Friday, July 31, 2009

A Workspace that Works Over-Time

Today, our team of arts fellows finishes the installation of HelloWorld.show();, an exhibition of source code. For the better part of this week, the studio has been flipped on its head, as any gallery should be in that period between This Show and That Show. It’s beautiful, productive chaos.

But as it turns out, we also use our gallery as a workspace, event venue, and home base for Stand. So the chaos is infinite and constant. Everything’s moving around, and often, we’re the ones picking it up and hauling it somewhere new.

It goes without saying then, that the LeadHere fellows play an invaluable roll in CreateHere’s programs, beyond the full-time job of development work. We hang shows, we move chairs, we empty conference rooms, and we paint walls. “All hands on deck” is status quo. And in return, our just deserts: flexible hours and a cool, very cool work environment.

So we’ve got brawn, but our space is defined more by the things we don’t have, namely walls, dividers, cubicles, permanent seating, bad joojoo. Instead, a constant supply of art, an army of coffee mugs, dogs, kids, fellows, newspapers, yellow t-shirts, and every generation of every Apple product imaginable. Occasionally, a PC, too.

Some of us have less temporary desks. Mine’s covered in beer bottles from Hops and Opera (they double as flutes), a nice card from photographer Mary Barnett, a Michelin guide to France, and a Southern Living recipe book from 1982. There’s a pile of camcorder tapes, more than a couple media kits, and clippings from all the CreateHere mentions in the paper from the past six months. The design table is immaculate and modern and sparse, and economy fellow Trey Meyer has plastered his half of the magnetic filing cabinet with articles and insights. All these things, too, will at some point move, caught up in the tidal wave of Flexibility, that little word that is central to each and every fellow’s job description.

This is all to say, we welcome chaos, we welcome new shows, we welcome community use of our space. Join us tonight for a preview of HelloWorld.show(); from 5 to 7 pm, and come back often. I guarantee, we’ll have rearranged.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Harv Wileman on MakeWork 2009

Since January I have been a fellow at CreateHere working primarily on the MakeWork arts grants. Since the online application went live at the beginning of that month to the first set of disbursement checks for the grantees being delivered in June, it’s been a wild, rewarding ride. When I started, one artist had submitted an application. By the end of the process, 107 more joined that group, resulting in $300,000 worth of grants, awarded to 34 individuals.

The best part of the process–in some ways even better than notifying awardees of their successful applications–was meeting with the applicants before their submissions to talk about their ideas for their grants. It was so refreshing to hear artists passionate about their work and enthusiastic about what a cash grant could do toward making their visions for a project or, indeed, for their career, a reality. I spoke with writers preparing their memoirs, visual artists who needed web sites, and screenwriters needing to travel to push their screenplays. Not all of these artists were funded and not all of them even ended up submitting applications, but the thrill of interfacing with working artists getting on with their creative endeavors in Chattanooga was inspirational and revelational. There is so much talent here, so much industry, so much hope.

As the bulk of the MakeWork process comes to a close, it is time for me to move on from my LeadHere fellowship. As I look back, I will always treasure the optimism, passion, and talent that I found dealing with the creatives living in our area. It has inspired me as an artist and as an arts administrator, and I hope that MakeWork is a program that will continue to support the arts in Chattanooga in perpetuity.

By Harv Wileman, Arts Fellow

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

HelloWorld.show(); // A Primer

So, we at CreateHere have had some questions. Lucky for you fine citizens we also have answers.

“So what’s the deal with this code show?”, I’m often asked. Well, for the uninitiated we thought a little explanation may be in order. A “Hello World” program, traditionally, serves to illustrate the most basic role of a programming language. These words serve as a minimal beta test for the functionality of a dialect, one imperceptibly bound to a structure many fail to understand.
Within the confines of this concept, HelloWorld.show(); intends to take these introductory words and exploit the complexity of this voyage into such an esoteric language and recontextualize it; forcing it to conform to universally recognized and visually digestible forms.

