Animated projection art by Russ RuBert on historic silos

Updates
On First Friday in October, animated colored light exploded and bubbled across the 170-foot wide historic silos in the IDEA Commons. Created for the site and projected by artist Russ RuBert from the ideaXfactory, these moving paintings can be seen from blocks away and part of the mystery and excitement for audiences is finding the source.

The “Art on the Fringe” show also featured new large spray-paint art by Scott Sauer and many other local artists installed street-art style lining the gallery and wrapped around our HVAC systems.

Scott Sauer’s humorous art was created with spray paint and acrylics

October brought an increase in attendance by young people, couples and families at the ideaXfactory, perhaps in part due to feature articles in the Springfield News-Leader and 417 Magazine.

The Sonic Paintbrush makes sounds activating neon art by touching the watercolor paint; photo by Russ RuBert

Recent Wins
-- ideaXfactory and many of our collaborators were featured in the October issue of 417 Magazine in “Art Within Reach.” The theme was the cover of the issue and ran throughout, including full-page profiles of many local artists.

-- The Springfield News-Leader article “Art on the Fringe: Groups strive for engagement, vitality” by freelance writer Ed Peaco grabbed the cover and two more pages in the “Life” section on Sunday, September 22. This in-depth feature included many interviews with local artists, artist groups, and our ArtPlace grant award.

-- During part of September, Mill Street and part of Boonville Avenue between ideaXfactory, Missouri State University’s Brick City, other local galleries and a coffee shop was under reconstruction and completely impassable during a project of Burlington Northern Sante Fe and Springfield Public Works to replace railroad tracks and affected pedestrian sidewalks. The work was completed in record time, and the street reopened just in time for Global PechaKucha Night at the ideaXfactory.

BNSF removing the railroad tracks by the ideaXfactory

-- Global PechaKucha Night was held outdoors at the ideaXfactory on September 20 in conjuction with over 100 cities around the world. The theme “Hidden Heroes” was interpreted by eight presenters including Cora Scott on the City of Springfield Public Works, Rob Hunt on the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, and Jan Horton on the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society. The Mayor of Springfield Robert Stephens also attended the event to personally connect with other PKN city organizers and Tokyo PKN headquarters via a 24-hour Google+ Hangout.

Rob Hunt presents about the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks

Insight/Provocation
Art of Space, an art/architecture collaborative led by Gerard Nadeau of Drury University, has been meeting at ideaXfactory on Saturdays. First to take down an outdoor “Nest” installation created from woven black irrigation tubing, and next, to experiment with construction techniques using thin slats of wood to construct enclosures using weaving and tension to hold the form.

Art of Space constructing a wall of woven thin wood slats

We are finding it is important to establish good timelines for installations, not only for installation, but for de-installation. Artists need time and space to work through the creative process of conceptual and technical development, and juggling projects in development is as important as achieving a current exhibition. This will be important as we host rehearsals and project development for a November performance-based installation by a MSU dance student and Art of Space continues working towards a December architectural installation.