Art and technology meet with Toledo’s newest public art project, “You Are Here” (YAH).
The project consists of 100 3-feet-wide laminated circles, which will be fixed to the ground in front of various sites around Toledo.
Each circle, designed by one of 95 local artists, features a “quick response” or “QR” code, which when scanned bya smartphone directs the viewer to an application with information about the artwork and location of the dot.
Set to launch May 22, 2012, with a reception at The Valentine Theatre, the collaborative effort between the Arts Commission and the Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) aims to connect the community of Toledo by encouraging“urban art and public exploration” and “highlighting significant locations around the city,” according to Dan Hernandez, Art in Public Places Coordinator for the Arts Commission.
“The idea of engaging 95 artists and having them design 100 designs specifically for 100 sites is an opportunity for people to go revisit these sites they may have visited in the past,” Hernandez said. “Allowing the community to revisit these locations is great.”
The 95 artists selected for the project came from a pool of 218 applicants; each had to submit three of their original pieces to be considered.
Jenn Stucker, president of AIGA and YAH coordinator, said that all sorts of artists applied, including painters, sculptors, collage artists, digital designers, a glassblower, a graffiti artist and even a basket weaver. The applicants were judged by a panel of four judges, all with a background in graphic design. Once selected, each artist was assigned a location to respond to in some artistic way.
“Some are very direct and some are abstract,” Hernandez said of the responses. “That’s where the website and app will be very helpful. Some of the abstract designs may need a little info to go with them, so each piece of artwork has a statement on the website and app.”
While some responses were drawn or designed on a computer, some were sculpted or made three-dimensionally and then photographed for the sticker, Stucker said.
There will be an exhibition in June at the Davis Building to display the actual works that were created.
“It’s really hard to choose a favorite,” Stucker said. “I was very overwhelmed by everything that came in. It felt like Christmas!”
Jacqueline Barchick, creative director for Thread Marketing Group, submitted work representative of her agency. Once selected, she worked with a team to create the sticker, which is displayed on the corner of Kenwood Boulevard and Douglas Road. This is the location of the former B’Nai Israel Congregation and current home to Central Academy of Ohio.
Barchick and her colleagues focused on the educational component that connects and binds both places, and took their project a step further. Included in their QR code app description is a link to a Facebook page they created that displays a timeline of the location’s history, and space for people to leave stories about their educational experience at either institution.
Past projects aimed at connecting and beautifying Toledo include the initiative in which giant painted frog statues were placed around the city. Stucker saidshe believes YAH will be more effective in activating Toledo because it includes more sites and showcases more local talent, along with incorporating a technological aspect that deepens the meaning of the collaboration.
“We’re extremely excited about the project,” Hernandez said. “It is multifaceted and multi-layered, smart and complex, well-designed.”
The project was designed not only for the benefit of Toledoans, but especially for the 1,200-1,500 visitors that will flock to the city for the Glass Art Society 42nd Annual Conference will take place June 13-16.
The stickers, which will be on display until October, cover all corners of the city.
A launch party is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 22 at The Valentine Theatre.
