“There’s art everywhere.”
That is the philosophy that underpins his work as the founder of Pat Green’s Hallway Project, as a local placemaker who has curated art galleries and exhibitions for the past 25 years. It is also a kind of way of thinking that created his latest outdoor art installation, Coridor Art Trail.
Cyclists, walkers and runners will be able to see eight artwork by Central Florida artists on a miniature billboard next to a paved multipurpose path running along Anderson Street, Crystal Lake Drive and Maguire Boulevard. The outdoor showcase was co-curated by Green and Erica Greaer with the support of David Cookson and Javier Gilan in the design and build-out of each sign.
“The idea behind the hallway project is to do a temporary public art project,” Green said. “I don’t like the big monumental things sitting there. I would rather have something that’s changing and interesting to get more people involved.”
The installation, which is scheduled to be on display for a year near Greenwood Cemetery, the Milk District and Orlando Executive Airport, will have a new set every quarter. The first eight artists are Chris Robb, Stephen M., Matt Duke, Gisela Romero, Emily Martinez, Justin Looper, Leah Sandler and Boy Kong.
The first set of artwork includes family representations, considerations on life in Florida, and visual social commentary printed on weather-resistant PVC. Each sign is about 6 feet tall, and the art is printed at 4 x 6 feet and wrapped in a cedar wooden frame. The V-shaped billboard has two copies of each piece on each side that are displayed for visibility.
“It’s basically an outdoor gallery,” Gillan said. “This is free, quality and accessible art.”
Green said he has been on the trails frequently in recent years and thought that he needed some colour to scatter outdoor paths. He took inspiration from his previous work on the outdoor sign installation featuring 30 artists from the fence murals along the Seminole Wekiba Trail.
Cookson said the project presents ways for more people to connect with Orlando-based artists and experience artwork in public places.
“I think there are a lot of great local artists. This is another outlet that the community sees how amazing our local art scene is,” he said. “People can see it and they can be randomly exposed to it where they don’t go to the gallery or have to look for it.”
The project was made possible thanks to the city of Orlando’s fundraising and the support of the city’s placemaking director, Shelikci.
The call for the artists was live and open until June 1st for the next round of outdoor artwork along this two-mile trail. The exhibition is open to all artists of all ages and backgrounds living in Central Florida. Each creator who wants to consider the artwork will need a submission fee of $10. Corridor Project offers each selected artist a $300 honorarium for participation, and an additional $200 offered by Commissioner Patty Sheehan for a total of $500 per artist.
For more information, see corridorproject.art.
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