Traditionally, “Hello World” programs are like a sanity test, a means for programmers to verify that all of the basics are in place; an editor, an interpreter, and a means to insure information is virtually tangible and usable. At CreateHere we’ve been questioning our sanity for months now and have to come to one conclusion, mainly that creativity comes in many forms and maybe we’ve been overlooking one of the most modern modes of expression in the 21st century. Well, we’re fixing this problem and hope that you fine people will come and experience what we believe to be a mighty fine exploration into the unknown.

HelloWorld.show(); opens this week, with a preview on Friday, July 31, and an opening reception on Friday, August 7.

By Thomas Perry, Arts Fellow

Last Fridays on Main: July 31

Can you believe July is almost over? Looking for a way to top off the end of a great month?  The Last Fridays on Main Southside hop is this Friday, July 31 from 5 to 7 pm. Join us on Main Street for an afternoon of action.

WATCH: At 5:30 pm, Angela Sweet and a troop of dancers will perform among the new Main Street sculptures. Jukebox Junction Theater at the Choo-Choo will also be offering free children’s tickets and 2-for-1 adult tickets to Last Friday attendees.

DO Peggy Petrey’s Art X-tractor will be back by popular demand at Ignis Glass. Visitors can pick three objects from a shelf on the Art X-tractor box and slip them into a mail slot, where Peggy will create one-of-a-kind art pieces in under 3 minutes.

EAT Tienda Jalisco will be open to satisfy your taco and papusa cravings.

DRINK The Victorian Lounge at the Choo-Choo will have drink specials during the Last Friday to make your hour happy.

SHOP Ignis Glass, Area 61, and Gallery 1401 will be open later hours to view local handmade furnishings and art.

PREVIEW CreateHere is pleased to host HelloWorld.show();, an invitational exhibition of source code, which opens to the public on Friday. Featuring nine computer programmers and visual artists who hail from across the country, this exhibition breaks new ground by exhibiting computer source code and visual art created via the machine. Also, Miki Boni will have her studio open to view her latest creations.

LISTEN Rick Davis of Cute Dog Music will be playing at Studio 2/Gallery 2.

By Elana Gulas, Senior Fellow, Culture

Hamilton Place, meet Stand. And vice versa.

After months of canvasing in the hot summer sun downtown, I’ll admit it was a bit of a relief to sit in the air conditioning of Hamilton Place Mall.  Armed with a stack of free Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Great American Cookie Company cookies, and Barnie’s Coffee, I thought I was in a for a sweet deal. I had visions of mall patrons flocking to myself hungry for freebies and eager to share their thoughts on Chattanooga. 

After about thirty minutes it is safe to say that fantasy was crushed.

The early morning “mall walkers” blazed by before I could even squeak out “WouldyoumindansweringfourquestionsforthefutureofChattanooga?” However, 15 years growing up in the suburbs of East Brainerd lead me to have confidence in Hamilton Place as meeting point for a whole variety of people… I would just have to wait on those that aren’t awake at 9:30 on a Tuesday. The infamous words of Kevin Costner “If you have free stuff, they will come” repeated like a mantra gave me hope for the next 30 minutes, gave me hope until I witnessed a most glorious sight.

Families. Families coming in droves. Moms, toddlers, teens and dads all coming together to fill out the survey. The variety of answers seemed endless and each family member brought a different perspective. Family engaging as a unit and talking about the future of their region, a region that looks different to every sibling but enjoyed together.  I saw families from East Brainerd, Dalton, Ringgold, and downtown (just to name a few) sat down on the front benches of Hamilton Place Mall and discussed issues that matter to each person.  A few days of canvasing brought in 286 surveys, but more importantly gave more than a few families the chance to share their vision for the future. So keep your eyes open for the bright yellow in and around Hamilton Place and talk to your family about the future of Chattanooga. 

Visit Stand’s website to take the survey, or learn more about the visioning effort.

By Taylor Thul, Stand Field Organizer

Monday, July 27, 2009

A Summer Spent with Chattanooga Stand

My name is Fynn Glover. I’m 21 years old. I was born in Chattanooga and raised in Chattanooga. I’ve experienced and witnessed first-hand the transformations that this city has undergone during my two decades as a member of this community, and I am undoubtedly one of Chattanooga’s biggest fans.

