Blog – Art in Odd Places

AiOP 2015: RECALL Former Staff: François Granier

October 5, 2015 – 12:00 pm

Art in Odd Places (AiOP) 2015: RECALL is our 11th year and while this year’s festival is all about looking back at past artists and projects, we are also taking time to catch up with some of the former AiOP staff. Without the support of these dedicated volunteers, these festivals would not have gotten off the ground. We here at AiOP are honored to have worked with these individuals over the years and are taking the time to see what they have been up to, ask how working with AiOP has impacted their lives and, above all, hope to run into them on 14th Street during this year’s festival.

François Granier.

I volunteered for a couple of months, back in summer 2012. I worked on the Model festival. I was an administrative and communication intern. Most of my work was databases and social medias (Pinterest mostly). I also worked with Ed for the creation of a blog named “Strange Makings”.
Unfortunately, as a French student, I could not spend a long time in the US and I had to be back in France before the festival started.

However, even if it was quite a short experience, I really enjoyed working for AIOP. Working with and for artists in a city where anything might to be possible was a rewarding experience.
I felt fully involved in the preparation of the festival and could meet several artists. Working with AIOP was great, because people were very open minded, always listening to new ideas. It allowed me to feel really involved for the Festival. All these consideration were (and sometimes still are) quite unusual for me who was prepared to work in a French administration where you are just part of a whole and where you are not asked to think but to do.

Thanks to the Strange Makings/Model projects, I could set up my own performance on 14th street : Ed let me do what I wanted to do, his only condition was that my performance had to be related to “Model” and my interpretation of it. So, I decided to draw a runway in the middle of the street and to ask random people to get photographed walking on it. These people had all something special (a nurse uniform, a dandy, someone on a wheelchair…), they were my “Everyday Models”. It is my fondest memory form working at AIOP.

AiOP 2015: RECALL Artists: L. Mylott Manning

October 2, 2015 – 2:00 pm

Art in Odd Places (AiOP) 2015: RECALL is our 11th year and all about looking back at the artists and projects that made these festivals possible over the years. For RECALL, AiOP has invited back over forty artists to either present their original work or produce a completely new one that explore artworks in all disciplines outside the confines of traditional public space regulations. As we gear up for the festival, here is a preview of some of the works people can expect to see along 14th Street.

Roadkill. Photo courtesy of the artist.

What was the first AiOP festival that participated in?

I participated in the 2008 Art in Odd Places festival.

How do you feel about returning to AiOP to participate in this anniversary festival?
I am happy to be invited to participate the AiOP anniversary festival. I think it is an exciting opportunity to create an interactive public art project.

Why is 14th Street a compelling site for creative response?

I enjoy creating and performing interactive pieces because it takes the artwork out of the studio or a gallery space and reaches a wider audience. 14th Street is perfect for that.

Are you presenting the same project as last time? If so, how has it changed or evolved?How does your prior experience with AiOP influence your approach to this year’s festival? If presenting a new piece, why did you decide on something new?

I performed my Road Kill Stuffed Animal project last time. It’s a project I’ve done a few times in the past and it’s more about process.

This year I am focusing my project on endangered species in an effort to bring awareness of the negative effects of climate change on animal habitats.

Rhino. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Recently I visited Australia. I was really lucky and saw some amazing wildlife. I even held a koala bear! When I returned, I did some research and realized that koala bears are endangered and in fact so many animals are. This is due to human development, creating roads and houses in natural habitats. As well as a rise in temperatures, a side effect of high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, in certain regions this changes and limits food and water availability to animals.

The series of stuffed animals for this project are filled with products of overconsumption, shredded junk mail, plastic bags and disposable clothing.

What reactions did you get the last time you staged your work on 14th Street? What reactions are you hoping to draw from the public this time?

In the past I’ve placed the animals in the street or sidewalk. People reacted in a variety of ways. This year I will be out with the endangered species stuffed animals with information on the effects of climate change, where to learn more and ways to become involved in sustainability efforts.