Free City Preview: Chevy Futures Visioning Workshop Saturday April 27

Los Angeles-based artist and urban planner James Rojas usually begins one of his Visioning Workshops carrying a big box. Inside are hundreds of colorful, quirky objects – poker chips, feathers, plastic eggshells, board game pieces - that he spreads out on the largest tables he can find. He then asks everyone in the room to take as many of these materials as they want to build their own small-scale model representing their ideal version of a place – it could be a park, a neighborhood, an entire city, or a vacant industrial site like Chevy-in-the-Hole.

“It’s all about sparking people’s imaginations,” Rojas says. “When people start working with these playful objects, and start building three-dimensional models, they usually come up with ideas they wouldn’t have thought of just by talking or writing down notes.”

Rojas first brought his workshops to Flint last fall for the Congress for Urban Transformation (CUT), Flint Public Art Project’s conference on urban revitalization strategies. More than 200 people of all ages participated in nearly a dozen workshops over the course of three days – including a group of 50 people who met at Kettering University to brainstorm short-term activities that could reclaim Chevy-in-the-Hole. Some of the ideas that came out of that workshop – including movie screenings, music performances, and biking – will be on the program during Free City.

Rojas will offer a 3-hour workshop from on Saturday April 27, asking people to envision what they want Chevy-in-the-Hole to become in the long-term. He will then build a large-scale model showing the many ideas people contributed that will be on display during the festival May 3 – 5.

“I’m very excited to come back to Flint and to the Chevy site. There’s so much potential there – I can’t wait to see what people come up with.”

Catch the Chevy Visions workshop Saturday, April 27 from 3 – 6 pm at Chevy-in-the-Hole.

freecityflint.org

Free City Public Art Festival, May 3-5, Chevy-in-the-Hole, Flint, Michigan

Flint Public Art Project Temporarily Reclaims and Reuses

 Razed Chevy Site for Free City—a Large-Scale

Open-Air Art Festival, May 3–5

Flint, Michigan – Flint Public Art Project will temporarily reclaim Chevy-in-the-Hole, a mile-long stretch along the Flint River once occupied by a series of now-razed Chevrolet plants for Free City, a large-scale, open-air art festival taking place Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, 2013. With this year’s theme—“Reclaim | Transform” —Free City will demonstrate that a critical mass of temporary activities can turn abandoned industrial properties into active public spaces and will highlight the ongoing transformation of Flint. More than 40 artists from Flint, southeast Michigan, and the Great Lakes region will be joined by dozens of artists from across the country and Europe.

Many of the projects address the site’s history in provocative and entertaining ways, while anticipating possible futures for its re-use. GeoSpace’s Firefly is a futuristic three-wheeled human-powered vehicle that the Ann Arbor-based artist tours around the exhibition area to spur conversations about sustainable transport. Flint-based architect Freeman Greer marks the site with reclaimed tires arranged in the form of a Chevrolet logo and planted with grass and sunflowers. Los Angeles-based Jesse Sugarmann uses heavy equipment to hoist, drop, ram, and pile junked Pontiac Fieros, recording the process for video installations. Brooklyn’s Madagascar Institute creates amusement-park rides made from reclaimed auto parts.

The festival also showcases the growing network of artists, designers, builders, and performers in the Great Lakes region. Melissa Mays of Flint’s Metal Shop co-organizes Endless Drummers, a  thundering and explosive performance by dozens of the best drummers from the region. Video-projection mapping by the Windsor-based duo Kero and Annie Hall superimposes computer-generated imagery over the reclaimed landscape. Cinthia Montague and Candice Stewart of the Flint-based group Flower Tour invite participants to use their mobile devices to join a silent dance party. Kunsthalle Detroit installs video projections transforming the Flint River channel into a light-filled spectacle, and light-art installations by Catie Newell and students at University of Michigan illuminate an old rail line that once moved materials to production.

“Free City is the culmination of three years of conversations with local, regional, and national artists about how art could be useful as a part of the renewal process in the city of Flint,” says Stephen Zacks, executive director of Flint Public Art Project. “The festival will reconnect residents to Chevy-in-the-Hole in the short term, as long-term remediation takes place.”

The name Chevy-in-the-Hole refers to the topography of the site, a flood plain of the Flint River lying 10-20 feet lower than its surroundings. It has historical significance for the U.S. Labor movement—in the mid-1930s, sit-down strikes by autoworkers led directly to General Motors recognizing the United Auto Workers union in 1937. In the 1960s, the Chevy site along with three other Flint industrial "campuses" employed nearly 90,000 people. Layoffs took place throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and by 2004, all but one building was demolished.