My years here have never diminished the excitement I get when driving across Veteran’s Bridge. In fact, I found tangible proof of this two days ago, when I discovered a letter from my mother from 1994. She wrote to me with the loving tenderness that only a mother can exude, describing my six year old fascination with the flags on the bridge, as they blew against the back drop of Chattanooga’s ancient mountains and ridges.

As many times as I’ve stared out at this city, I still cannot, and may never be able, to take in all that the Chattanooga panorama has to offer. The city’s physical beauty is extraordinary…it is breathtaking… it is unparalleled for its symbiotic integration with the land that has made this region home to people for over 9,000 years.

This summer, I’ve had the privilege of working as a Field Organizer for the Chattanooga Stand Campaign. My work has been exciting and challenging, frustrating and infuriating, tedious and demanding, but more than anything, it has been irrevocably rewarding. I have been able to channel all of my passion for Chattanooga into work that allows me to talk to other people about their own personal love affairs with this city. The beauty of Stand is that it creates conversations about a diverse citizenry’s most common asset: our home, Chattanooga.

The second question of the Stand survey asks people to “imagine the best possible Chattanooga region and describe it.” For me, the best possible Chattanooga is one that is always striving to be as ideal as possible for its peoples—a city that is in constant forward motion—a city that honors its successes and assets, but refuses to abandon perpetual improvement.

I couldn’t be more honored to have the opportunity that I have had this summer with Stand. It has been one of the great experiences of my life. 

By Fynn Glover, Stand Field Organizer

Plugdin Event Wrap-Up: “When Just-Some-Town Becomes Hometown”

From law school interns, to engineering students, recent college grads to interested supervisors, 49 young professionals came to the Plugdin panel this past Thursday. While munching on sandwiches and cookies from River Street Deli, ears were attentive and listening to the panel brag about why they loved Chattanooga.

Stephen Culp, CEO and founder of Smart Furniture gave advice on how to plug in to Chattanooga through extra-curricular activities.

Monica Maples got a chance to brag about her transition from her previous job with garbage trucks to her great job at Gordon Bierch, the office where they create new recipes for Big River’s menu.

Anj McClain is living out her dream as an eco-friendly interior designer at green|spaces.

Marketing guru Mark Song has found a place that’s cooler than Atlanta.

Preston Roberts is working on the Take Root project to make Chattanooga a healthier and more beautiful place to live.

Karen Liwanpo started a group, Friends of Chattanooga, which has upwards of 75 members that get together on a monthly basis.

All of our panelists, most of who are not originally from Chattanooga, have found things that made Chattanooga their own, and spent a good portion of Thursday’s luncheon inspiring others to do the same. Whether it’s act in a play at the Chattanooga Theatre Center, join a biking group with Outdoor Chattanooga, or volunteer with Stand, there is something here for everyone.

We’ve had some questions come in about a few things that were mentioned at the Panel Discussion. So here, for the public good, we answer those questions.

What is YPAC?
YPAC is the Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga. According to their website, the group’s “ultimate goal is to get people connected in our community, and we accomplish this in three major areas: professional, social and civic.”  They hold monthly luncheons, both downtown and in East Brainerd, with different speakers, after-hours events to get people mingling, and volunteer opportunities. You can check out their website for more information on events and membership by visiting their site.

Tell me more about the next Plugdin event on August 7, please.
The next Plugdin will be in conjunction with 55here’s gallery opening for HelloWorld.Show();, an exhibit featuring work from programmers across the world. We’ll be displaying front- and back-end source code through projection, print, and other interactive formats. The reception will be from 6 to 8pm with appetizers from Alleia and music from Elefont Byte. For those plugged in, stick around for special after-hours to get a chance to connect with other employers, non-profits, and interns in Chattanooga.

I’ve heard there are opportunities to help with Stand. Who do I contact?
If you are interested in applying to work with Stand, as a paid field organizer or volunteer, contact (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

By Elana Gulas, Culture Senior Fellow

HelloWorld.Show(); | Exhibiting the art of computer source code

CreateHere is pleased to host HelloWorld.show();, an invitational exhibition of source code, opening on July 31, 2009 in the CreateHere Studio, 55here, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Featuring nine computer programmers and visual artists who hail from across the country, this exhibition breaks new ground by exhibiting computer source code and visual art created via the machine.

