Glove Spa

for Play Catch Together

by Chris Kallmyer

I led a group of baseball fans through various exercises to get their glove in tip top shape, for a portion of Chris Kallmyer’s “Play catch all together” piece commissioned for Open Field. I was no expect, just an enthusiast.

Open Field First Free Saturday event: Garden Quest (performance and drawing)

“Is that a troll under the bridge? Are the gnomes and fairies milling about the Spoonbridge and Cherry? This Saturday the Walker Art Center transforms into a land of magic! Join us for Free First Saturday (Gallery admission is free from 10 am – 5 pm) and step into a realm of art-related fantasy. From 10 am – 3 pm journey on a quest through the Sculpture Garden and Open Field and meet mythical heroes and foes while participating (if you so choose) in challenges in each quadrant! So get ready to make a costume, grab a map, and set forth on your epic adventure!”

Text from Walker site describing the event, read about it on the Walker site.

I drew an interactive map that participants in the day’s activities would collect custom stamps and achievements on. Additionally, Myself and fellow Twin Cities artist Karl Unnasch played shopkeepers for the afternoon and interacted with those who stopped by.

“Last winter a record snowfall created the ideal setting for an array of wintery constructions and activities upon the slope of Open Field.  During this exceptionally snowy winter we partnered with local artist Sean Connaughty to build a beautiful Bigloo behind the Walker.  This year we planned to celebrate the Minnesota winter with a day filled with snow inspired activities, including sled modification, creative snowman construction and Bigloo concerts.  While there are a great many things to consider whenever planning outdoor events in Minnesota, snow at the beginning of February is assumed.  Not this winter.  Minnesota has been blessed or cheated of our winter leaving many event programmers scrambling to find solutions and substitutes.

Our solution to last Saturday’s Snow Field Free First Saturday….cardboard snowmen.  Embracing the balmy brown winter we called upon the arts programmer’s secret weapon, cardboard and tape.  We employed local artist Andy Ducett, who along side Walker Staff, guided families in the creation of various cardboard constructions.  The instructions were to make objects that referenced the wintery sculptures we had hoped to make, but as with most activities, the participants make it their own and thus lead you on unexpected (and often much better) paths.  Saturday was no exception.  Before long our cardboard snowmen were joined by boats, cars, tall buildings, a couple of shanty town igloos and a rather impressive rocket.  Sometimes the best thing to do as a programmer is set the stage and just get out of the way.”

-Scott Stulen, Walker Art Center

24 Hour Art Making Marathon

Walker Art Center Teen Art Council

Eight groups of artists in a 24-hour art-making marathon surrounded by Minneapolis Art-A-Whirl madness. Participating artists include Burlesque Design, Erik Burke, Mike Fitzsimmons, Andy DuCett, John Grider, Hardland/Heartland, Liz Miller, Kristina Mooney, Chris Pennington, Brett Smith, Erin Smith, and Scott Stulen. Copresented by the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council and mnartists.org.

Each group of is lead by a artist from the community, and worked with the teens on the Art Council.