POP UP Project

POP UP Project

JUNE Address: 7411 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63111
Contact/Phone/Email:
Kate King:  636-248-3600 / B5N1Kate@gmail.com
Sam Davis:  314-614-6291 /  SamDavisStudios@gmail.com
Website:
Event:  http://www.facebook.com/events/454710917876213/
Group:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/422733961075671/
Official site coming soon!
Open Hours: Every Friday in June (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th) 2012  /  7-10PM

How is the project operated?
Completely artist – run, but could not have been done without Benjamin Simms and Jonathan Spencer at Steins Broadway, Julie Ostrom from Gateway City Law, Lisette Dennis from the Regional Arts Commission and of course Alderman Thomas Villa from Ward 11.

How long has it been in existence?
The POP UP project is relatively new.  We have been curating the JUNE series of artistic exhibitions / events / explorations for approximately six months.  This JUNE 1st the Pop Up project will debut.

What was your motivation?
We were interested in curating shows that exhibited local artists, musicians, writers, and businesses.   St. Louis has a lot to offer, and we wanted to showcase it.  In future months, we are hoping to lease out a space in a different region / county of St. Louis.  The idea behind the POP UP project is that it can grow and move, and it can really be used as a way to stimulate cultural growth in any city or county.

Number of organizers / responsible persons of the project?
A lot of people have contributed to make this project possible.  Lisette Dennis from the Regional Arts Commission was one of the first individuals to really take an interest in this project.  From her, we were connected to Ben Simms, president of Steins Broadway.  Mr. Simms is a developer in the Carondelet area, and was incredibly receptive to our idea.  From him, we found and leased the perfect space for our first series of shows.

How are programs funded?
At this point, the project is funded through donations, artist fees and fundraisers.
All of the performers have volunteered their services – including, but not limited to:
JUNE 1st:  Jack Grelle and the Turkey Jackson Band
JUNE 8th: the Open Figure Drawing Group Models: Miranda Portwine, Nathan Smitth, Sammy Checkers, Rose Royce and Spanky
JUNE 15th: Chance Operations- Chris Parr and Tony Renner
JUNE 22nd:  musicians leading the Experimental Music Jam Session: Allan Baumgartner, Michael Coleman, Ian Lanius

Who is responsible for the programming?
The POP UP project was established and curated by Sam Davis and Kate King – though several artists have contributed to make the POP UP project possible.

Number and average duration of exhibitions / events per year?
This is the first scheduled series of events.  We would like to POP UP in another part of the city in October or later.  We are hoping to average between three and four series of events throughout the year.

What kind of events are usually organized?
For the first series of events:
JUNE 1st: OPENING VISUAL ARTS SHOW
JUNE 8th: OPEN FIGURE DRAWING GROUP
JUNE 15th: CHANCE OPERATIONS
JUNE 22nd: EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC JAM SESSION
JUNE 29th: CLOSING VISUAL ARTS SHOW
For the next series of events we are interested in expanding into hosting workshops and other interactive activities.  The beauty of the POP UP project is that it can really be anything.

How is your programming determined?
Programming was determined through a lot of conversations and discussions with a lot of artists – both established and emerging.

Do you accept proposals/submissions?
We are always interested in hearing new ideas / seeing new work.

What is your artistic/curatorial approach?
Sam Davis and Kate King are interested in community projects that encourage artistic events, exhibitions, explorations, and awareness.  We have been influenced by the work of other local artists that have worked on similar projects.
Including, but not limited to:
James and Brea McAnally – co-founders of the Luminary
Juan William Chavez – founder and curator of the Northside Workshop
Dana Turkovic and Daniel McGrath – co-creators and curators of the Isolation Room
Cole Root and Francesca Wilmott – co-founders and curators of Los Caminos
Gary Passanise – founder of the Santo Foundation
We really wanted to give local emerging artists, writers and musicians an opportunity to display their work, work with each other, and build their resumes.  We just ran with our ideas and jumped in feet first.

What’s working? What’s not working?
The POP UP project is focused on utilizing unoccupied space, featuring local emerging artists, musicians, writers and businesses.  For that reason, the project and events have been coming together with little issue.  People want community projects to succeed because everybody has something to benefit from something like this.
Unfortunately, because the POP UP project was founded on the idea of utilizing unoccupied space (spaces for lease / rent) it has been challenging to acquire the legal permits to run the show.  Fortunately, we have a collective of talented, hardworking individuals working at the center of this issue.

What kind of role do you hope to play in your local art scene or community?
As the project grows, the following will grow, and that following will stimulate cultural growth in the arts throughout St. Louis city.

What idea are you most excited about for the future?
We are excited to watch this project grow and change.  It has the potential to become something really incredible for St. Louis.

Image courtesy of POP UP Projects.
Pictured are Lisette Dennis (RAC), Sam Davis (the POP UP project), and Jenny Murphy (founder / executive director of Perennial Arts organization).