Computer source code is the ‘architecture’ that supports contemporary information sharing via the Internet; i.e. websites, and email. This powerful medium is, inarguably, one of the pioneering forces behind 21st century innovation.

For this exhibition, computer programmers have been invited to develop new methods of display for both front- and back-end code. The act of showcasing source code in a gallery speaks to both the beauty and the functionality of websites we interact with on a daily basis. Visitors will also be amazed to see ‘paintings’ created without a paintbrush. These impressive works of art are the result of complex computer programming.

By amplifying source code, HelloWorld.show(); reminds us that creative work comes in many forms.

Join us for the exhibition opening on August 7, 2009, with live music from Elefont Byte, who describe themselves as players of “Pythagoraen Program Music.” Doors open at 6 pm and stay open until 8 pm.

HelloWorld.Show(); Contributing Artists
Dan Rubin & Isaac Duncan III, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Chattanooga, TN
Dave Shea, Vancouver, Canada
Weston McWhorter, New Orleans, LA
Matt Turnure, Chattanooga, TN
Aarron Walter, Athens, GA
Aaron Gustafson, Chattanooga, TN
Leslie Jensen-Inman, Chattanooga, TN
C.E.B. Reas, Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Importance of Storytelling

Drive past 727 E. 11th Street on any given day around lunchtime and you will see a crowd of people outside, some laughing and conversing, others sitting quietly. It is home to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, which has faithfully served the homeless population for almost 27 years. The Kitchen provides food, shelter, healthcare, jobs training, and several additional services to the homeless of Chattanooga.

I, along with four other fellows, spent yesterday afternoon at the Kitchen, to hear the stories and opinions of the people there. I spoke with Holmes, Ollie, Ernestine, Willie and several others, asking them to fill out Stand’s survey. Numbers of surveys collected was nothing to be concerned with; I just wanted to hear the stories of the men and women there. Some of you might say, “what a great thing to do,” as you read this, but just I wanted to remind you of the importance of story.

Rarely is it something that I think about in my daily routine; however, I get to share my story and the things that I care about with people every day at work, at home, and around town. Others talk to me and listen to what I say, but I wonder how many life stories go unheard in our city? Places like the Community Kitchen are often viewed as a nuisance an attraction for our city’s problems, but it is home to some and makes a difference in the lives of many—it is a community of people that share a common experience.

While it is as easy as walking past to separate oneself from the homeless, we share something: life. It is easy to forget but common experience and the sharing of those stories can be the difference for making it through to the next phase of life. Next time you’re downtown or in Miller Park, ask someone to share their story. It might make their day, and yours.

There are many opportunities to serve at the Community Kitchen. Call (423) 756.4222 or visit them online at http://www.homelesschattanooga.org/.

For some facts on homelessness visit http://www.homelesschattanooga.org/facts.html.

By Chris Nystrom, Culture Fellow

Hello, my name is Sarah. And I ask questions.

I’m the coordinator of the Stand campaign, and some days I’m reminded how simple Stand’s message really is.

I spent yesterday afternoon in Avondale, a predominately African American neighborhood in East Chattanooga. I walked down Dodson Avenue passing out flyers for today’s BBQ with District 9 Councilman Peter Murphy. I’d driven through Avondale a few times, never stopping to get out of my car. Today I walked in gas stations, car washes, laundromats, hair salons, rec centers, fish fry tents, and street-side vendors. I’ll admit some nervousness when I first got out of the car, leaving my comfort zone behind. After all, I’m a very short 24-year old white girl, naturally reserved, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt. Talk about standing out!

But Stand gives me an opportunity to give other people a voice. And this makes me unusually bold. I walked in to the first gas station with a warm “hey, how are ya?” And realized within moments that I wasn’t talking with a demographic on the other side of town. I was just talking to people who live in the same place I do, inviting them to eat some BBQ and talk about how to make this a better place to live.

I believe that living in community means living in the context of others. When I take the time to look, I see a great deal of need in the lives of the people around me. I don’t know what the answers are. But I do know that it’s time for this conversation to take place - and every member of this community needs to be a part of it, knowing they’re valued, that their ideas are heard.

