A Community of its Own

    Transformed into a gallery celebrating local artists, the gym of Salem Lutheran Church hummed with laughter and discussion late Friday night. Ranging from metal sculptures and handmade jewelry to scenic watercolors and stitched quilts, the works of the night displayed West Central’s varied and talented community. Whether in the form of a smile over poured wine, an explanation of acrylic materials, or the pinched faces of viewer’s concentration, the feeling of rich union Liv Larson yearned for came into full presence. While chatting with an artist/pastor about his Instagram project created for the festival, in which locals were encouraged to hash tag the hidden beauties of the area, I instantly thought of our own class’ similar purpose.

    We had arrived armed with what seemed like the contents of a kindergartener’s craft box: vibrant markers, Elmer’s glue, yarn, cardboard tubes, and Crayola crayons. However, like the varied art pieces of the night, our quirky Hodgepodge aimed for deeper community interaction. Even more so, it strived for permanence as a piece to remind the area of its own unique identity. We hoped for each individual to create their own  masterpiece; adding framed, floating circles to the church’s wall.

Assuming this all sounds like a great interactive installation everyone strived to participate in, we must tell you in full honesty, it wasn’t. While most attendees of the event moved seamlessly from artist to artist with interest, upon seeing our tables and begging smiles, their slow strides quickened and suspicious eyes avoided contact.  Even in the cases where we plucked up enough courage to ask a passerby to join in, we were met with excuses of “non artists” or “hands too full with food”; which can’t be blamed since the evening’s hoers de oeuvres were extremely delicious.  Nevertheless, as the night wore own and we continued to implore the crowd, few brave individuals joined us and supplied creative pictures and fun conversations; a favorite being a swirling piano keyboard fashioned by a young church member. Our group remained optimistic, continuing to create not only the project but relationships. When the evening finally wrapped up, the majority of the piece’s completed parts were our own designs; leaving the “community’s” artwork a bit less engaging.  Yet our table remained, hopefully, without the pressure of others, as an approachable project in the week to come. This brings up the question: is interactive art unsuccessful in the observant environment of an art gallery? What do you think?

   
 At first, it seems the expected goals we held of our installation to flourish community fell short; however at second glance I find that in some way it was successful, maybe not in West Central but in that of our very own class.  Some might examine our escapade as a failed attempt, however who is to argue it as a lost cause when the relationships within our own group matured and grew, allowing our own internal community to blossom its own WACyness.  Next time,  because of our unity and new group disposition, it may be easier to help the passion of art spread amongst a wider set community.