Thanks Casey!
Media Contact:
Mesa Prototyping Project Acknowledgements:
Mesa Prototyping Project kicks off Feb. 15
Arts-based tools being utilized in community development and placemaking efforts in and around downtown Mesa.
2nd Generation Prototypes being installed Thursday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Feb. 15.
_______________________________________________________________________
Blogger Note: The final Evaluation Report for the initial project, the 2017 Main Street Prototyping Festival is 52 pages long. You can find details in the final evaluation report.
_______________________________________________________________________
Casey Blake
480-644-6620
Mesa kicks off second phase of Mesa Prototyping Project Feb. 15
Feb. 13, 2019 (Mesa, AZ) – Mesa Arts Center and the City of Mesa have launched the second phase of the Mesa Prototyping Project, following the Main Street Prototyping Festival held in 2017.
The project asks, How does a community design itself?
This question will again be explored through a two-year series of events that utilizes arts-based tools for community development and includes three phases;
- community residencies in the neighborhoods southeast of downtown Mesa;
- installation of three, 2nd generation prototypes for an 8-week stay (Feb. 15-April 15) in downtown Mesa
- making of new prototypes in 2020, created through an RFP process and guided by residents’ input.
2ND GENERATION PROTOTYPES
> 2nd Generation Prototypes will be installed in downtown Mesa Feb. 15-April 15, 2019, and include Car Tunes Playground, Mega M.E.S.S.A and Inter_PLAY. In addition to the prototype installation, visitors are encouraged to explore downtown Mesa by visiting several “Play Stops” including Mesa Arts Center’s permanent public art installation Musical Shadows and three street pianos playable by any passerby, among other points of interest.
> Mega M.E.S.S.A.
Located near the NW corner of Main and Macdonald Streets in downtown Mesa.
Prototypers: Jaime Glasser in partnership with Heatsync Labs
Description: Create spiral designs in a bed of sand on this one-of-a-kind rotating design table.
> Inter_PLAY
Located on the north side of Main Street between Macdonald and Center Streets in downtown Mesa.
Prototypers: Arizona State University INT 465 STUDIO. ASU Faculty includes Milagros Zingoni, Ben Ayers and Maria Delasotta.
Description: Experiment with different pods that encourage play in a variety of ways, including sound, perspective, discovery and reflection.
> Car Tunes Playground
Located on the South Lawn of Mesa Arts Center’s campus.
Prototypers: Dobson Montessori School, Trevor Woodford
Description: Stop and play at this innovative drum circle made of repurposed car parts.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCIES
Two artist teams were selected via RFP to engage the community in art-making during a series of workshops currently under way at two partner sites:
- one a combined residency at Mesa Urban Garden and Mesa Artspace Loft
- the other at Catholic Charities CARE Campus.
Artists Loren Drexler and Christine Cassano have been selected to work with the neighborhoods surrounding Mesa Urban Garden and Artspace Mesa, leading artmaking workshops and neighborhood walks to identify areas in need of renewal.
Artists Bobby Zokaites, Kara Roschi and Melissa Sclafani have been selected to work with the neighborhoods surrounding Catholic Charities Care Campus, also to lead artmaking workshops and lead community members through walks to share ideas for neighborhood solutions.
The residencies will culminate in a community event held at Artspace Lofts on Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in celebration of the ideas and artwork generated by participants. During this celebration, an RFP will be issued that invites proposals for prototype ideas for the sites identified as needing intervention.
2020 PROTOTYPES
Responses to the RFP issued in April 2019 asking for proposals for the sites identified by the community will be due in late June 2019.
Selected projects will be notified by August 2019. Designers will be invited to a series of community events where they will present their projects, receive feedback, and share opportunities for public participation in the development of their prototype. Prototypes will be installed for public interaction for two days in March 2020.
Selected projects will be notified by August 2019. Designers will be invited to a series of community events where they will present their projects, receive feedback, and share opportunities for public participation in the development of their prototype. Prototypes will be installed for public interaction for two days in March 2020.
To learn more about the initial project, the 2017 Main Street Prototyping Festival, in the final evaluation report. Full schedule of events available at www.mesaartscenter.com/
[END]
About Mesa Arts Center
The Mesa Arts Center mission is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant. Owned and operated by the City of Mesa, Arizona’s largest arts center is recognized as an international award-winning venue. The unique and architecturally stunning facility is home to four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 art studios and an artist cooperative gallery.
For more information, visit mesaartscenter.com.
Mesa Prototyping Project Acknowledgements:
Sponsored by: CORE Construction, Sunbelt Holdings, LISC
Mesa Prototyping Project Partners: Mesa Urban Garden (MUG), Artspace, Catholic Charities Care Campus
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts
Street Pianos Supported by: Downtown Mesa Association, Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts, Two Men and a Truck
Casey Blake
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Mesa Arts Center
Office 480.644.6620│Cell 480.390.1258
