Spark District Downtown!

[Cheshire Cat]

It just keeps getting better and better.   You have all got to see this video about the Spark District being planned by the Cultural Council for Downtown.  Can you say "AMAZING"? Bob White and the rest of you working on this rock! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9US7_-S-k8s

http://www.youtube.com/v/9US7_-S-k8s

[ProjectMaximus]

Yeah, Bob White is pretty awesome. I know there is some disdain on this board for the cultural council, but Bob definitely does the best he can with what he's given.

[Cheshire Cat]

Yeah, Bob White is pretty awesome. I know there is some disdain on this board for the cultural council, but Bob definitely does the best he can with what he's given.

What?  Say it isn't so.  Bob is a lovely amazing man and Jacksonville is lucky to have him.  Whatever disdain some may have with an organization, this idea is a winner.  I hope everyone will get behind it.  The ongoing addition of art as shown in the video would in and of itself draw more people downtown and create a positive vibe to build on.  I love this idea and the opportunity it opens up for the Jacksonville art community.

[Cheshire Cat]

Bob is a lovely and amazing man, but there is definitely disdain for some of the Cultural Council Policies on this board, and you can include me as one of those that share that disdain.

But it would not be fair to conflate disdain for policy with any feelings for the inimitable Bob White---who has been a friend to me personally most of my life now, and who I consider to be one of the nicest men in Cristendom.

Ah, well I know none of that history.  Love Bob though.  What do you think of the idea for the art?  I think it is a win for the core.

[Cheshire Cat]

I do remember a lot about what went on in Five Point's.  I haven't looked at the current plans to any real degree and hope we will get more insight about the Spark District soon.  The good news is it is a number of years since the efforts in Five Points and I think the One Spark event may have lit some fires under some old discarded creative ideas.  On the surface I like what is shown in the video and can see how the wall art, like the mural on Chamblin's can add some much needed color and interest to otherwise boring places in the core.  Perhaps since this district is planned for downtown, the growing excitement to see positive changes in the core will make this effort a success.  I am hoping so anyway. 

Thank you for embedding the video!

[TheCat]

Ah, "Of Mice and Men" comes to mind. We instantly cuddle to death a living, breathing, beautiful thing because we just love it so much. Except, in our case I think it's more about control and less about love.

Ultimately, I wonder, if we are afraid to be free in Jacksonville. If it's not controlled then we think is shouldn't exist.

Okay, so we want public art. That sounds great. Let's do that. It sounds like a fairly simple application process...except in our case it requires huge grants and a district. I have an idea let's call the "district" the city of Jacksonville. We'll just need a city council and that can't be hard put together.

Sorry for the negativity but I don't trust Jacksonville's "cultural" centers to be, well, cultural. I think we'll end up seeing manatees, sand dollars and egrets painted everywhere and not a single one will be holding a laser gun. I repeat, not a single one will be holding a laser gun.

Do we need to carve out a district? As Stephen said, this is nebulous and unclear but it just sounds like one more thing that we'll passively wait on to see if it works. In 10 years we'll wonder why the "Spark District" didn't work.  Then we'll try something "new" like create a new district but this time we'll call it the "Inventors Zone" because Spark District was too vague. We literally keep trying the same things over and over again expecting different results. Apparently, that's the definition of Jacksonville.

I think once we "figure out" how to "allow" people to feel and be empowered to move and develop on their own without so much bureaucratic input and oversight we'll see some fairly incredible things happen. We have to stop putting our confidence in these "tenured" organizations (regardless of their new names) and just let people loose. 


...but I hope it works out. 

[thelakelander]

From my understanding, two of the latest Art in Public Places Committee members are two of our own.  Doug Skiles and Mike Field have been appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by council.  IMO, it's pretty exciting to see several people with direct ties to this website, getting active and involved all across the city.  Only good things can happen when we get active and involved instead of throwing rocks while sitting on the sidelines.

[John P]

AIA had a one spark project about public art that had some good ideas. I hope they are contacted.

