Call to All Performers

Is there anyone you know (including yourself) who might be interested in collaborating in the up and coming 
Manchester Experiment?

People who are part of the group can display work or coordinate performance events at the location (Manchester Center). Everyone in the collective will ultimately work together and contribute to the making of a gigantic show which is planned to be ready by the end of Spring.
The location is ideal for installations, music, workshops, fashion expos, film showings, poetry readings, theatrical productions, or dance ensembles--basically anything which utilizes your creativity.

STAY EXPERIMENTAL!
We also plan to on facilitating a symposium/forum of sorts which could cover a variety of different topics, so if you have a discussion idea, or would like to lead one, come to our next meeting or email us your ideas.

MAILING LIST

Our first meeting of the year took place this last Sunday. To be notified about your future events please email themanchesterexperience@gmail.com to be put on the mailing list.

Also, if you, or anyone you know are interested in preforming or showing your work at this location in the future please email a brief bio, some sample of your work, and the date you'd like to show.

Notes for: Saturday, March 10, 2012 “collective” meeting

      I.        The Manchester Experiment (ME)

      I.         Gallery’s Public Identity

a.     Re-naming the Gallery?

                                               i.     Ideas/words: Occupied, OCCUPY  

                                             ii.     Other possible names/acronyms?

b.     How to inform and/or create awareness of the M.E.

                                               i.      Performances (?)

c.     Exposure/Advertizing

                                               i.     Mike Medrano (poet and radio host),  KFCF 88.1

                                             ii.     Fresno Food Expo: Using this event as a model  to possibly establish a Fresno Art Expo

§  Attract attention from outside (i.e. outside Central Valley region) galleries, dealers, museums, organizations etc. 

     II.         Educational Element of the M.E.

                                               i.     Communicate and network with local schools, K-12

§  Establish M.E.’s role as an institute of learning beyond the standard CA standardized curriculai

                                             ii.     The loss of ART, P.E. in public schools: 

§  What’s the Role of Art/Culture/Youth Centers? 

§  Can the Arts become an incentive for students in order to keep them from dropping out (High School)? 

                                            iii.     California Arts Council: Research - http://www.cac.ca.gov/

                                            iv.     Contact:  Robert Bullwinkel (Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the Fresno County Office of Education)

§  Robert Bullwinkel
Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator
559-779-8702 (mobile)
559-265-3098 x3145 (office)
559-265-3056(fax)
bbullwinkel@fcoe.org

   III.         The Manchester Center Mall Tour Discussion  (Tour led by Ramiro Martinez)

a.     Interior Space

                                               i.     Lots of blank, static wall space: 2^nd floor railing and skylight areas

                                             ii.     High ceilings inviting large sculptural/installation work

                                            iii.     How to view Mall?  -  A public space that transcends the stereotypic notion of a “shopping mall”

§  Public space where visitors can interact with visual, site-based installations, and performance based art

                                            iv.     Mall “sale” Islands: Utilize? 

   IV.         The purpose of a Collective?

                                               i.     Contribution of members’ knowledge, expertise, tools, social networks, etc.

     V.         The importance of the public forum  and how to encourage public/community participation 

                                               i.     Create programs and/or thematic events for M.E. that will entice community’s participation 

   VI.         Audiences of the M.E. 

a.     Regular mall visitors: Parents and young children living in direct or nearby neighborhoods

b.     K-12 students (look up schools within a 3 mile radius of Mall?)

c.     Regular ArtHop attendees

d.     Gallery managers

e.     Institute/Museum staff

f.      Collectors

  VII.         Language: Exhibition and artwork labeling

a.     Should labeling be bi/trilingual? 

(This summery has been compiled by Francisco Tabarez. If you have any additional questions concerning our first collaboration, please email themanchesterexperience@gmail)