McLellan Building, 63 E. Congress (NW corner of Scott Ave. and Congress)

Master plans for development tend to be thick, boring documents full of subheadings, summaries, and appendices that few people read. But if they’re displayed the right way in the right place they can become works of art. That’s what four local artists discovered when they mounted an exhibit of over 100 master plans for downtown Tucson in a vacant storefront on that city’s main downtown street.

The exhibit featured realized and unrealized plans spanning the years 1932 to 2009 and borrowed from local libraries and city planners, architects, and collectors. The display included an interactive timeline highlighting local, national and world events, economic and social trends during the years the plans were conceived.

The exhibit was mounted in the front section of an empty storefront space, once the home of McLellan’s “five and dime” store, which closed in the 1970s, and now owned and occupied by John Wesley Miller Companies, a housing development company.

Held over four Saturday evenings in October 2009, +/-92 drew over 700 viewers, a response that astounded the artists—Bill Mackey, Julie Ray, Rachelle Díaz and Kimi Eisele.

“The big surprise was the great number of people that showed up to read quite boring documents,” said Mackey, an artist and architect who collected the master plans. “I guess people still love to talk about ‘What if?’”

In mounting the exhibit, the artists wondered how a display of so many plans might make people rethink their relationship with downtown. Eisele, a writer and dancer and one of the show’s organizers, said, “I didn’t really understand what a master plan was, and that there are two main forces—politics and money—that have to come together perfectly to actually carry one through. I think being an artist is a bit easier than being an urban planner. We don’t really have to plan what we’re doing. We just do it.”

While controversies over both past and current downtown revitalization efforts likely fueled the public’s interest in the exhibit, the artists say their aim was also to present the issue in a neutral way.

“Rather than inviting a group of people to have a discussion about downtown’s past and future—one that would inevitably result in cynicism and complaining—we created a structure for people to explore the topic on multiple levels and in an entertaining and fun way,” said Ray.

In addition to adding events to the timeline, exhibit goers could “judge” existing downtown areas by placing color-coded dots on photographs of various spaces and events. They were also invited to fill out public input surveys about downtown re-development that a crew of performing office workers (called “The Apparatchiks”) promptly collected, processed, and filed. (All survey takers were rewarded a lollipop.) The artists also created a small booklet entitled “A Guide to the Master Plans of Downtown Tucson,” which highlighted 12 of the master plans, offered a brief history of master planning itself, and were sold for $5 each.

Monica Surfaro Spigelman, an exhibit goer and downtown Tucson enthusiast, shared, “The show was a genuine, creative exploration of our city’s many attempts at community place-making. For me, it provided an historical context for the so many projects that have impacted the relationship between Tucson people and structures…between our community and the natural desert environment.”

Anne-Marie Russell, executive director of Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art, called the show “a brilliant, community activist oriented conceptual art project” and “an ideal example of the power of art to engage and ultimately transform society.”

About the artists:

Worker Inc. (Bill Mackey): Created in 1995, Worker Inc. is a company that specializes in promoting change in the built environment. In 2007, Worker Inc. saw the need for science based research of the more mundane processes of popular culture and formed the Neighborhood Residents Resources Ethnography Studies Unit.

POP UP SPACES (Rachelle Diaz, Julie Ray): POP UP SPACES seeks to produce temporary, interactive, site-specific installations in empty spaces in which the visitors are not just expected to be passive viewers, but asked to be active participants. The goal of these art-based experiences is to enhance economic vitality and public engagement in downtown Tucson through promotion of the area’s culture, history, architecture and business community.

Design Co*op (Kimi Eisele, Bill Mackey): Design Co*op is a collective of Tucson- based architects, designers, and artists working across disciplines to raise public awareness of the value of affordable and appropriate urban design.

Tucson artists Bill Mackey, Julie Ray, Rachelle Díaz and Kimi Eisele, representing several collectives and entities including Worker, Inc., Pop-Up Spaces and Design Co*op, present ±92: Downtown Master Plans, 1932-2009, a compilation of over 100 Downtown Tucson master plans, comprehensive plans, studies and projects. The exhibition will include realized and unrealized plans authored from the early 20th century to 2009. An interactive timeline will help viewers track world events, economic and social trends, and Tucson’s history in relationship to the plans’ origins, realization, or death. This is a rare opportunity to see ALL of the planning for downtown Tucson in one space at one time.