To me, it’s pretty simple. Stand isn’t a survey. It’s a conversation that starts on paper to continue face to face. It’s about People and it’s about Place.

Join the conversation today - at the District 9 BBQ at the East Chattanooga Rec Center, 2409 Dodson Avenue, 12:00 - 2:00 PM.  We’ll be talking about home and giving away stand-out yellow t-shirts.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Tim Cofield at Rhythm and Noon: “Stand by Me”

Today, the Stand team set up at Rhythm and Noon, a concert series providing music in Miller Plaza to those in need of mid-day relaxation.  We had the pleasure of listening to 2009 MakeWork grant recipient and current SpringBoard business planning course student Tim Cofield.  Shadows and a brisk breeze cooled off the area, and Cofield and Co. pleased us with calming harmonies.

While various faces enjoyed an outdoor lunch and a much needed break from the Friday grind, the Stand team canvassed the area to find out what makes Chattanooga special, and what we can do to help. “I love the lake!”, giggled one girl who’s mother I was speaking to. “I do too!”, I responded, realizing that our efforts were going to directly impact this child’s life.  As much the as Stand team would like to improve Chattanooga for ourselves, the next generation will truly be the beneficiary of all of our hard work.

Four questions are all it takes to envision a better Chattanooga. As we draw closer to our goal of 25,000 surveys completed, it becomes clearer that this program isn’t just an external, automated process to find out what Chattanooga residents think. This is the collaboration of humans who want to take hold of their community and solidify what is important to them. 

As Rhythm and Noon wrapped up, Cofield ended his set with a minimalist version of “Stand by me”.  I realized that although the Stand program is young, the the upcoming results will be everlasting.

Fill out the quick survey and help us take a Stand. You could win $250!
 
By Bijan Dhanani, Economy Fellow

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Girls, Inc. Gets Jumpstart on Entrepreneurship

On Tuesday, folks from CreateHere visited Girls, Inc. and led twelve young ladies through a presentation and interactive exercise on women-entrepreneurs and the impact they are making in their local communities. This event occurred in tandem with an ongoing effort at Girls, Inc. to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship in hopes of fostering valuable skills the girls will need when entering the workforce a few years from now.

As supporting innovation and creativity in small business is part of CreateHere’s mission, this event was exciting for the girls and CreateHere alike. After watching a short presentation highlighting notable women who have started small businesses, the girls were asked “what business would you start with $500 and how?” Next, they were divided into groups of 2-3 and proceeded to complete abbreviated businesses plans for 4 unique business-ideas, including a daycare/school for special needs children, a candy store, an organic canine bakery and even a photography studio. Afterward, each group gave a formal presentation of their concept and how they will go about marketing and funding their venture.

CreateHere’s contribution was pleasantly received and the girls’ performance was exemplary. Altogether, the success of this event is encouraging for the likes of the all concerned with the development of Chattanooga’s small business economy.  For more information about Girls, Inc. visit http://www.girlsincofchattanooga.org.

By Trey Meyer, Economy Fellow

Meet Chattanooga’s Newest ArtsMove Artist, Jeweler Carley McGee-Boehm

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve awarded our first ArtsMove relocation incentive of 2009 to California-based jeweler Carley McGee-Boehm. Carley specializes in noble metals and gemstones, and has recently won awards from the American Gem Trade Association and the Women’s Jewelry Association.

Carley comes to Chattanooga after nearly a decade of work in the jewelry industry. In the past, she has created pieces for charitable auctions, including the Boehm Birth Defect Center in Chattanooga. “America’s children are desperately in need of support to aid in their personal and professional development,” says Carley. “A dream of mine is to provide funds and opportunities through charitable gifts and volunteering in Chattanooga and throughout the United States.”

Carley’s vision is to grow professionally and creatively in Chattanooga, with hopes of one day expanding her creative operation to employ several bench jewelers and a full-time sales team. “My goal is to create an internationally recognized brand of fine, high quality, truly unique jewelry. A company built on excellence and originality. Chattanooga is the place I feel the creativity and energy I need to continue my art.”

