POP UP TOP
Premiering at Top City Thursdays tonight, in the vacant storefront at 8th and Kansas Avenues, the Chords & Oil arts collective will be debuting their newest art installation, POP UP TOP.
POP UP TOP seeks to breathe new life into vacant storefronts of Downtown Topeka. Vacant storefronts that have long sat empty are transformed into public art spaces and exhibits- that in turn foster a collective creativity to all who pass by. Through a partnership with Chords & Oil and downtown property owners; artists, creators, thinkers, and organizations have gallery space opportunities available to them at no cost in highly visible locations throughout downtown. All properties remain actively available for sale or lease.
The goal of POP UP TOP is to drive traffic downtown and new businesses into vacant storefronts, but in doing so also help stimulate a creative community around us. The gallery spaces available through POP UP TOP are not traditional gallery spaces. Through an agreement with involved property owners, Chords and Oil secures various “gallery” spaces in vacant buildings that are then made available to interested artists and organizations. The spaces vary in amenities and sizes. Many of the spaces are merely storefront displays and do not allow any access into the space. Nor do they offer utilities such as heat, a/c, water, or electricity. Installations will run for generally 3 to 4 months. Exact durations will be agreed upon with the Artist and Property owners.
For more information or to find out how you can get involved in a POP UP Gallery, visit chordsandoil.org/popuptop
republished from seveneightfive, 9-16-10 (art popping up downtown)