Interactive Sidewalk Art: Send us your Ideas!
In our last post, The Tree Tag Project, we talked about how you can set up an interactive art project that will surprise and inspire your neighbors. Related to that, a few weeks earlier, we set up this very simple prompt with a bowl of sidewalk chalk (above). Within hours our sidewalk was covered with flowers, faces, names, messages to friends, a hopscotch, and quite a few drawings by adults (that was the big surprise).
If you were inspired by this post, we would love to hear about any interactive projects you’ve set up and how it went for you. If you’re game, please send us your high resolution photos and we’ll feature your project right here on Tinkerlab. You can write to us at Rachelle at Tinkerlab.com.
A question from a friend
One of our friends, Jill, has a question for everyone about The Tree Tag Project: How to Surprise Your Neighbors.
This is such an inspiring idea! Do you (or your readers) have any ideas about how to make it work in an urban setting….where art supplies are more likely to “walk” if left unattended?
Here’s how I responded to her question. What more would you add?
I wouldn’t be afraid of materials walking away (at first) — maybe test this out with something inexpensive and see how it goes. Our first interactive project was with sidewalk chalk: We wrote a prompt directly onto the sidewalk and left a bowl of chalk nearby. You could write a little blurb about returning the art materials to where they were found, along with an appeal to help other people enjoy the project. Or how about projects that only use inexpensive and easily replaced materials. I hope this helps!
Creative Table Highlights
We have a fun project brewing over on Instagram called Creative Table. You can read more about it over here or see all the Instagram pictures tagged with #creativetable here when you type creativetable into the search bar. This project is always open if you’d like to participate. Just read the instructions and take a look at some of these inspiring photos to get a sense of what it’s all about.
It’s always fun to share a few highlights from this project, so here are a few from this past week…
Craft Stick Dolls from Michelle McInerney who blogs at Molly Moo.
Drawing birds from a book: Kate of An Everyday Story.
Painting on a paper bag from Bar Rucci or Art Bar . Bar’s blog is a gorgeous, happy place (her words and mine), and one of my new favorite spots to spend some time online.
A question for you…
Do you have any advice for Jill about setting up an interactive art experience in her urban neighborhood?
Rachelle,
Thanks for putting this question out there! Can’t wait to read some more good ideas. I am collaborating with some people in my neighborhood in Queens, NY who put together an art in the park day every Fall. I’m trying to think of a good interactive arts project to launch that day to familiarize the community with the idea…so that maybe we can try it on “regular” days, too 🙂 i think the tree tag project would be a perfect start…as would some interactive side walk chalk!