Hot air balloon floats above Tape Art mural at dawn  – a wondrous sight inside of a rare occurrence!

Hot air balloonist Zachary Weindel floats alongside the Biltmore this morning

In less than 8 hours the 14,000 plus square foot Providence 375 Tape Art Installation that took over three weeks to create will be removed in the exciting spectacle of the closing celebration.

To document this large work of art from it’s best vantage point – directly above – hot air balloonist Zachary Weindel launched a single person hot air balloon in the rink at dawn this morning to shoot photographs of the Tape Art installation from on high – a wondrous sight inside of a rare occurrence. The tethered balloon flight was aided by a crew that included the Tape Artists and our interns. The self-described Aeronaut (or a “pilot of aerostatic crafts”) is also a balloon builder who has built an experimental ultra-light hot air balloon system. We spoke with Zachary before the launch.

What interested you in a flight from the site of the Tape Art installation in Kennedy Plaza?

Aside from helping document a fellow artist’s work which was my initial reason, Providence and Roger Williams are both close to my heart. Flying in Providence is something I have thought about since the Providence balloon festival in the 80s. What better a time to fly than to celebrate 375 years of Providence? Hope Roots Freedom Ingenuity.

Why is Roger Williams close to your heart?

Roger Williams was a real diplomat, that is the most important thing society needs to be good at if we wish to maintain liberty.

How did you get involved with hot air balloons?

I have a natural desire to fly, many airplane pilots in my family. One of those airplane pilots started out as a balloon pilot and he has been a mentor through my teens and a role model through my life. He made it accessible to me and became my pilot instructor, and after some years of training, I am a pilot.

What has been your most memorable flight?

All of my first flights and fast flights! They all blend together, but my first solo was definitely memorable. There was a small amount of ground fog, first touch and go landing my instructor hopped out unexpectedly and with his weight subtracted from the balloon I took off again in surprise I think my words were “that’s so not cool” but in actuality it was totally awesome!  It was a great flight and a perfect day for a solo.

What do you do when you are not flying hot air balloons?

Thinking about flying, working or spending time with my bird companion. I experiment with aerodynamics, design, invent and in general strive for efficiency.   

What is the one question you wish we asked but didn’t?

Are you a local Rhode Islander, are you excited for Rhode Island’s future?  Yes, proud local. So excited!

Weindel photographs from above the Tape Art mural at 5:42 am

For more views of the launch check our Facebook Page.  The Tape Art Providence 375 Installation will be deconstructed by the public later today at the Tape Art Installation Closing Celebration, which starts at 4:30 pm in the rink.

Join us for the closing celebration of the Tape Art installation and a fun participatory installation removal!

Thursday, June 30th 4:30-7pm
Bank of America City Center
Free and open to the public!

photo by Michael Townsend / Tape Art

Catch your one chance to view the completed mural, and help to bring the installation full-circle by working together to lift up all the tape for a fun documentary project.

• The whole family can enjoy musical performances by the Extraordinary Rendition Band – raucous musical joy in marching band format! And AS220 ZuKrewe!
• View the mural and have great food atop the Julian’s Omnibus!
• Sample refreshing Trinity Beer in the family-friendly Beer Garden!

Providence’s 375th Celebration is the inspiration for an amazing 14,000 sq. ft. temporary tape drawing at the Bank of America City Center during June. Tape Art, by artists Michael Townsend, Pamela Baron, and Colin Bliss, is creating a unique large-scale temporary art installation in the entire Bank of America City Center as part of the Celebrate Providence 375 Years city-wide activities. Using colored Drawing Tape as the primary medium, the mural is rooted in Roger Williams’ arrival to RI and explores his legacy through the themes of Roots, Hope, Ingenuity, and Freedom.

View the live stream of the mural in progress at kennedyplaza.org, and RSVP on Facebook!

The Beer Garden kicks off with a special performance by Extraordinary Rendition Band on June 30th at the Bank of America Skating Center. This will celebrate the closing of the Providence 375 Tape Art installation and will also feature a performance by As220′s ZuKrewe, food by Julian’s Omnibus, and drinks from Trinity Beer! Join in the action of helping to take apart the giant drawing at this fun party!

