The UrbanArt Commisson and the Center City Commission have teamed up tobring 'Curious Pictures' to Memphis. The city has never before seen or experienced art on this scale before, as works from various local artists will be projected onto historical downtown buildings through every Friday through October (see below for schedule of events). 

The first event was a success as Jill Wissmiller showcased her original works on the the north facade of the Orpheum Theater. Attendees got the chance to get crafty with various odds and ends that Jill provided and project their own work onto the building. Many were able to show Memphis their best karaoke skills as songs were also projected and music blared in the Orpheum's Central Parking lot. Jill also built a Magic Meaning Making Machine that viewers chilled out in and enjoyed Pickles on a Stick, beverages and other snacks that were on the menu. There was a great turnout and this set the bar for the following Curiuous Pictures events. Good job, Jill! Thanks to all of those who supported! 

Check out more pictures on our Facebook fan page! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4924679&id=8152689478&ref=fbx_album#!/pages/Memphis-TN/Urban-Art-Commission/8152689478 

The first 'Curious Pictures' projection will take place Friday September 10 at 8:00 PM. Jill Wissmiller will be projecting on the north facade of the Orpheum Theater from the parking lot between Peabody Place and Beale Street. See the map below. Come collaborate with Jill as she transforms the Orpheum Theater!

UrbanArt to Light Up Downtown Memphis with 'Curious Pictures'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

07 September 2010

Friday September 10 will be the inaugural evening of a series of outdoor video art exhibitions never before seen in Memphis hosted by UrbanArt and the Center City Commission.  

Curious Pictures is a downtown installation of works created and curated by local artists that will take place each Friday evening from September 10 through October 8.  These video vignettes will be projected onto various buildings in Downtown Memphis to bring life to our cityscape and demonstrate the possibilities and potential of new media art within the public realm.

Original video work created by local artist Jill Wissmiller will be projected onto the north side of the historic Orpheum Theater.  Wissmiller’s Magic Meaning Making Machine came from the concept of theatrical staging and will allow viewers to participate in a collaborative performance with the artist that will be projected onto one of Memphis’ most historic arts spaces.

On the evening of Friday September 17 Erik Jambor of Indie Memphis will activate the north wall of the Jolly Royal Furniture Store with work by Godfrey Reggio as he transforms Gayoso Avenue into a walk-up theater.  Jambor will be showing the first film of Reggio’s QATSI trilogy, KOYAANISQATSI, which is an exploration of the contrast between technology and the environment.  The following Friday night, September 24, Sarah Fleming and Christopher Reyes of Live From Memphis will light up Center Lane near the Madison Hotel with their unique interpretation of video art today.

On Friday October 1 Alex Harrison will bring the eastern façade of the Waterford Building at Front and Beale to life with a polychromatic experience of color and light that will be accompanied by the musical talents of his band, The Warble. 

The final evening of the Curious Pictures event will take place on October 8 on the Main Street Mall behind 1 Commerce Square with a projection of original video work by local artist Brian Dixon.  Additional work by Matt Ducklo, Chris Miner, and Matthias Mueller and Christoph Giradet will also be projected on the evening of October 8.
ALL PROJECTIONS START AT 8P and END AT 11:30P.

Please join us as we light up downtown Memphis with video work by Memphis artists.  This project was made possible with the support of a First Tennessee Award for Innovation in the Arts and the Center City Commission.

All projections start at 8p and end at 11:30p.

For questions about Curious Pictures please contact Whitney Ranson at wranson@urbanartcommission.org or 901.454.0474. 

The mission of UrbanArt is to enhance the cultural vibrancy of our community through the development of public art.

For information on how you can support innovative public art experiences in Memphis, contact info@urbanartcommission.org