Ongoing list of "wants" for NoDa:

Obviously, it wouldn't say "Ponce" (which is in Puerto Rico)... Now, who will step up and fabricate this amazing Placemaker?

Street Art, Italian Style

Here is a piece called "Street Art, Italian Style" from Current TV.
There is a fine line between street "art" and "graffiti," and even the connotation of graffiti makes one think that it is "ugly" or "unwanted." So in watching this video, please keep in mind that we are not saying this type of expression is 100% on-the-level (but it is REALLY excellent and exciting work).

The thing that excites us so much about this vignette is the free nature of the work. Several times you hear the interviewer explain the same notion that excites us with the NoDa Public Gallery ideas: it is not forever, and that is the most exciting part...the fact that if someone is at the right place in the world at the right time, they get to see/be a part of something that true spontaneous, creative, exciting and definitive of the time and place.

Enjoy!

Project #2: The Public Gallery

So here is the namesake idea of the NoDa Public Gallery project. The idea being that a "gallery" that is always open, always free, and always looking for new contributors. The rent can't go up on the building, and (although it's certainly conceivable that someone may someday want to build on the land) the "gallery" won't be destroyed in the name of gentrification.
The drawbacks of course are that weather, theft, vandalism is possible.
So we're asking that our artists understand that this is art for art's sake. This is a true, uncomplicated expression of creativity directed toward our 'hood.

Also, for what it's worth: there is already someone out in NoDa doing something like this. We am not sure who they are, but we sure would like to work with them - so if you are the one who has been doing the Super Mario Stars, the cardboard postings on the telephone poles, the painted & hung television sculpture, or any of the pop-art wheat-pastings, PLEASE send us an email!!!

We have 8 "panels" out right now with artists. A panel is 2'x2' treated, sealed plywood. If you would like to contribute to the Public Gallery Project (now or ever - these panels will be changeable forever), send an email and we can get you a panel.

Project #1: The Community "Incubator" Board

Introducing The NoDa Public Galleries first official project: The Community "Incubator" Board.

We've used the word "Incubator" because we are hoping this first project will get the creative gears turning for more projects. The NoDa Public Gallery is a tough idea to articulate (explain). Even with sketches and a clear vision, the same questions always pop up: "Who's going to let you do this?" "What is it for?" "Why are you doing this?" "Won't it get wrecked/damaged/etc?" These are all valid questions, but the point of the group is not to get weighed down by semantics and logistics. It is to show that temporary good is better than inaction.

Also, the general purpose of a community kiosk is to announce, educate and inform your neighbors about upcoming events and projects. Not only will this Community "Incubator" Board help to strengthen our community, it can be a central point to launch other projects.

Located on the corner N. Davidson Street and E. 36th Street (the main crossroads of "downtown" NoDa), this project is a message/information/map/posting kiosk for community use. The structure stands 6' feet tall, 4 feet wide, and is triangular with three legs; even more, each side of the triangle angles inward to make two flat "panels" - allowing 6 surfaces on which to communicate with your neighbors. It's made of pressure treated wood secured with lag bolts and sealed by a combination of primers, paints and silicone. Of course, this structure won't last forever, but it should last long enough to show the potential (and the need) for such projects in the neighborhood.

Placemaking Chicago Video

This video does a pretty good job explaining more about the concept of placemaking within a neighborhood. The most striking thing I take away from the video is the suggestion that you can start very small. Often times the concept of "Placemaking" is in the context of planners and permits and organizational action. But there are so many small projects that just one person can do to improve their neighborhood. And you don't always need to ask permission - you'd be surprised to find out that people would be excited and appreciative to see change on their street - no one is going to call the police on you...I promise.

Portland's "Share-it-Square":

Hows this for community placemaking? Who will step up for this project to happen in NoDa?

Doing little things, to make things a little better.

NoDa Public Gallery is an ongoing community placemaking project in the NoDa neighborhood (properly known as North Charlotte), in the city of Charlotte, NC, USA.

The group is mostly made up of neighbors, artists, and friends throughout NoDa. The group is fluid; anyone my contribute at any time, for however long and to whatever extent they want. Organization and leadership is loose; anyone may step up to suggest ideas, assemble pieces, or contribute under the auspices at any time.

In order to understand why the NoDa Public Gallery is needed, I'll have to give you a small history lesson: The North Charlotte neighborhood has always been a blue collar, aspirational, and autonomous place. From the beginning as a mill village, well outside the watchful eye of Center City, North Charlotte worked as an independent and self sufficient blue collar neighborhood. Even after the mills vacated the buildings which still stand along the rail lines, North Charlotte neighbors still existed just below the attention of the greater community. And as the neighborhood fell into blight and decay, the lack of attention became more noticeable. However, the entrepreneurial and grassroots community spirit of North Charlotte was renewed in the early 90's as anartist's refuge and community. Much as other cities' artist's neighborhoods began in environs that others have dismissed as unlivable and undesirable, with the care and love of a group of concerned and invested neighbors, North Charlotte gave birth to Charlotte's Arts District - NoDa. And, as with Arts Districts, the hard work of a few have given way to the waves of gentrification - pricing out affordability, and effectively drawing attention to the neighborhood from zoning boards, code officials, real estate investors, and even...yuppies...

You can't go back from this. This is the cycle. This is the little rock band that practiced in their garage for years, making amazing music - until someone played their song on the radio and they got famous. That band can't go back to the garage. And most of the time, they just break up.

But breaking up a neighborhood is the solution. There are other options, ways to keep NoDa humble, grassroots, affordable, neighborly, genuine. People love to say that the golden days are over - artists can't afford to live in the houses anymore, and grassroots businesses and galleries can't afford to lease the very buildings that define the neighborhood.

And this is where the NoDa Public Gallery got it's origins. We realized that there is so much more to a neighborhood than expensive condos, and over priced retail spaces. In fact, there is marginally more "public" space than "private" space in the world. And most of us even pay taxes for the use and upkeep of the "public" space. Do you feel represented by the work that our city and county does with OUR public spaces? Do you feel connected to the dead end streets, and the unkept street corners, and ignored "parks," and the wasteland of parking lots, and littered sidewalks? These are OUR public spaces. And soon, they will be OUR public galleries - 100% affordable, open 24 hours a day - 7 days a week, no door charge!

A "gallery" can be anything. It's not just about "artwork." Anything that is created is art. A painting, a planting, a place to play boardgames. Anything that connects the PUBLIC to the PLACE.

So let's get to work. As the title of this blog says: "Doing little things, to make things a little better." Where will you start - let's hear your ideas.