Today however, the site is considered a key piece to Flint's future. The City of Flint has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant more than 1,000 trees that are helping clean up the soil. The City is also processing several tons of leaf waste and other organic matter for compost. Both activities are symbols of rebirth that are also helping speed the site's future re-use.

The festival is made possible in part by generous funding from ArtPlace, a consortium of thirteen national foundations in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts, which awarded one of its second round of annual grants to Flint Public Art Project in 2012.

Flint Public Art Project is produced by Amplifier Inc. with support from ArtPlace, in affiliation with Flint Institute of Arts, Red Ink Flint, and Fractured Atlas.

Congress for Urban Transformation: Video

CUT Interventions: Workshops, Oct. 22-26

 

From October 22 to 26, Flint Public Art Project invited artists and designers from around the country to work with groups to landscape a new orchard, design and build seating for a bus stop, and create small-scale physical models to illustrate changes residents would like to see in their neighborhoods. On the opening night of the conference, participants share the results of these collaborations. James Rojas presents his planning workshops with five groups in the city, Alex Gilliam shares his design-build interventions with Job Corps, Susannah Drake is joined by Derek Williams of Peace Mob to argue for sustainable reuse of vacant lots, and Bill Hammond discusses the Salem Community Development Corporation mural project. Unified Sisters perform. Arlow Xan plays musical interludes.


CUT: Reclaiming Former Industrial Sites, Oct. 27



Former factories sites can be transformed into public spaces, museums, and thriving communities. See how cities around the world are reclaiming abandoned industrial areas, restoring plants and wildlife, recovering their industrial history, and reconnecting people to abandoned spaces. Center for Community Progress fellow Steve Montle and environmental engineer Joel Parker report on the city's efforts to remediate Chevy-in-the-Hole, a 130-acre former GM manufacturing plant in the heart of the city. Jill Allen of Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Susannah Drake of dlandstudio share examples from their own practices and historical precedents.


Growing urban agriculture, Oct. 27

In cities across the country, residents are reclaiming vacant lots to grow food, provide job training, educate young people, and create safe public spaces. How can city governments, citizens, and partners support and expand this movement? Learn how urban farmers and gardeners in Flint, Toledo, and New York City are gaining access to land, soil, and other resources to strengthen their communities. Speakers include Greg Gaines of Mr. Rogers Garden Program, Stephen Arellano, urban food systems consultant, and Jerome Chou, editor of Five Borough Farm. Arlow Xan performs musical interludes.

Re-using abandoned buildings and vacant lots, Oct. 27



How can cities and residents turn devalued land into opportunities? Discarded materials, public events, temporary spaces, and other unconventional strategies can inspire possibilities for reusing vacant buildings and land. Doug Weiland, executive director of the Genesee County Land Bank, describes initiatives to manage vacant properties, and artists and architects present examples of beauty made from ruins and activated empty spaces.  Speakers include Daniel D'Oca of Interboro Partners, Kyong Park, founder of Storefront for Art and Architecture, and Matthieu Bain and Andrew Perkins of the Dwelling on Waste project, with CUP founder and Newark chief urban designer Damon Rich serving as moderator. Arlow Xan performs musical interludes.


Planning and process for legacy cities, Oct. 27

Master plans are the road map to a city’s future. They point residents, businesses, and city governments toward a common destination. An inclusive, accessible process can bring communities together to imagine what a city can be. Planners and architects working in Detroit, Newark, and Philadelphia compare notes with Flint’s Chief Planner Megan Hunter on the challenges and opportunities their cities face and the best ways to engage publics.

CUT Locations

Congress for Urban Transformation takes place at 4 sites.

1) Fri. Oct. 26, 7 - 9 pm at UM-Flint KIVA Auditorium at the Harding Mott University Center (UCEN).

2) Sat. Oct. 27, 10 - 6 pm at UM-Flint Michigan Rooms A & B at the UCEN.

3) Sun. Oct. 28, 9 am - 9:45 am at Chevy-in-the-Hole, Parcel B, with parking at Atwood Stadium and pedestrian entrance on Stevenson Street between Bluff and Kearsley/ Glenwood.

4) Sun. Oct. 28 10 am - 1 pm at Kettering University International Room, 1700 University Ave.

For full schedule, go to our events page.

For questions, call program coordinator Rob McCullough at 810-618-2690.

Congress for Urban Transformation: Program & Schedule

DOWNLOAD PDF

CONGRESS FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION (CUT) is a week-long gathering of residents, city officials, and visiting artists, architects, planners, and community organizers to exchange ideas, build consensus toward a shared vision, and help reimagine the city. The conference is organized by Flint Public Art Project in collaboration with Mayor Dayne Walling, Chief Planner Megan Hunter, University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, and Mott Community College.

