Go See This: JumpstART Walkabout :: An Experiment in Equilibrium

As Chatham Park continues to develop its community, they remain dedicated to supporting local art in Chatham County. As part of that commitment, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .

“We’re trying something new, an experiment that’s been in the works for months now. It’s not a gallery show, and it’s not a sit-down performance, and it’s not a film or an album launch either. But it’s got parts and pieces of all those things. And you can have a beverage while you watch.”

The Chatham Arts Council is inviting folks to join in The JumpstART Walkabout :: An Experiment in Equilibrium on Saturday, December 3, and CAC Artistic Director Cheryl Chamblee wants you to be a part of something new.

Intrigued? Let’s find out more.

Start with the name of this thing. What’s a JumpstART walkabout?

Last season, we awarded funds to 10 Chatham County artists who had applied to “JumpstART” their arts work. These awards are unique because they pay for artists’ work time–in the same way that an accountant or a plumber or a lawyer gets paid for their work time. And the artists still own their work,

but it’s also an agreement to participate in a free, public showing of that new work so that anyone in Chatham County can check it out.

This particular group of artists make work in pretty widely different formats, so we’ve hired Chatham theatre artist Derrick Ivey to create an installation where folks can walk through to experience the projects along a journey. You can linger here and there, or you can zoom through, depending on what moves you.

And where does equilibrium come in?

Ah, yes. Equilibrium is the prompt. No matter whether the medium is music or textile or paint, equilibrium is the jumping off point for the creation. So while the experience won’t be linear or have a storyline, it’s held together by this idea of exploring equilibrium. Equilibrium feels a bit out of reach these days for so many people, so we were curious what these artists might make of that.

Who are these ten equilibrium-exploring artists?

You’ll experience Cataleya Jewelry Studio’s jewelry art by Alexander Percy and Jenn Von Egidy, Brenda Linton’s writing, Diali Cissokho’s new kora music, JR Butler’s wood sculpture, Julia Kennedy’s new oil painting, skintape’s audiovisual performance, Stephan Meyers aka Breadfoot’s rock banjo opera, Tanja Lipinski Cole’s mixed media visual art, Taz Halloween’s new music, and Virginia Ralston’s fiber art.

And this is happening at The Plant, right?

That’s right. Total experiment here, because we’ll be at spots all around The Plant in Pittsboro from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’ll be dark (or nearly dark!), and since it’s a walkabout, you may want to bring a flashlight for the journey between artists. Folks can grab a beverage at one of the many rad Beverage District spots, and bring it with them for the walkabout. You can plan to get dinner out there, too. The artists will be both indoors and outdoors there, so you’ll want to bundle up a bit if it’s chilly.

 

 

 

 

 

So isn’t this the same weekend as the Studio Tour, hosted by the Chatham Artists Guild?

Yes! The arts in Chatham are everywhere! Studios close at 5 on Saturday, so come on over and cap off your arts-full day with the JumpstART crew.

 

 

 

 

 

We’ll close with a more traditional who-what-where-where-why-how, but first let’s find out some answers to the who-what-when-where-why-how I always want to know:

• Who could I bring? You can bring children, if they’d be into something like this. Our 10-year-old will be there. And you can bring folks with accessibility needs, too.

• What should I wear? Be as casual as you like–or as fun and fancy as you want. But do wear layers because it’s the first weekend of December. And do wear comfortable shoes.

• When will I get home? You can check it out for 30 minutes, or you can linger for the whole two hours. Have an arts snack–or make it an arts meal. You’re in charge of that!

• Where can I park? There’s parking at The Plant just before you get to the buildings. It’s dark, so bring your flashlight or use the light on your phone.

• How much does it cost? It’s free to check out the art. (There will be an option to support the artists further.) If you want food or drink, bring along some bucks for that.

• Why should I spend my time this way? Because it’s a quick and easy way to feel part of something. Because these artists are making new things for you right here in Chatham. Because it will be fun.

Is there anything else we should know?

We’re really excited to see you. Unless there’s pouring rain, or a thunderstorm, or some really early big snow. If there’s just a drizzle, bring an umbrella, and we’re gonna forge ahead and make some memories. But if it’s really messy, it’s a no-go. Here are the details . . .

• Who: Chatham Arts Council
• What: The JumpstART Walkabout :: An Experiment in Equilibrium
• When: Saturday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Where: The Plant in Pittsboro
• Why: Because you’ll have fun, and you can get home early enough to indulge your inner introvert, too.
• How: No need to get a ticket in advance. Just come on  over and join us.
• Cost: Free

The JumpstART project is supported in part by a grant from the Manbites Dog Theater Fund. Other funders include Chatham County, Big Night In for the Arts, and the North Carolina Arts Council.