A few weeks ago I posted about design collaboration & Layers Tennis and how it would be fun to get something going here locally. Well, thankfully we have 4 designers from Indianapolis who want to participate!

This is a little introduction… then each week we will post an update with the design volleys. If you are still confused, the video below should give you a clearer picture of what to expect. (It’s a compilation video of the entire Exhibition Season of Layer Tennis edited down to just 130 seconds.

I asked each designer to give me a bio introducing themselves to give a bit of background. We’ll be posting each of our volley’s up once a week and we’ll do a poll to find out who’s pixels will reign supreme.

The image below was given (a higher res version of course) to the first designer as the starting point. I can’t wait to get started!

The image was taken in the IMA's 100 Acres Art and Nature Park

Designer bios after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Art and Nature Park, Design, Guest Bloggers, Local, New Media

Now that I have my first blog under my belt, I’ve been pondering what exciting things I’ll see and blog about in the coming year. I’ve compiled a little “must do” list to complete during my “next top blogger” reign this year.

I call it the Blucket List…

4. Summer Nights. What better way to spend a Friday night than to be outside under the stars watching a movie with friends, food and wine! I’m thinking a blog about finding the perfect outfit to wear to the Rocky Horror Picture Show night is an absolute must.

3. Controversy. Not to alarm anyone or anything, I’m not talking Balloon Boy style scandal here. However, I do plan to express my opinions in my blog and I really hope that people will comment and react to those opinions.

2. The Andy Warhol Enterprises Exhibit, scheduled to open in October. This exhibition makes the list for three reasons… One, if I write a blog about Warhol I’ll almost certainly accomplish #3 on my blucket list. Love him or hate him, you’re gonna talk about him! Two, no pressure on design team for the IMA or anything… but can you imagine what Warhol would have done with iPhone apps?! With that in mind the tap tour could be really sweet. And finally, I think Edie Sedgwick is fascinating. I might just use the exhibition as an excuse to emulate her style for a few months. I can rock dark eyeliner and huge chandelier earrings with the best of them…

The number ONE thing on my blucket list for the year is…

100 Acres Art and Nature Park. The concept of mixing nature and art is a brilliant way to drop the formality of visiting a Museum. People who may not have visited the Museum before can come and interact with Art on their own terms. Personally, I want to hang out with the Island People. I’ve been enjoying their blog, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds this summer!

So that’s the blucket list as it stands today. If you have any suggestions for

my list I’d love to hear about them!

Filed under: Art, Art and Nature Park, Current Events, Guest Bloggers

In the autumn of 2009, Andrea Zittel sent a request for proposals to students at the Herron School of Art and Design who wished to live on her latest piece, Indianapolis Island. The island is an 18′ x 20′ fiberglass living structure that will float in the lake of the new 100 Acres Art and Nature Park. We (Jessica Dunn and Michael Runge) collaborated to write a proposal and were chosen by Zittel and the IMA after several interviews and meetings.

We are really excited to be a part of this project and have many ideas dealing with the Give and Take nature of the project.

Here is a quick overview of our project:

Fabrication of the interior: We will be fabricating the entire interior of the island with modular, dual-purpose furniture including a bed which functions as a couch as well as storage space. We will also be building a bicycle generator so we can have electricity on the island.

Floating garden: Similar to a self watering container, we will be building floating garden pots that will grow vegetables we can eat while living on the island.

Floating messages: Visitors may send messages to the island inhabitants by floating paper messages via capsules visually reminiscent of the island’s shape.

Island trade: Every visitor who sets foot on the island will have the opportunity to give and take something from the island. This trade will will show a tangible example of the mark left on the individual and the space.

Follow our construction progress and our evolving (or deteriorating) mental state on our blog. You can also follow us on Twitter.

Filed under: Art, Art and Nature Park, Current Events, Guest Bloggers, Local

Over the past fourteen weeks I have run about 150 miles. With one foot in front of the other, at a pace just slightly faster than a brisk walk, I’m creeping towards my goal of running the Mini Marathon. My feet, to my great amazement, have carried me through snow and rain, over hills, under bridges, across busy intersections, along quiet trails and triumphantly across finish lines both real and imagined. With just about a week to go until the big show, it’s time to leave the struggles of training behind, and reflect on all of those little supporting factors that’ve been like a wind blowing me forward. I won’t bore you with the details about the clinch songs on my iPod, my snazzy new running shoes, or the discovery of some stuff called GU. What I would like to tell you about is my favorite mile…

To find some extra motivation for my long runs, I signed up for a Mini Marathon training program with a local runners’ organization. What I didn’t realize at the time is that the training run they sponsor each week uses the White River Tow Path which runs right through the IMA campus. Bonus! Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art and Nature Park, Guest Bloggers, Local, Musings

A few months ago, the blog team had an idea; we wanted to open up the IMA blog to a member of the public in order to present an ‘outside’ perspective of the Museum. After a little brainstorming, the “So You Think You Can Blog” contest was born. Dozens of potential bloggers submitted to the contest.  5 finalists were chosen. And our blog readers chose 1 winner – Katie Neville. Congratulations!

THANK YOU to all our blogger candidates. It was fascinating to read your perspectives on the museum experience. We really appreciate your willingness to participate and share.

THANK YOU to all of our blog readers that voted. The poll got record-breaking participation. In fact, on Wednesday, March 10, our Web site received the most  hits in a single day in IMA history. Votes were cast from as far away as the Netherlands (27 votes) and China (17 votes).  We even had 3 votes from Trinidad and Tobago.

OK, so that’s it for now! The NEW IMA blogger has been crowned. Ms. Neville will be joining the team this April and we’re looking forward to what she has to say. Until then, we’ll be working on a new blog contest…Stay tuned!

Oh, oh and Katie – Expect an email from the Blog Team today. We’re excited to have you on board!

Filed under: Guest Bloggers, Marketing, Musings