The traditional Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series will be by the fountain in the park and will run every Thursday from July to August. Beer garden is open from 4:30 – 7pm with music from 5:30 – 6:30pm. Enjoy lawn games, Trinity Beer, and Mama Kim’s Korean BBQ!

June 30th – Extraordinary Rendition Band, raucous musical joy in brilliant marching band form.

July 7 – Tig & Bean, dirty pretty interpretation of folk and blues; Sponsored by Citizens Bank.

July 14 – Javelin, scrappy dance electro hip hop; Brooklyn via Providence (Luaka Bop, Thrill  Jockey)

July 21 – The Jes Powers Project Presents: Chanteuse, amazing female vocalists.

July 28 – Nomo (members His Name Is Alive), post-afrobeat dance explosion; Ann Arbor, MI

August 4 – Delicate Steve, frantic electronics give way to easygoing riffs; NJ (Luaka Bop)

August 11 – Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, Americana roots; Providence

August 18 – Boo City, R&B soul; Providence

August 25 – AS220 Criss Cross Orchestra, polyrhythmic world music beats directed by Obuamah Laud Addy.

Artists Inspire Companion Events Throughout June

Tape Art is a collaborative art medium started in Providence over twenty years ago. This method of drawing uses low-adhesive Drawing Tapes to create large temporary drawings on any surface; the world is a blank canvas.

The artists behind the Providence 375 Tape Art Installation soon to fill the skating rink – Michael Townsend, Pamela Baron and Colin Bliss – also create community art & education projects and stop motion animation films. Their short films will be the centerpiece of the upcoming Film Night with AS220 Youth and the Rhode Island Museum of Science and Art (RIMOSA) this Tuesday, June 14th in the Bank of America City Center tunnel, which will showcase some very diverse stop animation films alongside the in-progress Providence 375 Tape Art Installation (also now known as the Mega Mural). While each explores the magic the stop motion (more…)

Tape Art, by artist Michael Townsend, Pamela Baron, and Colin Bliss, will create a unique large-scale temporary art installation in the entire Bank of America City Center as part of the Celebrate Providence 375 Years city-wide activities. Using only Drawing Tape, this 14,000 square foot drawing will officially kick-off June 13th and take approximately three weeks to take form by the artists, culminating in a party on June 30th where attendees can remove the drawing by working together to lift up all the tape.

The concept for the large Tape Art drawing in Greater Kennedy Plaza will be rooted in the arrival of Roger Williams to Rhode Island. The drawing will depict Roger William’s arrival and impact and expand to 14,000 square feet – exploring his legacy through the themes of Hope, Freedom, Roots and Ingenuity. “We are thrilled to have such a large surface to draw on,” said artist Michael Townsend. “And through this work, we hope to help share the city’s incredible history, lore and ideals with all.”

TAPE ART EVENTS IN JUNE

JUNE 13th – MONDAY: INSTALLATION OFFICIAL START!

JUNE 14th – TUESDAY: FILM NIGHT with AS220 YOUTH, RIMOSA and TAPE ART.

5:30-6:00 pm-Make a Thaumatrope (animation) with RIMOSA!

6:00-7:30 pm-Watch fun stop motion animation films in the tunnel, made by Tape Art, RIMOSA, AS220 Youth + other Providence Youth Collaborative (PYAC) members!

JUNE 16th – THURSDAY: 4:00-6:00 pm – CHAT WITH THE ARTISTS! Come down to the rink and talk with the artists while they work!

JUNE 23rd – THURSDAY: YOUTH ART WORKSHOPS! Free and open to the first 25 participants aged 12-18.

3:30-4:30 pm – TAPE ART WORKSHOP. Make a temporary mural with artist Mike Townsend! 4:30 – 5:30 pm – RIMOSA ANIMATION WORKSHOP. Make your own stop motion animation film!

5:30-7:30 pm -PANEL DISCUSSION on public and temporary art (RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 9TH DUE TO WEATHER) with Elizabeth Keithline, Director Project Grants For Organizations / Public Art, RISCA; Bert Crenca, AS220; Noah Fischer, RISD; Michael Townsend, Tape Art; and moderated by Stephanie Fortunato, Special Projects Manager for Providence Dept. of Art, Culture + Tourism. Light refreshments and a musical performance by TRUA kick off the evening. And then at 6pm we will dive into questions like: What is the value of temporary public art work vs. “permanent” public art work? How can the ephemeral have a powerful impact on a community? Why does public art matter?

