River-Wash to be at Little Mekong Night Market, June 14th

I'm excited to share the "River-Wash at Little Mekong: Selected Views" exhibit at the outdoor gallery at the Little Mekong Night Market June 14th, 2014.

I hope the weather is good, I know the food will be...

Exhibit Announcement

River-Wash at Little Mekong: Selected Views 

 

Jonee Kulman Brigham

February 18 – March 28, 2014

Asian Economic Development Association
377 University Ave W, Suite D
(Next to Thai Café)
Saint Paul, MN 55103
651.222.7798 info@aeda-mn.org

Hours: Monday-Friday 10-5 (Note: The space is a working office; viewing hours are subject to change.) 

 

This exhibit gives a glimpse into a larger, recent public art project in Little Mekong Business and Cultural District along University Avenue between Mackubin and Galtier Streets in St. Paul. Starting in fall, 2013, “River-Wash at Little Mekong” engaged the people behind storefronts with the stormwater below the street —connecting Little Mekong to the Mississippi River. Participating business owners displayed a poster in their storefront documenting an encounter where they mark a watering can and water-paint the sidewalk to answer two questions: "What do you want to flow in to this place?" and "What do you want to wash away?" Then, washing the sidewalk, their hopes and concerns flow into the storm drain, to water street trees and be carried by the river—a healing symbol. In turn, the human role in river health is expressed by marking storm drains with a pollution prevention message. The exhibit includes photographs, posters, and the golden watering can with participants' writing from the project. Artist, Jonee Kulman Brigham of Full Spring Studio, collaborated with Friends of the Mississippi River, Asian Economic Development Association, and the City of St. Paul. The project is supported by Irrigate.

Learn more at  river-wash.blogspot.com and visit Little Mekong to support small businesses recovering from light-rail construction.

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If you'd like to help spread the word, paste the announcement above into your communications. 

Thank you!

River-Wash at Little Mekong on display at FMR event on February 13 at the Science Museum

One of the things I like about the Irrigate program that funded River-Wash at Little Mekong is how the program fosters relationships by having artists work in collaboration with local partners.

Katie Clower, Friends of the Mississippi River,
having just painted the first application
of the new City of St.Paul storm drain stencil
on the north side of University Ave. near Western,
September 15, 2013.

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR), an environmental non-profit on the Green Line, was a collaborative partner for River-Wash at Little Mekong. FMR worked with me to stencil storm-drains in the Little Mekong business and cultural district with a pollution prevention message - part of the river-connection theme of the project. Building on that relationship, FMR has now invited me to show River-Wash at Little Mekong, along with other water-related art projects from Full Spring Studio at a display in conjunction with their annual public lecture series at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The theme this year is on "Our Water in a Changing World: Climate Change and the Urban Watershed," Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 7-8:30 p.m. At the time of this writing, there is a waiting list for the lecture, but check the link for current details. I'm looking forward to sharing work and discussing the intersection of art, place making and environmental awareness.

The other collaborative partner for the project, Asian Economic Development Association, will also hold an exhibit about the River-Wash project in their new offices, with details to come. Check back here for updates.

Post-Project Thanks and Next Steps

Project display at Lao Family Community of Minnesota.
Participants wrote on the golden watering can what they
wanted to flow in to this place.

The River-Wash at Little Mekong exhibit officially ended on November 15th, although you might still find some posters on display at the participating businesses who were invited to keep the posters.

I am very thankful to everyone involved. First, I would like to thank Irrigate for supporting the project with a Corridor Collaboration grant and Peter Haakon Thompson for helpful advice. I would also like to thank the community collaborators that made this project possible and helped shape its direction. Katie Clower of the Friends of the Mississippi River worked with Anne Weber at the City of St. Paul to bring the new St. Paul stormwater stencil to the project. At the Asian Economic Development Association, summer intern: Mai Vang, Executive Director:Va-Megn Thoj, and communications contact: Theresa Swaney were very supportive, and helped with engaging with business owners. I also thank Audrey Robinson Favorito for helping to document the project.

