delays, delays

I sincerely apologize for not keeping up with this blog as this past semester has been ridiculously busy. Due to the nature of this past semester and a number of other things, work on the Storefront Project hit a lull. I am, however, back in the swing of things and hope to be working on new projects shortly after the new year. Thanks to a friend and Rhodes alum that happens to work with downtown real estate, I now have access to a number of new vacancies along Main which should prove to be very exciting. I am also already talking with some interested artists about working in these new spaces. So it would appear that we are getting back on track... finally!

Please stay tuned about any breaking news and as always, feel free to contact me about any of the above.

breathing a little easier

Hello all. So the reception for the Downtown Project went (relatively) smoothly and was pretty well attended. There were some issues with our sound equipment at first, but the dj kept on truckin' and was fantastic. -Dj Jake Hendrix everybody, if you ever need somebody to spin some good music for an event in Memphis.- It was a pretty busy night in general for the arts in town with Hamlett Dobbins' opening at David Lusk (be sure to check out that show), Alec Soth at the Powerhouse and a group show at Marshall Arts... but we were on people's list who were making the rounds. People that came by were interested in what we were doing and pleased to see it happening, and a lot of people were drawn in just from passing by. And so we continue to get good feedback from those in the area. (Pictures will hopefully be posted soon, digital camera is currently out of commission...)

And speaking of good feedback but really just a shameless plug, the project was written up in this month's issue of Memphis Magazine. If you get a chance, do check it out. It's a pretty nice article.

THANK YOU THANK YOU to everybody who came out Friday night and especially those who helped (and mainly tried to make sure I kept breathing). Stay tuned though, I am already planning on working on some new projects with more local artists to be up hopefully before Christmas. ciao for now...

newspaper works best

In order to get the storefront ready for Darla Linerode-Henson's installation (at 82 S. Main), I enlisted the help of some truly wonderful people to clean the 16 different windows that wrap around the block. It took approximately 4 hours and several bottles of Windex to clean the majority of the windows, which were covered in years of dirt, grime, spider webs and even chewing gum. And we still have some more to go (so if you care to join Wednesday afternoon around 3, we'll be back down there!). While it was certainly an exhausting afternoon, it was also definitely rewarding. The difference (which I'm not sure that you can see in the pictures at the bottom) is incredible. And once again, people walking by stopped to talk to us and see what we were doing and some even wanted to reminisce about what Stuart's used to be. One particularly amusing individual that stopped was a member of the Blue Suede Brigade, an underappreciated group that strolls around downtown answering tourist's queries and giving directions (and they actually wear blue suede sashes, it's pretty great). This gentleman greatly appreciated what we were doing and promised to tell people about it as he wandered through the downtown area.












before and after


*A very special thanks to Dara Chesnutt, Douglas Degges, Christine Zhu, Tom Watson, Lydia Hagedorn, Luke Branim, Crews Baggett, Koko Owens, Kat Ledlie and Hannah Farwell who took part in the ambitious cleaning endeavor, and to Charles Jackson of the Blue Suede Brigade who just made my day.
**And for your future reference, newspaper really does work better than paper towels.

Charles of the Blue Suede Brigade

get ready: live dj and peanuts

The third installation for the Storefront Project is underway and will be finished (knock on wood) this Wednesday, October 3. Darla Linerode-Henson, working with the assistance of Trip Hale in the building that formerly housed Stuart’s clothing store, has created a series of images of six foot tall figures sporting retro women’s clothing. The designs recall the era when Stuart’s was a popular and chic Memphis venue, the kind of place where (as one passerby recounted to me) someone would open your car door for you when you pulled up to the store.

And to celebrate the hard work from all parties, there will be an opening reception this Friday, October 5 from 6 to 8 pm at the intersection of Union and Main Streets. All three installations (Mel Spillman, Dwayne Butcher and Darla Linerode-Henson) are conveniently located by each other at the intersection. There will be a live dj spinning music and the Peanut Shoppe (also located on Main St.) will set up a booth and sell peanuts and popcorn, all in front of the trolley stop at 82 S. Main. Please come by and see the artwork, enjoy some good music and company, and of course the most famous peanuts in Memphis.



As always, if you have any questions about the project or reception please e-mail me: kenle@rhodes.edu or kennedy.lauren.e@gmail.com

Storefront Art Update

As a member of the CODA program at Rhodes College, I have been working on a senior CAP project to install art in vacant storefront windows along the Main St. corridor. I have been working closely with local artists, building owners and the Center City Commission to make this project a reality. And while there have certainly been many bumps in the road, we have successfully installed two projects at the Union and Main intersection and will hopefully install a third in the coming month. The first two projects were completed by Melanie Spillman and Dwayne Butcher in July. Spillman made four wood panels collaged with images from old beauty advertisements from the 1950s that play on the history of the space, which was formerly a beauty salon known as Debbie's Hair Affair (the original sign still exists above the window front). Spillman also painted the interior of the window front a vibrant turquoise, catching the attention of passers-by who hadn't even acknowledged the space in years. Butcher created sets of black and white bimorphic drawings to be hung in the building that recently housed Smooth Moves, adjacent to Debbie's Hair Affair. Butcher's abstract drawings fit nicely with the playful exterior of the former smoothie bar. The next project we hope to install is a series of retro figures by Darla Linerode-Henson in the old Stuart's building, just across the street from the first two installations.

Through this project, we hope to bring life back to this vital area of downtown Memphis and bridge the gap between the local art community and the general public. The installations make the vacant spaces more inviting to potential business owners and more enjoyable for those who frequent downtown. By removing the art from the typical gallery setting, the artist has the opportunity to interact with a different and much wider audience. And by the same token, the public is able to access the creative community while simply walking to work or to grab a bite. A number of artists have responded to a call for submissions and are eager to participate.

The response to these initial installations has been very promising, both from those who live and work downtown and the local press. People walking by as the installations were in progress couldn't believe what a single coat of paint and a handful of drawings did for the image of the buildings. In fact, leasing agents in charge of the buildings have received several inquiries about possibly leasing the spaces. Press for the project includes an article by Andy Meek from the Memphis Daily News in May and a recent review of the installations by Fredric Koeppel for the Commercial Appeal Playbook. There will also be a story on the Storefront project in the October edition of Memphis Magazine. So stay tuned, we're just getting started...