[Tacachale]

From my understanding, two of the latest Art in Public Places Committee members are two of our own.  Doug Skiles and Mike Field have been appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by council.  IMO, it's pretty exciting to see several people with direct ties to this website, getting active and involved all across the city.  Only good things can happen when we get active and involved instead of throwing rocks while sitting on the sidelines.

Word. In my estimation armchair cynicism is a big a deterrent against people trying new things as anything else.

[Cheshire Cat]

The Cat: 
Sorry for the negativity but I don't trust Jacksonville's "cultural" centers to be, well, cultural. I think we'll end up seeing manatees, sand dollars and egrets painted everywhere and not a single one will be holding a laser gun. I repeat, not a single one will be holding a laser gun.

I will admit again that I don't know the history behind some of the feelings surrounding individuals views about what is or is not cultural in Jacksonville.  I trust that varying experiences are at the core of such feelings.  For my part looking at the video shared in the beginning of the thread, I didn't see any egrets and sand dollars in what was presented as art there.  I did see several captivating and different expressions of art.  I do understand when folks question a created art district in that art is always it's most exciting when it begins as an organic expression and grows on it's own.  It could just be that in Jacksonville the old views of what was art to past leadership and it's value to any community may have been impeded by simply not understanding how intrinsic art is to human happiness and evolution.  Stephen is correct about the devil is in the details and that is certainly going to be a major factor impacting how well this effort takes hold and eventually succeeds.  While I understand some of this takes a good deal of money, it appears from the video that funding is a major consideration.  However, I do believe there are many artists in Jacksonville who would willingly give of their efforts and talents to see this effort succeed.  The video shares several visuals of art that is simply painted on barren surfaces and other images show how interesting sculpture impacts an area.  In any case, even from the most stodgy understandings of what is or isn't art, none of what is being proposed is permanent to the fabric of downtown and as such even if we got some things that didn't work the way we hoped, there is no harm in any of it while at the same time there are great possibilities in what is being proposed.  I see it working if incremented with enough support and creative input.  I like the idea quite a lot. 

[Cheshire Cat]

The Cat: 
Sorry for the negativity but I don't trust Jacksonville's "cultural" centers to be, well, cultural. I think we'll end up seeing manatees, sand dollars and egrets painted everywhere and not a single one will be holding a laser gun. I repeat, not a single one will be holding a laser gun.

I will admit again that I don't know the history behind some of the feelings surrounding individuals views about what is or is not cultural in Jacksonville.  I trust that varying experiences are at the core of such feelings.  For my part looking at the video shared in the beginning of the thread, I didn't see any egrets and sand dollars in what was presented as art there.  I did see several captivating and different expressions of art.  I do understand when folks question a created art district in that art is always it's most exciting when it begins as an organic expression and grows on it's own.  It could just be that in Jacksonville the old views of what was art to past leadership and it's value to any community may have been impeded by simply not understanding how intrinsic art is to human happiness and evolution.  Stephen is correct about the devil is in the details and that is certainly going to be a major factor impacting how well this effort takes hold and eventually succeeds.  While I understand some of this takes a good deal of money, it appears from the video that funding is a major consideration.  However, I do believe there are many artist in Jacksonville who would willingly give of their efforts and talents to see this effort succeed.  The video shares several visuals of art that is simply painted on barren surfaces and other images show how interesting sculpture impacts an area.  In any case, even from the most stodgy understandings of what is or isn't art, none of what is being proposed is permanent to the fabric of downtown and as such even if we got some things that didn't work the way we hoped, there is no harm in any of it while at the same time there are great possibilities in what is being proposed.  I see it working if incremented with enough support and creative input.  I like the idea quite a lot. 

Well thats fairly well said.

Let me ask you this, and its a pretty good starting point for the conversation.

How would you define 'working'?  Like what would be a success arising out of what you got from the video?

Fair question and I will do my best to put words to my thoughts on this even considering that some of my thoughts about the impact of art can be "abstract".   

In my statement about the idea "working" I also used the words if "implemented with enough support" and "creative input".  Let me qualify that a bit more if I may. Creative input for me in one way means a willingness to see ideas step outside of the box and go beyond the stereotypical images of "egrets" and "sand dollars" if you will. It also takes commitment by the "doers" in Jacksonville to help make this (or other) ideas work. It is no secret to those who undertake any project in Jacksonville that may be unique or represents a different take on old ideas, that what sounds wonderful in the creation stage can only be made real with the support of people who will actively engage in helping make the concept happen.  Engaged people must also be willing to stand by the concept when the many bumps in the road come along and they will come along. 