During the week of October 22 – October 28, visiting artists and designers will work with community partners to engage residents in designing and planning specific sites throughout the city. These events will culminate in a three-day conference from October 26 - 28 featuring talks and conversations with local, regional, national, and international leaders in urban revitalization. The final day will end with a public workshop to generate strategies to transform a section of the Chevy-in-the-Hole site into an active public space.

Fri Oct. 26, 7 – 9 pm

UM–Flint: KIVA Auditorium, 400 Mill St.

7:00 pm  Introduction: Stephen Zacks
7:15 pm  Welcome: Mayor Dayne Walling
7:25 pm  Dan Kildee, Democratic Candidate for Congress and Co-founder, Genesee County Land Bank
7:35 pm  Performance: Unified Sisters

7:50 pm – 9:00 pm  
Interventions
From October 22 to 26, Flint Public Art Project is inviting artists and designers from around the country to work with groups to landscape a new orchard, design and build seating for a bus stop, and create small-scale physical models to illustrate changes residents would like to see in their neighborhoods. On the opening night of the conference, participants share the results of these collaborations.

To participate in an urban intervention with a visiting designer, contact Jerome Chou.

Sat Oct 27, 10 am – 6 pm

UM–Flint: Michigan Room, 303 E. Kearsley St.

Panel discussions

10:00am - 11:30am
Reclaiming former industrial sites

Former factories sites can be transformed into public spaces, museums, and thriving communities. See how cities around the world are reclaiming abandoned industrial areas, restoring plants and wildlife, recovering their industrial history, and reconnecting people to abandoned spaces. Center for Community Progress fellow Steve Montle and environmental engineer Joel Parker report on the city’s efforts to remediate Chevy-in-the-Hole, a 130-acre former GM manufacturing plant in the heart of the city.

11:30am - 1:00pm
Growing urban agriculture

In cities across the country, residents are reclaiming vacant lots to grow food, provide job training, educate young people, and create safe public spaces. How can city governments, citizens, and partners support and expand this movement? Learn how urban farmers and gardeners in Flint, Toledo, and New York City are gaining access to land, soil, and other resources to strengthen their communities.

1:00pm - 2:00pm
LUNCH at Hoffman's Deli
503 Garland St @ West 2nd Ave

2:15pm - 3:45pm
Re-using abandoned buildings and vacant lots

How can cities and residents turn devalued land into opportunities? Discarded materials, public events, temporary spaces, and other unconventional strategies can inspire possibilities for reusing vacant buildings and land. Doug Weiland, executive director of the Genesee County Land Bank, describes initiatives to manage vacant properties, and artists and architects present examples of beauty made from ruins and activated empty spaces.

3:45pm - 5:15pm
Planning and process for legacy cities

Master plans are the road map to a city’s future. They point residents, businesses, and city governments toward a common destination. An inclusive, accessible process can bring communities together to imagine what a city can be. Planners and architects working in Detroit, Newark, and Philadelphia compare notes with Flint’s Chief Planner Megan Hunter on the challenges and opportunities their cities face and the best ways to engage publics.

Sun Oct 28, 9 am – 1 pm
Stevenson Street between Bluff and Glenwood; and Kettering University: International Room, 1700 University Ave.

Site visit and public workshop
The City of Flint is in the process of rehabilitating the former GM manufacturing landscape known as Chevy-in-the-Hole. FPAP and the Center for Community Progress welcome residents to the first public tour of the site since its closing, highlighting current initiatives and emerging possibilities. Following the tour, participants are invited to two workshops: Opening Chevy shares details about the opportunities and constraints for reuse of the site; Speeding Chevy organizes participants into small groups to generate strategies to reclaim the site with temporary activities, events, and programs.

Chevy-in-the-Hole Tour 
Meet at the marked gate on Stevenson Street between Bluff and Glenwood
9:00am - 9:45am

Interactive workshops

Kettering University: International Room, 1700 University Ave.

10am - 1pm

Light refreshments will be served

SPEAKERS:

Jill Allen, Stoss Landscape Urbanism

Stephen Arellano, Food Systems Consultant

Matthieu Bain + Andrew Perkins, Dwelling on Waste

Susannah Drake, dlandstudio

Alex Gilliam, Public Workshop

Megan Hunter, Chief Planner, City of Flint 

Interboro Partners

Dan Kildee, Democratic Candidate for Congress; Co-founder, Genesee County Land Bank

Dan Kinkead, Hamilton Anderson Architects

Steve Montle, Center for Community Progress

Kyong Park, Founder, Storefront for Art & Architecture

Joel Parker, Project Designer and Engineer, Chevy-in-the-Hole

Damon Rich, Chief Urban Designer, City of Newark; Founder, Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)

James Rojas, Place–It!

