Organizing

In addition to audio storytelling and composition, I’ve had a career full of creative pursuits. I’ve worked in a number of fields and across an array of mediums. Explore some of these projects that uplift communities, draw people closer, and tell meaningful stories.

These are initiatives focus on improving or preserving social cohesion, cultural vibrancy and physical cityscapes.

Charlottesville Community Chalkboard and podium

Upon unanimous approval by City Council in early 2021, The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative (Alan Goffinski, Executive Director) became the owner and caretaker of the Community Chalkboard. The Bridge has accepted stewardship duties, including repair, maintenance, and programming efforts. We launched our stewardship efforts with a lively week of programming featuring a Rededication Coalition of over two dozen partnering organizations and artists. We celebrate a new chapter for the renown public landmark in the heart of town as an inclusive, inviting tribute to creative expression and public engagement. We steward this landmark for the next generations of artists and thinkers expressing the ideas shaping a better future for us all.

CHARLOTTESVILLE MURAL PROJECT

Upon assuming the directorship of the Charlottesville Mural Project in 2017, the organization has seen an approximately 400% increase in projects annually. Additionally, the project has debuted the creation of the Charlottesville Interactive Mural Map to spotlight talented artists and present a fun experience for those interested in exploring the city’s murals. The project incorporates diverse voices and often uses artwork as a means for increased visibility and representation. The CMP incorporates community perspectives to showcase the talents of artists locally, regionally and abroad, while contributing to the cultural and visual vibrancy of the city.

Face to Face: Portraits of our vibrant city

Developed as a program of The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, This annual project uses the intimate process of portraiture to connect artists and community members who have different life experiences. Part portraiture and part biography, Face to Face allows the strengths, experiences, and passions of individuals to inform masterfully created portraits. By providing artists an opportunity to explore social practice, this project fosters new relationships among the people of Charlottesville. It initiates dialogue about equity, representation, and perception. Portraits are exhibited publicly and then gifted from the artists to the community members.

Creative Reckoning

Creative Reckoning relies on strong community ties to draw together artists, activists, and thinkers to contribute an amplified creative voice on the subjects of race and history in Charlottesville and Central Virginia. Including performances, exhibits, presentations, and community discussions, Creative Reckoning is about making new connections, strengthening social bonds, and making waves.

smART KIDS

Developed as a program of The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, smART KIDS provides students an opportunity to connect with artists from our community while learning and creating together in an after-school setting.  The program provides a welcoming environment, allowing kids to engage with the creativity happening in their own community. smART KIDS addresses a deficit in arts funding for public schools and hosts unique opportunities for kids to discover talents, interests, curiosities, problem solving and critical thinking skills in a comfortable and inspiring environment. The program provides a paid opportunity for community artists to share their practice, connect with their community, and also learn from youth.

StoryStream

StoryStream is an experiment in story-listening. A partnership with the University of Virginia, this project utilizes a vintage Airstream trailer as a mobile “Story Diner” and recording booth. Students collect and share the perspectives of members of our unique Charlottesville community. Participants are invited to order a story from the chalkboard menu. After listening to a cassette tape recording of a Cville story, they are invited to contribute stories of their own. This project is a tool to connect UVa students to the community while chronicling a vibrant and changing city.

Reconnecting to Our waterways

Reimagining Indy's network of waterways as a catalyst for engagement and an asset for stronger social connections and better neighborhoods. Equipping artists to envision their craft as a social practice for stronger community and cultural vibrancy. A partnership with Reconnecting to Our Waterways and Big Car Collaborative.

Rethink. Reconnect. Reclaim.

This seven part series explored creative approaches to revitalizing communities and improving public places. Participants strategized with leading thinkers from across the U.S. and beyond in the fields of environmental art, creative placemaking, and tactical urbanism. In pursuit of a better city, neighbors gathered to reimagine our public spaces and bring new energy to the city.

The Pogue's Run Pursuit

A walk lead by Artist Sean Derry took place along the historical but hidden banks of Pogue’s Run (now diverted into an aqueduct beneath the city). Participants navigated old-timey maps through the modern city while considering the changing nature of our landscape, the role of creativity in city-making, and the value of a community's natural resources.

Sparking monument circle

During this brown-bag lunch, artists involved with placemaking efforts on Monument Circle, Indianapolis discussed placemaking and their experiences creating art that engages people. Artists Jim Walker, Stuart Hyatt, and Ash Robinson shared their artwork and how they engage in people-focused art. The conversation included tour of Monument Circle placemaking efforts led by Big Car Collaborative's Jim Walker.

David Engwicht : Placemaking Lunch Convo

This conversation reflected upon the impact of specific creative placemaking projects and their effect on our cityscape. Attendees participated in a dialogue with Australian public space guru David Engwicht. We discussed the challenges and outcomes of creatively transforming our shared spaces.

Creative Placemaking Workshop

The culmination of this seven part series, this workshop invited artists to conspire for the good of their communities. Creative placemaking and tactical urbanism experts Anthony Garcia from Miami, and David Engwicht from Australia assisted artists in developing creative interventions for public space along our waterways.

PETER GIBSON ARTIST RESIDENCY & ROADWAY WORKSHOP

Indianapolis is known as the "Crossroads of America". It's appropriate for Indy to embrace the potential of its roadways as more than just motor vehicle thoroughfares. By working with Internationally acclaimed street painting artist Peter Gibson we completed 6 projects along Pleasant Run Waterway. Additionally, we used this opportunity to engage neighbors in traffic calming tactics for southeast neighborhoods and completed a workshop focused on equipping community artists with road painting skills for future projects.

RETHINKING OUR STREETS INITIATIVE

Working with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, The Mapleton-Fall Creek Community Development Corporation, People for Bikes, and the Netherlands Bicycle Ambassador, and Big Car Collaborative, this project reimagined a north side neighborhood's roadways as complete greenways. By planning, testing, collecting data and feedback, studying results, and permanently implementing changes, the goal is to find low cost/low risk solutions for creating neighborhood roadways suitable for pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars.

Photos and videos: Kurt Nettleton