I got involved with the project in the spring of 2012. The project explores the possibilities of bringing art and dialogue to the Waters Avenue community (Savannah) through creating art pieces in the abandoned planters on the street. It started as an idea in a Sustainable Practices in Design class in the winter of 2012. The class was asked to come up with creative ideas to help the Waters Avenue Revitalization Project. The class collaborated with public artist Jerome Meadows, living and working on Waters Avenue, on the research and cataloging of the planters, and initiating conversations with the community about the potential use of the planters for public art.
I worked with Jerome Meadows on creating the first planter prototypes and developing an adoption program which encouraged local businesses and neighborhood organizations to “adopt” planters by working with the team to come up with community or business related concepts for the art and monitoring and taking care of the planter after the installation of the artwork.
The 400lb Baby Project Related Links:
http://vimeo.com/43227868
http://www.designethos.org/wp/2012/09/27/a-new-baby-is-born/
www.facebook.com/400lbBaby
Initial Thesis Direction
I am really interested in using art/ public art/ visual communication to provide social change, bring attention to problems or opportunities, start conversations and bring people together for a cause. My initial idea is to use our experience with the 400lb Baby Project to add to the wider discourse about using art for community empowerment. See more exploration of the topic.