ArtStreet – An Interesting & Unique Experience (Part 2 of 2)

Recap:  What is ArtStreet?  M5Arts describes ArtStreet as “an exhibition and forum for serious and playful thinking about art and the vital role it plays in a culture’s success in the world today”.  See previous post:  ArtStreet – An Interesting & Unique Experience (Part 1 of 2).

I expect that on crowded weekends, even though the venue is very large, ArtStreet may be a big challenge to see in the allotted time.  And there is a lot to see!

Portions of the venue are set up with streets along which you walk to view the artwork. Many of the exhibits are set up in individual room-like spaces, while others are found on the walls, overhead, or in open spaces.  Look all around so you don’t miss something!  You are asked not to touch most of the artwork, but some of the exhibits are interactive.

One of the first artworks you will see upon entering the warehouse is a living framed “picture” composed of moss and lichen.  Several more similar works by the same artist are scattered about the venue – each representing the topography of a specific geographic location. Very cool.

Also not far from the entrance is a memorial to the Sacramento homeless who have died.  The exhibit depicts a minimal, makeshift homeless encampment.  If you stop and listen you can hear rain falling.  Very depressing.

Some of the exhibits had insufficient lighting which made it virtually impossible to take a picture that did the artwork justice.  For example, one of the artworks that really intrigued me was a huge book standing upright that had been damaged by fire.  The spine of the book revealed the title of the book, and the splayed pages were damaged to varying degrees.

Many other exhibits were so large that I could only take a photo of a portion of the exhibit – you will just have to go and see them for yourself!

Among those exhibiting was the Sacramento County Historical Society with an exhibit depicting a bar (The West End Club).  The exhibit provided an interesting history lesson about the “West End” of Sacramento and the 1920’s Sacramento “Jazz Age” before the West End was destroyed by redevelopment.

Some of the artists provided information about themselves and the artwork they were exhibiting – but it seemed to me that most did not.  There were a number of instances where I was curious and would have liked more information as to the intent of the artist.

I think it likely that I will return to ArtStreet to take it all in one more time before it closes down forever on February 25^th.

Question:  Did you tour ArtStreet?  What would you add to my observations?

(UPDATED 3/23/2017) In response to the question “What’s Next?” the nonprofit M5Arts has revealed its dream – ArtCity or SaBi – Sacramento’s first Biennale – a citywide contemporary art exposition modeled after festivals in Venice, Paris and Berlin.

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