If you missed the gathering or the accumulated installation of Chris Rauschenberg’s project for the South Waterfront, you can click here to see the 60+ images that he captured of the interior life of the neighborhood.  

When I hear people talk about the South Waterfront district, the conversations most often center on the “green” nature of the architecture, on the development’s proximity to the river, or on the unique access to public transportation found in the tram and streetcar.   Thus far, all of these aspects of the neighborhood have been well documented photographically, particularly the buildings themselves.   Enter the incredible photographic artist, Christopher Rauschenberg, February’s guest artist in the AiR program.  Chris was much more interested in what and who was inside the towers.  As he puts it, the everyday “living and being” of the place.  We queried residents to see if they would let Chris eddying in their homes for an hour or so in order to let him capture the more human side of the development.  What resulted was 12 invitations and 60+ images now on the walls in the AiR studio.  With several residences and a week still to go, the totality of Chris’ portrait of the inside life of the neighborhood is still emerging.  Below find some samplings from early visits.  Please plan on joining us in the studio - Thursday, Feb. 28th, from 6:30-8p, for the culminating exhibit of Chris’ project - Looking at the South Waterfront.       

On Saturday, Dec. 22nd, over 125 people taunted the rain and cold by venturing down to the SWF to see Tahni Holt’s - The Party Project.  The fourth artist in the SWF Monthly Guest Artist series, Tahni worked with a cast of 30 volunteer performers, musician/composers Kate O’Brien-Clarke, Corrina Repp and Joe Haege, and lighting designer Bill Boese to create a strolling dance event that caught the only dry spell in nearly two straight days of rain.  If you missed the performance or want to be reminded of some of its beauty, a chronological photo essay follows.  All these photos and the others on AiR page are by Yalcin Erhan, the AiR Program photographer. Folks began to gather at about 3:45p in the Bella Espresso for a 4p show.  While frigid outside, everyone was greeted with hot cider or cocoa to warm their bones.   When critical mass had happened, we moved everyone outside for short introduction.Enough said, let the performance begin!   Space #1  -  A leased but as yet unbuilt-out retail space in the base of Atwater Place.         After a toast and then some breaking of glass (cups not windows), the audience strolled in a caroling-style fashion to site #2 - a second floor balcony on the courtyard of the John Ross plaza.   This time from below, the audience watched the second scene.      At the conclusion of episode two, all were finally invited inside into the Artist in Residence studio for the third and final event, an actual party (birthday).    This is just a glimpse of 30 minutes of stunning performance.  Visit the site again in a few weeks to see video clips from all three sites. 

Our monthly guest artist series continues with Christopher Rauschenberg in February 2008. Join the discussion as he writes about his experiences in creating art that celebrates the South Waterfront community.