“Each day presents a new reason as to why this is my calling and passion,” she says. “My desire is to bring joy to life, by creating the symbol that will forever hold that moment frozen in time.”

We’re so pleased to add Carley to the roster of fine artists who have made the ArtsMove. Qualifying creatives can receive up to $2500 as a relocation expense reimbursement once they have moved to a neighborhood in Chattanooga’s urban core. With an expansive footprint and a flexible award, ArtsMove helps attract America’s finest creative minds to our city.

Want to find more ways to make the Chattanooga move? Visit http://artsmove.org.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Book Review: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

Jim Collins’ 2001 best-selling book, Good to Great, has received a great deal of hype over the last eight years, but I am not sure I share the same sentiments. Please feel free to disagree with me—I would understand if you did—since the book is well and simply written, filled with a good message and some valuable insights.

The book has received several critiques in recent months, most notably in the book Luck, Inc. by Michael Raynor. Dr. Bob Sutton summarized my own feelings when he recently wrote, “although it is mediocre research, I think the message has done a lot of good. I just wish that Collins had shown more modesty.”

The validity of Collins’ arguments might be called into question based solely upon the current standings of his eleven “good-to-great” companies. The recent financial crisis complicates the issue of course, but it is certainly noteworthy that of the eleven, three (Circuit City, Fannie Mae, and Gillette) have been bought out or tanked recently and several others have experienced little to no growth relative to the market. The exceptions, Nucor and Wells Fargo, have done very well since the book’s release.

The biggest reason I do not like the book all that much is its overstatements and its research methods. Like most business success books, every idea is branded with a unique phrase and things tend to be over-simplified. This can be helpful to the reader for memory purposes, but phrases about flywheels, doom loops, hedgehogs, and level 5 leaders can wear out their own welcome quite quickly.

Collins is very bold to make sweeping statements about the attributes of successful businesses and their leaders. Though I agree with his ideas and see how they could lead to tremendous growth, I am not sure his method of producing the list of these said qualities is good research.

Finding the eleven successful companies and working backwards to prove that their common characteristics were the driving force behind their success is sort of bad scientific research, whether it is qualitative or quantitative. The book would be more credible in my mind if the research team had matched their findings with pre-existing research outside of Built to Last, Collins’ first bestseller. Retrospective research in this case may have worked and I am not sure how else he could have gone about it, but I am still sort of uncomfortable with it.

The book’s message is what I really do like about Good to Great. Collins’ emphasis on prioritization, simplicity, honesty, hard work, and commitment are all things that every businessman should learn in school, if they happened to miss it growing up. Turns out honesty just might be the best policy—along with humility, selflessness, a good work ethic and a commitment to making an impact. If you have not read it, a quick skim might do you some good.

By Chris Nystrom, Culture Fellow

Why ChattanoogaWorks For Me: Let’s Document Our City

It’s a beautiful afternoon in the Chattanooga region, and I’m reminded of how many facets our city has to offer as I work from the CreateHere space, located in our city’s urban core.

Over the course of the summer alone, Chattanooga has seen the new installation of public art, thousands of attendees at the Riverbend music festival, families gathering at Movies in the Park at Coolidge, national and local artists represented at the 4 Bridges Arts Festival, the Nightfall Concert Series, and STAND, a community visioning effort, committed to asking 25,000 people four questions about the future of our city.

These are only a few of the ways that Chattanooga has opened its arms to residents and visitors alike, but they are significant gestures that remind me of how very special this city is and continues to be 24/7.

So, what about ChattanoogaWorks?

A few months back, it dawned on CreateHere that all of the acts that take place at any given hour in Chattanooga are those which are worth documenting, and in that vein, ChattanoogaWorks was born.

ChattanoogaWorks is an online photo gallery that aims to highlight and showcase our local gems. From a neighborhood block-party, to a Sunday in the park, to an evening at the pub you frequent most, it’s all worth showing and sharing.

Whether you be an amateur or a professional photographer, ChattanoogaWorks cares not. We simply want to see how you capture our city through the eye of the lens. So, take a look at what’s been submitted and then share your story. It’s you and your vision that makes our city tick.

To submit, email your photos to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

By Jessica Martin, Senior Arts Fellow