Faith Purvey

Underground River Project 12/11

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:55:08 +0000

Workshop w/ LA Urban Rangers: MOCA Engagement Party

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:54:14 +0000

In August, I was invited to be an LA Urban Ranger at their Critical Campout, 9/1 at MOCA’s Engagement Party. I built a participatory, temporary structure and worked with Sara Daleiden to design an “Alternative Shelter” workshop. The structure’s imagery derived from existing MOCA architecture, notably a portion above the main entrance with a curved roof and diagonal windows. The fort was made from PVC and various joints, canvas, and had 200 loose panels of two-toned taffeta, the color of which resembled the tinted windows of the museum. Participants were invited to imagine and craft an image of a personal fort they would use in a ‘changing urban climate.’ These panels were then attached to the armature, so the structure’s “window-walls” grew more full as the night progressed. See photos of the piece here and more on the LA Urban Rangers here.

PAINTINGS

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:25:56 +0000

REFOUNDATION

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:08:27 +0000

As part of the “Art On and Off Capitol” Initiative, the Refoundation project was designed to activate underutilized public space in the Century City (formerly known as Franklin Heights) area of Milwaukee, to include a small park at 29th and Melvina, as well as a “pop-up” gallery at 24th and Locust. I spent 6 weeks workshopping with the general public, and forming relationships with neighborhood board leaders, residents, MPS, and city officials. The project resulted in a temporary sculpture park and culminating event on July 23, 2011.
The main component of the project was a “city” of 10 forts (PVC pipe and fittings, canvas and foam walls) painted collectively by 30-40 neighborhood kids, representing civic buildings and stores. Their visioning for these “buildings” was developed through various exercises, and ultimately expressed their interests and dreams. Designing and installing the “city” was our way of reoccupying the neglected little park in a high crime area. About 100 residents and community leaders attended the final event : the Refoundation art exhibit with a hot dog barbeque and showcase of local talent, such as gospel singing and a local drum team. A month later, adults involved with the project teamed together to arrange a reception, gathering and transporting a group of the kids to City Hall, where 4 of their forts were exhibited in the main lobby, and they were also given a long tour of the historic building by Alderman Wade. The City has requested the project to occur again in summer 2012.

The project took place through IN:SITE in collaboration with David Weber, City of Milwaukee, the 30th Industrial Corridor, Melvina Triangle Neighborhood Council, Business Improvement District, MPD District 5, and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.)

Utopia-Milwaukee

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:39:40 +0000

At summer’s end, I worked with Milwaukee Public Theater and youth from 3 organizations to design and create a new Milwaukee – a “Utopia” portable city on a float. This project was intended as a space for youth to respond to the mob violence that has occurred in the city twice this summer. They envisioned what a new and improved city would look like through brainstorming, sketching, and sculpting with recycled materials. One high school senior, shown above, made a building that is a center for art, music, acting, and dancing, with the name STAMPP, an organization she has already started in her community. We had a few conversations, and the result was that she passed out a few hundred flyers about her fledgling organization via the Utopia float.

The MPT All People’s Parade was in conjunction with Laborfest parade, on Labor Day, sept 5th.

FORT HAUSER

admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:42:50 +0000

Fort Hauser is a process-based sculptural occupation of a small, urban municipal space at Hauser and Washington Blvds, Midcity, LA 90016. Art is generated on site by passerby within a series of “forts” in an ongoing conversation with community members and artists. The fort references notions of occupation, habitat, and youthful play. Past interventions have included live music and performance. Art and building materials are made available on-site so that passerby may add their own creations to the projects, embodying collective representation within the space.

A series of temporary installations and events have taken place on the traffic island between October 2009 and the present: the inaugural Fort Hauser Gallery; a sculpture workshop; a “Town Square” Christmas tree; the recurring Bermuda Triangle tent portal; Fort Hauser Monument; and Pancakes.

Fort Hauser continues to inspire many people in the neighborhood. In addition to local residents, the project is in conversation with the Midcity Neighborhood Council, Saturn School, and other local art centers, with new projects to be continued.

Click here to view the embedded video.

REFOUNDATION

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:22:26 +0000

My work is situated in the 29th & Melvina St. Park as well as the empty lot at 24th and Locust Street, Milwaukee, WI. I will be spending four days a week between these sites from 6/25 – 7/23/11. “Refoundation” is a project within IN:SITE’s “On and Off Capitol” initiative, in partnership with the City of Milwaukee and the 30th Industrial Corridor / Business Improvement District .

I will facilitate public workshops generating multiple tent sculptures, performances, and showcasing local talent. These activities will enliven an underused public park as well as a neighboring empty lot, which I think about as a “sister city.” I am thinking about the tent structures as miniature buildings, asking participants to create new architecture. I will be working with Milwaukee Public Schools Park and Rec, the neighborhood watch, Dominican Center for Women, and a local gospel choir.

Passage 1

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:17:36 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Species of Interstices

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:24:01 +0000

Veterans Book Project

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:34:27 +0000

This March and April, I traveled with Monica Haller and the Veterans Book Project as an assistant to the Colorado Springs and San Jose book workshops. It was an incredible experience to help people create their books. Please find more info about Monica and VBP at www.veteransbookproject.com