April 25, 2024
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Artists unLOCK creativity in Lockport

This summer, Lockport will "unLOCK" its creativity in multiple ways. With a goal of not limiting art to inside galleries, the Gaylord Building launched unLOCK, a project where 10 artists are utilizing Lockport's unique cultural history and connection to the I&M Canal to create new pieces of art, to be "installed or performed in businesses, historic sites, and cultural institutions throughout downtown Lockport," according to a news release from the Gaylord Building. Photos provided.

By DENISE M

"The goal for this program is to utilize art as an economic development tool, to attract people to the downtown district, to stay longer, to participate," Pam Owen, director of the Gaylord Building, said. "It's to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and industrial heritage of Lockport through the creation of works of art." Owen said the project was possible through a $50,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. "Every artist is doing different original works of art and also doing a public programming component to it, as well," Owen said. (Above, Sam Love uses wheat paste to install poems to the underpass of the 9th Street bridge).

"The goal for this program is to utilize art as an economic development tool, to attract people to the downtown district, to stay longer, to participate," Pam Owen, director of the Gaylord Building, said. "It's to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and industrial heritage of Lockport through the creation of works of art." Owen said the project was possible through a $50,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. "Every artist is doing different original works of art and also doing a public programming component to it, as well," Owen said. (Above, Sam Love uses wheat paste to install poems to the underpass of the 9th Street bridge).

For instance, May Babcock and Megan Singleton did a per making workshop on June 16 and Maggie Capettini held a painting demonstration and art exhibit Sunday. Pat Jarog, Lockport branch manager for the White Oak Library District, said John McDavitt of Plainfield is creating a mural for the library and inviting the community to help in "paint by number" fashion. In addition, Sam Love, who led the Poetry Project in Indiana, is hosting poetry workshops for the public through September. He is also working on a community-created poem. "We are encouraging patrons and staff to write a line or two of poetry, which he is going to fashion into a poem," Jarog said. (Pictured is May Babcock and Megan Singleton’s handmade paper installation on the first floor of the Gaylord Building).

IF YOU GO WHAT: John MCDavitt's Community Paint Days WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays, 6 to 8 Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays. Through June. WHERE: White Oak Library District in Lockport. I NFORMATION: Call 815-552-4265. WHAT: Poetry Workshops by Sam Love WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 30, July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 29; and 2 p.m. Aug. 26 and Sept. 23 WHERE: 11 a.m. events: p White Oak Library, Lockport Branch 121 E. 8th St. Lockport. 2 p.m. events: Illinois State Museum, Lockport Gallery 201 W. 10th St., Lockport . WHAT: : "Agriculture into Art" by Steven Carrelli WHEN: 2 p.m. July 22 WHERE: Illinois State Museum, Lockport Gallery 201 W. 10th St., Lockport For event updates, visit www.gaylordbuilding/unLOCK. (Pictured is May Babcock and Megan Singleton’s unLOCK Installation, "Ebb & Flow").

6. Robert Ryan – “The City of Lockport...Constantly Moving Toward a Brighter Tomorrow," a public mural displaying the various modes of transportation and businesses in Lockport, from the past to present day. Location – Dellwood Tire. 7. Colin Lyons – “Prototype for the Preservation of Degradation”, a project that will inhabit a portion of post-industrial canal infrastructure where a prototype off-the-grid (possibly floating) shelter will be created and a printmaking-powered laboratory will be inhabited by the artist who will assume the role of surveyor, ecologist, and alchemist. Location – outdoor, canal location. 8. May Babcock – “Ebb and Flow: A Papermaking Installation”, a modular, organic piece sculpted from paper pieces created from responsibly collected plant materials and flat handmade papers. Location – multiple locations. 9. John Siblik – “Garden in the Sky”, thirty 72-inch spheres will be installed at least 15 feet above ground and tethered in the trees along the I & M Canal. Location – Along canal between Gaylord Building & Norton Building. 10. Dylan Fish – “From Dolomite to Dolobyte”, a project that will develop a fully-functioning cryptocurrency unique to the town of Lockport. Location – Port Noir. (Pictured are poems created by the Lockport Poetry Project and Sam Love).

#A&EPlainfieldLockportcommunity paint daysJohn McDavittmuralSam LovepoetryLockport Poetry Projectpoetry workshopsunLOCKEDGaylord BuildingDenise M. Baran-Unland