Regarding creative input, it is my view that to see this effort succeed, it will take the talent and work of artists and creative individuals who are willing to share with the community both with and without financial remuneration.  Which is really the organic component in creative art.  Sharing for the sake of sharing.  Grant's used toward specific art projects will help expand the offerings we see in the core.

Bringing the light of artistic efforts to the often colorless core of downtown will spark interest in a number of ways.  People respond to art in the most basic, intuitive way.  An image, form, word or sound can lift their feelings and mood without them even realizing it.  Good art is felt and how we feel about downtown directly impacts how we view the core of our city.  That extrapolates out into the entire community, in that we can begin to see ourselves in a more positive and creative way.  We make room in our minds and attitudes for creative growth at many levels.  This can then translate to an openness that looks to me at least to have been missing for too long in the Jacksonville mindset.

The "One Spark" event showed us that Jacksonville and surrounding communities are ready to view our downtown differently and be excited by it.  We saw a broad spectrum of individuals who embraced all that was happening in the core through the actions of innovative and creative folk.  In this way and others, I see the idea of a "Spark District" being a successful endeavor that will help spawn many of the changes we desire, not only in the physical aspects of our community but in the intangible parts of our beings that lift up and enliven us to life.

[Cheshire Cat]

I don't know that I can Stephen.  Sorry.    I guess the best way to give an overview of my thoughts is to simply say that what I see is "positive possibility".  It's like trying to say exactly how the petals of a flower will look before it blooms.  The chances are good that it is going to be something lovely to see but we won't know for sure until it blooms.  I can't quantify that.  As I said earlier, my thoughts on this are in some ways tangible and in others abstract.  Now I know the artist in you understand that. 

[dougskiles]

I am excited about the Spark District, and to be on the Art in Public Places committee.  Since I haven't been on the committee for long, I don't know much more about the Spark District than what is on the video clip.

I expect to learn more about it quickly because one of the reasons I was selected to serve is my experience with government permitting and approvals.  Just yesterday I met with Public Works to talk about maintenance of traffic issues associated with the mural paintings on the Yates Garage.  We talked about looking for ways to streamline the permit approval process so that it doesn't become a barrier to the creative process.

I am happy share what I know, either on the forum or in person.  And, our meetings are public so that anyone can attend.  I believe Lakelander is coming to the next one (May 8th) and will report on the discussions.

The more community involvement we have with the Cultural Council and Art in Public Places, the better.  Good or bad, all comments & suggestions are welcome.  Please keep the discussion going.

[dougskiles]

Doug for the pure interests of discussion, how would you answer the question?

What would you see as a 'success'?

That is a tough question for me to answer, and everyone will likely answer it differently.

It is like asking if a particular work of art is valuable (monetarily).  My answer would be, just like real estate, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

Just from watching the video, my initial impression was that there are several goals.  One would certainly be to create a more interesting downtown experience, bring more life to it.  A second would be to provide an opportunity for artists to showcase their work.  Artists can communicate in subtle ways that are sometimes only understood over time.  My hope is that our city will embrace the effort and the messages.

Now it is your turn - what would you like to see happen with the Spark District?

[dougskiles]

Well thats kind of the issue for me.  Basically the video, boiled down to its essentials seems to be saying.

Art.

Downtown.

Its a cipher.  It can mean anything.

But it seems to convey the idea that there would be an arts district downtown, by the device of creating grants that (barely) pay for peices of art to be created there.

But an arts district is not an outdoor gallery.  It is a process--actually a large collection of processs all kind of working in a messy kind of tandem.

Which begs the question, what is the hoped for outcome?

So it could be a bit like art itself.  Subtle.  Mysterious.  Interpreted differently by everyone.

For a guy who champions organic evolution as much as you, I would think that you would be happier if the goals were loosely defined.  Let's give it some time and see where it goes.