Pop go the flowers

By Brittney Goodman

If you go near the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, you will likely see a beautiful field of translucent, colorful flowers. But these flowers are man-made – specifically made by area children.

Pop-Up Pop Bottle Flowers is a recently installed public art project located in a grassy field on South 42nd Street near the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The project was organized by ArtWise and funded by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region. The Public Arts Commission facilitated the production of the work.

These 600 colorful flowers were formed and painted by hundreds of local children out of recycled plastic soda bottles. The flowers were installed July 13 and will be on display through Thursday, July 21.

ArtWise staff arranged the flowers in an artistic rainbow pattern. ArtWise staff and volunteers directed the children. The land used for the installation was donated by the Alerus Center. To view the flower installation, drive south on 42nd Street in Grand Forks and slow down just past the Sleep Inn.

Nicole Derenne, Public Art Commission Coordinator, says that “in this project, ArtWise demonstrates its continued commitment to encouraging children’s creativity by playfully showcasing children’s artwork in public.”

Children began creating flowers for the installation at events such as the 2016 ArtWise Art Camps, and throughout the summer of 2015 and 2016 at University Park, during the summer lunch program.

According to Martha Keifenheim, ArtWise Executive Director, ArtWise is a nonprofit organization with “a mission to provide elementary visual art projects and programs in the area of Grand Forks.” ArtWise consists of one full-time and one part-time employee, and ten volunteer board members. Its programs are supported through individual memberships, business sponsorships, public and private grants and donations. ArtWise has been a part of the Grand Forks community for 24 years.

Keifenheim describes ArtWise’s affiliation with the Grand Forks Public Schools through the elementary visual art program, “Artist in the Classroom,” which ArtWise supports financially. Other programs where the Grand Forks Public Schools and ArtWise partner are the annual ArtWise Elementary Art Show and the ArtWise Kids Art & School Calendar, which is published annually, featuring art selected from the Art Show display. ArtWise staff and volunteers also put together several art camps for children, festival activities and outreach programs such as the Pop-Up Bottle Flowers.

Keifenheim sees the Pop-Up Pop Bottle project as important to the children because it “has engaged their curiosity, given them a chance to paint and provided opportunity to be a part of a public display.” She says that children “have unique perspectives in visual art language and have a lot of fun with many art mediums, especially painting. When we first envisioned this project we were not sure if we could keep the children engaged to completion. They have been very productive! And they were amiable to the idea of making the flowers to share with the community.”

The vision for this project stemmed from the glass art of Dale Chilhuly, a modern glass artist in Seattle, Washington. “The project is also engaging from an adult perspective,” according to Keifenheim. Those who attend the display will appreciate that “the repetition of colors and shapes, the familiar material used in a unique way, their sound in the wind, their colors in the sun are just lovely, peaceful.”

An informal public reception will be held at the installation site on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. At the event there will be light refreshments as well as a time for public comments. If weather permits, attendees will have an opportunity to paint on a mural wall. Children may select a flower or two to take home.

Keifenhiem added, “We are excited to share the children’s artwork with the community and invite everyone to enjoy the installation.” Any flowers remaining will be available at University Park during the Free Summer Lunch Program noon to 1pm the following day.

IF YOU GO:

Pop Up Pop-Bottle Art Reception

July 21, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

42nd street near the Alerus Center, Grand Forks

https://www.facebook.com/artwise4kids