Also included in the exhibition will be 92 images (by photographers including Josh Schachter) of spaces and places that make our downtown unique—some of these are a direct result of planning, some of which are not. A crew of official performing “apparatchiks” (i.e. officials in a large organization, usually a political one), will be on site to collect public input for current and future downtown master planning, for which there are no funds, of course. A small booklet entitled “A Guide to the Master Plans of Downtown Tucson” will be available for purchase.

Worker, Inc., Pop-Up Spaces and Design Co*op received pertinent plans, information, space, and materials for this exhibit from Pima County Planning Department Archives, City of Tucson Department of Transportation, Tucson Pima Arts Council, Poster Frost Architects, BWS Architects, Rob Paulus Architects, Wheat Scharf Landscape Architects, PARKWISE, Earl Wettstein, Alex Kimmelman, Donovan Durband, Sy Schorr, J.T. Fey, John Wesley Miller Companies, MOCA Tucson, Wilko, and others.

Created in 1995, Worker Inc. is a company that specializes in promoting change in the built environment. In 2007, Worker Inc. saw the need for science based research of the more mundane processes of popular culture and formed the Neighborhood Residents Resources Ethnography Studies Unit.

POP UP SPACES seeks to produce temporary, interactive, site-specific installations in empty spaces in which the visitors are not just expected to be passive viewers, but asked to be active participants. The goal of these art-based experiences is to enhance economic vitality and public engagement in downtown Tucson through promotion of the area’s culture, history, architecture and business community.

Design Co*op is a collective of Tucson-based architects, designers, and artists working across disciplines to raise public awareness of the value of affordable and appropriate urban design.

For more information, contact Bill Mackey, 520-664-4847, workerarchitect@yahoo.com; Julie Ray, 520-891-8098, juliegraphics@gmail.com; Rachelle Díaz, 520-203-8363, info@popupspaces.org; Kimi Eisele, 520-882-6092, kimi@kimieisele.com.

Photo by Roy Chamberlin.

proj•ect

August 20, 2009

More information about this event here.

proj•ect

\ˈprä-ˌjekt, -jikt also ˈprō-\
noun: something that is contemplated, devised, or planned

\prə-ˈjekt\

verb: to cause light or shadow to fall into space or an image to fall on a surface

Thursday, August 20, 2009
5-7pm inside Arts Incubator, 108 E. Congress
7pm-? outside the former McLellan’s Department Store, 63 E. Congress (corner of Scott Ave. and Congress)

Since Pop Up Spaces’ Downtown Scavenger Hunt took place in March, there have already been some major changes to the locations on the route. Most noticeably, the Santa Rita Ballroom has since been demolished, and the hotel is slated to be torn down sometime in the near future. 6th Avenue Styles is a new clothing boutique that has moved into the former bakery (which has also been an art gallery and bicycle shop) at 41 N. 6th Ave. We’ve also heard that the restaurant space at 47 N. Scott, most recently occupied by Motzi, and the retail building at 73 E. Pennington, formerly Burt’s Classic Tattoo, may have tenants moving in.

Currently Pop Up Spaces is exploring projects with new collaborators. If you have a commercial space available to host a Pop Up Spaces event in Tucson, contact us at info@popupspaces.org, or call Rachelle at 203-8363 or Julie at 891-8098.

The Downtown Scavenger Hunt Exhibit
McLellan Building in Downtown Tucson
63 E. Congress (corner of Scott and Congress)

OPENING EVENT
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Exhibit on building exterior facing Scott Avenue will be continuously available for public viewing throughout the summer.

“It was fun. I drive through downtown all the time but have never paid attention to the great old buildings.”

“Awesome! Great activity to involve kids and families.”

–Feedback from Pop Up Spaces Downtown Scavenger Hunters

On Sunday, March 1, 2009, 30 plus Southern Arizonans descended upon downtown to take part in the Downtown Scavenger Hunt. Participants were given clues to find 10 locations, each one with a short creative activity that encouraged them to engage with the current environment, reflect upon the historic record, and imagine future possibilities for the space.

