Workshop #4: Focusing the Walks

We met on a very rainy night for the fourth Audio-Guided Walking Tour Workshop...all wishing for Spring.
We started the evening with Announcements. A chance for everyone to share things they've heard about in the NE community that may dovetail with, or hold interest for the ArtShare Walking Tour group. We'll post links to some of the events that are brought up in Announcements (such as art openings, other projects, or specific events). Here's a few of the Announcements that were made this week:

Altered Aesthetics - an artist-run gallery at 1224 Quincy St. NE has a call for artwork out (due March 31). They are looking for photography-based work about NE Minneapolis - past, present, or presumably, future. We hope to show up at the opening reception in May to check it out and get some audio recordings of the opening, artists talking about their work, etc...

Pillsbury Elementary School is starting an Archeology Unit for their 4th and 5th graders. They're interested in studying local and regional history and archeology and may be interested in what we're doing also.

There will be an exhibition for the catchy-named SPARGEX (Spiritual Art Guild Exchange) Show, March 29 - April 3. It is the 9th Annual NE Mpls. Juried Spiritual Art Show and will be on view at the Kolbe Center of Pope John Paul II School, 1630 4th St NE Minneapolis (1block east of University Ave and 17th Ave).

We then did a short writing exercise where everyone wrote, and then shared, about an experience they've personally had at, or near, Edison School or Holy Land Restaurant. We ended up with some great fodder for audio tours, good stories, and seeing that every person and place is filled with different stories, perspectives, and ways of being seen and of seeing.

The rest of our workshop evening was spent in the three groups that will soon be creating the actual Audio-Guided Walking Tours.
We'll post some specifics about each group's walk and what they talked about by tomorrow evening (Thursday, 3/26).
If anyone from the groups wants to add in what you talked about or things you're excited about for the project...go ahead and comment, we'll add it in.

E2 (Eccentric/Eclectic) Walk - Group #1 (Macy, Darius, Mary, Pete, Sienna, Abby, Monica, Jonathan)

We were all still very excited about the general area of NE we had begun to focus on last time we all met together (Central/Broadway intersection going up Central as far as feasible and including a block to each side of Central in some areas...with at least a view of the Beltrami area). Macy and Monica had some images from Google Maps and from the MN. Historical Society website. These were great for getting us going about places we'd want to include and some places we already had stories about. We had some great suggestions flying around the table for audio recordings we could incorporate (a few fun ones were: boxing sounds from Uppercut Gym on Quincy, diner sounds and patron interviews from the Ideal Diner on Central, wood-saws from Aaron Carlson and Sons Woodworking mill, interviews and crowd sounds from the May Altered Aesthetics opening reception, trains, baristas and motorcycle folks from Diamonds Coffee Shop, and there were tons more ideas...).

We also talked about how we might want to narrate the Audio Walk...whether there should be one consistent person guiding the listener/walker or several guides who 'pass the audio baton' as people walk from one part of the walk to the next. This led us to think about acknowledging the accents and cultures of some of the people who live in this area and who used to live here as well as how to show the listeners when they are hearing something from the past vs. present (an echoey sound to the voices and noises, scratchiness, etc.). We really had a good time brainstorming and have a great focused direction for continuing with the project.

Bottineau Walk - Group #2

We started our discussion about the walk with coming to grips that we have too much on our walk (but we also have time to work that out). We also had an initial discussion about Marshall Street’s walk-ability. Marshall has sooooo much on it, but it is a straight walk and one member of the team thought it a heavy trafficked street and therefore a bit dicey for an audio work. There was strong opposition to this idea! Perhaps weaving in and out of Marshall and the near-by streets might be a good option for breaking up the walk.

Last night we just concentrated on the intersection of Marshall and Lowry (the alleged “top” of the walk). We looked at the Lowry Bridge and looking up towards Siwek’s and Psycho Suzie’s. We talked about the Edgewater Inn and using recorded sound from the Edgewater 8 (if there is any). Then we thought we could walk to the California building and look at the community Garden, the Silos and talk about Art-A-Whirl (and use sound from the event). There is also Gluek Park and the Super Fund Story. And is there or was there really a tunnel from the Sample Room (Formally the Polish Palace) to the old Gluek Brewery? We also thought about Meat Raffles and the best way to view the river on the walk. We are now thinking about people to interview regarding these sites.

More ideas, wrestling, pairing-down and expanded thinking to come!


Trolley Tour-Group #3 (Dawn, Kris, Zhara, Misty, Mary, Eden, Bee, Sara)

We decided first that we had a big list of tour topics/places and a large area to cover on the map. Since most of the sites the group is interested in are on 13th, we eliminated some of the other sites that are too far from there. (Boom Island and Elsies). We realized that we could reference those places on the tour with out actually going there.
The walk is taking shape to go up on down 13th-from Monroe (4 churches) to 2nd-(2 Barber Shops). This is a dense area with much to cover. We will meet on Sunday to take the walk to check out sites and the pace/timing of the tour, and think about sounds.

Places, People and Ideas so far:
4 Churches on Monroe, Logan Park, Art-A-Whirl, Architecture on Adams, Trolley History, Auto Repair Shop, Ritz Theater, House with metal sphere sculptures in yard, Easel Street Gallery, Slim Whitman Gallery, Rogue Buddah Gallery, previous EuroPol-now Northeast Society and that building, Mayslacks, Modern Cafe, 331 Club, Eyewear Store, Children and Family Service Center, New City School, Erte' and Business Bldg, St. Cerils Church, Matchbox, Behind Bars, Art of Chiropractic, Frank Stone Gallery, new furniture shop, Barber Shop, Becky's Beauty Salon.

What we already know:
Our group has visited, patronized, driven by, heard of, or have close connections with the people and places on our list. Northeast is known for industry and immigrant heritage. There are many churches (and bars). Diversity of culture, race and religion. Retail space has turned over on 13th and storefronts are used as commercial and residential space. 13th is full of history and current activity.

What do we want to know:
What people have experienced with the changes in the neighborhood?
What are some experiences from the churches that have been here for a long time?
What is the trolley history on 13th?
How do people feel about the change over of corner stores-commercial and residential? (EuroPol-Northeast Society Restaurant, etc.)
What is the art history of area?
Why did eye shop move 3 blocks up 13th?

Together, we look forward to researching these questions and asking more.


It was a fun night and felt like we got a lot accomplished during the workshop session. Thanks for checking out the blog and for commenting below!