Most of all, I'd like to thank the participating business owners and their staff for sharing their time, perspectives, and storefront display area as part of the River-Wash at Little Mekong project: Yuwadee Lor of Thai Café, Ne Dao of Ha Tien Grocery, Mai Jou Lee of Clear Water Colonics, Ericka Trinh of Anh's Hairstylists, Mai Vang Xiong of Infinite Hair Salon, Maryna Vong of The Nail Shop, Pranee Kempainen and Glan Yamthongkam of Bangkok Thai Deki, Bob Phan of Le's Auto Tech, Marquitta Ransom of Glamour with New York Cuts, Yon Ho of Wolter Brothers Liquors, Va-Megn Thoj of Asian Economic Development Association, and Chong Lee of Lao Family Community of Minnesota. Each participating business is also represented on the "People" tab of this website, where you can link to their contact information.

Next Steps

Plans are currently underway for an exhibit of "River-Wash at Little Mekong: Selected Views" to be displayed in the new street-level offices of Asian Economic Development Association in Little Mekong. This exhibit will include some of the posters from the project, and photographs of participants in different phases of the project activities. Check back to this website for exhibit dates in the near future.

River-Wash featured in Mississippi Messages

River-Wash in Little Mekong was featured in Mississippi Messages in an article by Collaborator Katie Clower of the Friends of the Mississippi. View article about River-Wash at Little Mekong


Katie also wrote an article on the new St. Paul storm drain stencil and how it was was used in River-Wash as part of the St. Paul Open Streets Festival. View article about St. Paul's New Storm Drain Stencil

Second group of River-Wash Posters installed last week

The second group of River-Wash at Little Mekong Posters were installed last week bringing the total participating businesses or organizations to 12. In updates coming soon, the new participants will be added to the people section of the website and included in a printable tour-map of the projects in Little Mekong.

Meanwhile you can visit and view the posters for the second group of participants. Here are selections from the posters and addresses where you can see more:

Bob Phan, Manager,

Le's Auto Tech,

468 University Ave.

Marquitta Ransom, Manager,

Glamour with New York Cuts,

446 University Ave.

Yon Ho, Owner,

Wolter Brothers Liquors,

438 University Ave.

Va-Megn Thoj, Executive Director,

Asian Economic Development Association,

379 University Ave.

Chong Lee, Executive Director,

Lao Family Community of Minnesota  Inc.,

320 University Ave.

 

River-Wash at Little Mekong Exhibit Begins

Yuwadee Lor, owner of Thai Cafe, washing away "grief."
photo by Jonee Kulman Brigham, Full Spring Studio
Part of the River-Wash at Little Mekong exhibit

The River-Wash at Little Mekong exhibit began Sunday, September 15th, with the first set of posters on display and the the storm drain stenciling completed in the morning as St.Paul Open Streets started at 11 am, bringing people on foot and bike to enjoy University Avenue which was closed to car traffic from Hamline to Marion Streets.

Here's the basics: 

What: River-Wash at Little Mekong Exhibit 

When: Starting September 15 through November 15, 2013, open anytime 

Where: In Little Mekong Business and Cultural District  along University Avenue between Mackubin and Galtier Streets 

Summary: “River-Wash at Little Mekong” engages the people behind storefronts with the stormwater below the street —connecting Little Mekong to the Mississippi River. Participating business owners display a poster in their storefront showing an encounter where they mark a watering can and water-paint the sidewalk to answer two questions: "What do you want to flow in to this place?" and "What do you want to wash away?" Then, washing the sidewalk, their hopes and concerns flow into the storm drain, to water trees and be carried by the  river, a healing symbol. In turn, the human role in river health is expressed by marking storm drains with the St. Paul stormwater stencil. Artist, Jonee Kulman Brigham of Full Spring Studio, collaborated with Friends of the Mississippi River, Asian Economic Development Association, and the City of St. Paul. The project is supported by Irrigate. More businesses to come in September. See river-wash.blogspot.com