Brent Ryan, Design After Decline

Dayne Walling, Mayor, City of Flint

Doug Weiland, Genesee County Land Bank

INFORMATION FOR VISITORS

Flint Public Art Project organizes public events, workshops, and temporary installations to inspire residents to reimagine the city, reclaim vacant and underutilized buildings and lots, and use innovative tools to steer the city’s long-term planning.

We support collaborations among local residents and organizations with leading artists, architects, planners, and community organizers from around the world, connecting the city to regional, national, and global movements to revitalize places through art and design.

We are documenting and amplifying the many ways residents, businesses, and institutions are transforming the city, its public image and identity, and broadcasting this new story to audiences throughout the world.

Fall Events/ Save the Date - Congress for Urban Transformation (CUT), Oct. 26-28

FALL EVENTS

[7 - 9 pm] Fri. Oct. 5

Potluck and Screening of "The Greenhorns" 

Flint River Farm/ Spacebuster, 

1623 Beach Street

Bring food to share for a potluck with local urban farmers, and a documentary about a new generation of young farmers in America. 

[7 - 11 pm] Fri. Oct. 12

Kero and Annie Hall - Art Walk 

Genesee Towers/ Spacebuster, 

120 E. First Street 

Windsor-based veterans of the Detroit electronic music scene Kero and Annie Hall perform and install projection mapping work onto the Genesee Towers.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct 26 - 28

Flint Public Art Project presents

Congress for Urban Transformation (CUT)

CONGRESS FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION (CUT) is a week-long gathering of residents, city officials, and visiting artists, architects, planners, and community organizers to exchange ideas, build consensus toward a shared vision, and help reimagine the city. The conference is organized by Flint Public Art Project in collaboration with Mayor Dayne Walling, chief planner Megan Hunter, University of Michigan-Flint, Kettering University, and Mott Community College.

During the week of October 21 - 28, visiting artists and designers will work with community partners to engage residents in designing and planning specific sites throughout the city. These events will culminate in a three-day conference from October 26 - 28 featuring talks and conversations with local, regional, national, and international leaders in urban revitalization. The final day will end with a public workshop to generate strategies to transform a section of the Chevy-in-the-Hole site into an active public space.


Photo: Jesse Sugarmann

Flint Public Art Project is produced in affiliation with Flint Institute of Arts and Red Ink Flint with support from ArtPlace. 

About the Spacebuster: 

The Spacebuster is a mobile inflatable structure designed by Raumlabor in 2009 and commissioned by Storefront for Art and Architecture to transform public spaces of all kinds into points for community gathering. 

Storefront for Art and Architecture has kindly loaned the Spacebuster for this event. 

Vote for Art House

Carriage Town Historic Neighborhood Association is collaborating with Flint Public Art Project to renovate an abandoned home in the city’s oldest neighborhood as a cooperative art and community space – using an imaginative rebuilding process to help train local residents how to revitalize some of the city’s other 20,000 abandoned buildings.

Led by Andrew Perkins, a recent graduate of State University of New York–Buffalo architecture school who rescued an abandoned house in upstate NY using only recycled materials, Carriage Town and Flint Public Art Project are collaborating with local, regional, and national artists to reuse the magnificent Spencer’s Mortuary, once owned by one of Flint’s leading civil rights figures.

Taking cues from the civil rights meetings held at Spencer’s to transform social conditions, Carriage Town and Flint Public Art Project are planning a series of public workshops to engage residents, city officials, and nonprofits in discussions on how to transform the building into a new community center and reconstruct it using all sustainable and salvaged materials. Located steps from a Native American burial ground, blocks from birthplace of the American auto industry, and halfway between two thriving universities, Spencer’s Art House project is perfectly situated as a beacon of the transformation of Flint already underway.

Funds from Chase Community Giving will offset major renovation costs, including repairing the roof and foundation, installing insulation, solar power, and gray water recycling, and turning the home into a model for the emerging new city. Spencer’s Art House will demonstrate that abandoned homes can be reborn as neighborhood resources – both in Flint and in cities nationwide.

Here's where you vote for the Spencer's project: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charity/view/ein/38-2587577. You have to allow the Chase Community Giving App--it posts who you vote for on your Facebook page--then vote for Carriage Town Historic Neighborhood Association. If you do this it will help us rebuild this structure as an art and community space.

If you have a Chase banking account, you can vote here as well.