The 10 locations (and their interactive activities) included:

• At 41 N. 6th Avenue, which housed Model Bakery from the 1940s to the mid 1960s, scavengers found a “kiosk” with a note that said, “This place used to be filled with the welcoming scent of baking bread. Now it’s covered in bars instead. Write a note about what you think happened and tack it to the bulletin board.”
• At 47 N. Scott, most recently the restaurant Motzi, visitors were asked, “If you could open this restaurant tomorrow, what would be on the menu?” Responses in the attached booklet included “cactus cookies,” “eggs Florentine (a breakfast joint)”, and “tasty Indian food.”

The public is invited to come see the activities from all 10 spots and the comments, drawings and photos produced, and to explore the interior of a currently empty space at the McLellan building. Printed handouts of the clues will be available for participants to find the sites on their own, and other fun, family-friendly participatory surprises are in store. Co-founders and local artists Julie Ray and Rachelle Díaz will be present answer questions about the ideas behind the Pop Up Spaces project. Visitors are also encouraged to try something new downtown, whether it’s lunch at a local restaurant, or a trip to the nearby Tucson Museum of Art or Tucson Children’s Museum. You can also enter the raffle to win a basket full of wonderful goodies showcasing the eclectic mix of businesses the area has to offer.*

For those unable to attend the opening but want to try the Downtown Scavenger Hunt, the clues may be downloaded from our website here. Participants in the ongoing scavenger hunt are welcome to send digital photos and comments about their experiences to us at info@popupspaces.org. Photos of the March 1 event may be viewed online.

POP UP SPACES seeks to produce temporary, interactive, site-specific installations in empty spaces in which the visitors are not just expected to be passive viewers, but asked to be active participants. 
The goal of these art-based experiences is to enhance economic vitality and public engagement in downtown Tucson through promotion of the area’s culture, history, architecture and business community.

*Raffle prizes donated by Desert Blooms, Voices Community Stories, Fox Theatre, Dinnerware Artspace, Chris’ Cafe,  Shot in the Dark Cafe, Cup Cafe, Maynard’s Market & Kitchen, On A Roll, Rockin’ Queen, Hydra, Preen, 6th Ave. Styles and more.

Exhibition space donated by John Wesley Miller. Exhibit panel printing sponsored in part by Reproductions, Inc. Special thanks to Monica Surfaro Spiegelman and photographer Roy Chamberlin.

Materials list for 4 shadowboxes:

• plywood
• plexiglass
• screws
• primer/paint/sealant

Inset measurements (shadowboxes can still be all the same size):

• Boxes 1 – 2: 59.5″ x 35.5″ x 11″
• Box 3: 59.5″ x 35.5″ x 12″
• Box 4: 5′ x 3′ x 7″

Deadline:

• Need materials no later than Saturday, May 2 (we’ll come to collect from you)
• Must be installed before Saturday, May 9
• Public reception on Saturday, May 9, details to follow

Service trades we can offer:

• We’re professional graphic designers and can create business card, flyer, postcard designs, or anything else, for your business or other events
• We’ll heartily sing your praises as a sponsor in all our promotions with a website link, phone, contact info etc. We anticipate a lot of press since we’ve (Rachelle & Julie) both had several interviews as individuals featured in the local media recently and buzz is brewing about this event already. We’ve already got 99.9% confirmation from the Downtown Tucsonan magazine that they’ll publish a good-sized article with photos and everything about this in their upcoming May issue.
• If you are an artist, we can offer you curatorial preference in any future shows.

For more information or to make suggestions, contact Rachelle at info@popupspaces.org. We would also love help with construction labor, but can get it done on our own too. Details about the Scavenger Hunt are on our website at http://popupspaces.org. Thanks, and if you can offer any leads, let us know!

Pop Up Spaces’ Downtown Scavenger Hunt on March 1 was a success! Thirty-five people of all ages, from all parts of Tucson (and Benson) came out to explore and comment on downtown’s hidden treasures. Come preview boxes where we collected photos, drawings and comments during this weekend’s Tucson Artists Open Studios.

Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15
11am – 5pm both days
Community Storytelling Arts
40 W. Broadway (between Church and Stone, in the C.O. Brown House; parking available in front on Broadway and in rear on Jackson Street)

You can also pick up a clue sheet and do the Downtown Scavenger Hunt on your own. Take your camera and feel free to email any photos and thoughts to us at info@popupspaces.org. A full exhibit of all the March 1 participants’ writings, drawings and photographs will take place soon. More details to follow.

Also on display at Community Storytelling Arts: photography by Therese Perreault, jewelry by Jen Casados, The Burrito Files, books by Molly McClintock and more!