.  Each piece and artist may also be featured in a book or video about this project.

I look forward to collaborating with 512 artists to make this actually happen.  I like the idea that we can all be in one place together even if we are far apart.  Please sign up to participate in this project.  It is going to really excite people”¦and I want you to be a part of it.

-Josh

It sounds like a really interesting project, so I’ve signed up! I’ve checked with Josh – fiber arts and mixed-media projects are welcome! In fact, anything is welcome provided it fits onto a 6″ x 6″ wood square. I’m planning to do mine as embroidery/surface design, possibly on handwoven fabric – it will give me a chance to try out some new techniques. There is a two-week time limit on returning your square – but I talked Josh into giving me a little more time since I am heavily booked the next few weeks.

Here’s the first mural, the one I’m contributing to:

And here’s my square (yes, I know it’s tiny – but that just leaves room for interpretation!)

Finally, here’s the Facebook page where you can see the progress of the project, and photos of the finished squares.

Please pass this along to any friends you know who might be interested – it’s a really neat project and I look forward to seeing it develop. I’ll post progress photos of my square as I develop it.

And here are today’s kittens! Time for a nap. 🙂