JUNE 30th – THURSDAY: 4:30-7:30 pm – INSTALLATION CLOSING CELEBRATION and SEASON KICKOFF! Join us for the closing celebration of the art installation and fun participatory installation removal! Featuring musical performances by Extraordinary Rendition Band and AS220 ZuKrewe, food by Julian’s Omnibus, and Trinity Beer!

Check out our events on our facebook page!

Property and business owners from the area along the proposed route are invited to come informally discuss concerns about the Core Connector project and learn more about what the Transit 2020 group is doing to make streetcars a reality in Providence.

The “Streetcar Social” takes place tonight, May 31st, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, at Local 121 (121 Washington Street, Providence RI 02903)! Light passed appetizers and cash bar. Brief presentation at 5:30pm.

Questions? Call Martina Haggerty at 401-351-4300 (extension 528).
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROVIDENCE’S STREETCAR INITIATIVE, VISIT
www.ProvidenceCoreConnector.com

During the month of June, a major TAPE ART INSTALLATION will transform the Bank of America Skating Center with a 14,000 square foot mural celebrating Providence’s 375th Anniversary Founding by Roger Williams, interpreting the themes of “Roots, Hope, Ingenuity, and Freedom.” Michael Townsend and fellow artists will create the large-scale drawing using only colored painter’s tape over the course of three weeks.

Join us for related fun events throughout the month – and especially Thursday, June 9th when we will host both a Public Tea and entertaining Panel Discussion!

2:30pm – 6pm – PUBLIC TEA FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Join members of the public + public tea hostesses, Shirin Adhami, Stephanie Fortunato and Devon Miller, for an afternoon of tea, cookies + conversation. All members of the public welcome (that’s you)! What does it mean to be a “member of the public?” Can everyone be a member or is it a choice? Explore the idea of public space in Providence – from parks to public bathrooms to sidewalks – by engaging in conversation over a cup of tea about what it means to be a member of the public and how it affects our use of public space.

6pm – 7:30pm – PANEL DISCUSSION with Stephanie Fortunato / Providence Dept of Art, Culture + Tourism, as moderator, and Elizabeth Keithline / RISCA, Noah Fischer / RISD, Bert Crenca / AS220, and Michael Townsend / Tape Art as panelists. Light refreshments will be served as we dive into questions like:

What is the value of temporary public art work vs. “permanent” public art work? How can the ephemeral have a powerful impact on a community? Why does public art matter? Does public art belong to the public? How important is the division between an artist’s creative expression/intent and the public as an audience and their perception? How does public art transform the public?

RSVP on Facebook!

Monday, May 16th from 5:30 to 7:00PM at The Commerce Center at 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI.

Learn about what the City is doing to create a more robust bike infrastructure! Copies of the draft Bike-Share Feasibility Study will be available by May 2nd on the Planning Department website at www.providenceplanning.org. Bicycle advocacy groups including the East Coast Greenway Alliance, the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, Recycle-A-Bike, and the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen will be present as well!

Comments on or questions about the Bike-Share Feasibility Study can be directed to Martina Haggerty at mhaggerty@providenceri.com.

RIPTA and the City of Providence are evaluating a potential new transit route through Providence’s downtown core. This Core Connector route would connect significant educational, medical, employment and cultural destinations in Providence with the central bus hub in Kennedy Plaza and rail services at the train station. The study is being conducted in response to recommendations made in the Metropolitan Providence Transit Enhancement Study in 2009, and the Transit 2020 Action Group’s proposal to build a streetcar system in Providence.

We will be sharing recent findings at an upcoming Core Connector Workshop:

Monday, April 25, 2011
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
The Commerce Center
30 Exchange Terrace, 1st Floor Conference Room

Drop in and learn more about the aspects of the study including local street design requirements, station locations, potential environmental impacts, and traffic and parking considerations.

Please drop in at this upcoming workshop or visit providencecoreconnector.com for more information, including a map of the route, project fact sheets and other background materials.

Also! Provide your input in this survey of your travel patterns.