Beginning July 1, 2011 eighteen students from Russia, Columbia, Malaysia, Belarus, USA and Sweden arrived in Mariestad to participate in an intensive summer course called Shaping the City. Course lectures and discussions focused on Mariestad’s architectural and social history, geography, tourism, national identity, uses of public space, and socially engaged art practices. Students were asked to critically examine their role in the city while creating projects in or about Mariestad that use the themes of the course as inspiration. Their work was presented in an exhibition on July 21, 2011.
The course was led by artist Amanda Herman (USA) with assistance from Stadslabratoriet/CityArtLab director, Anna Viola Hallberg (SE). Celebrated artists from Sweden and abroad participated and led workshops. Mason Nye (NYC) worked with six students to paint a 45-meter long mural and Stewart Wilson (NYC) led a floating sculpture workshop for students and local residents.

The course is presented in collaboration with the following organizations: Valand School of Fine Arts in Gothenburg, Sweden, California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA. USA, and Stadslabratoriet/CityArtLab in Mariestad, Sweden.

16.7.11

July 4

July 4, 2011

We met at the Mariestad Library and had a brief introduction to the history of the building and the library’s current activities. We were shown the city’s impressive image archive and map collection. Some students got library cards and began their research. Students who were interested in the mural project met with artist Sophy Naess. They visited the wall, met with Carolina Falkholt and had a skype call with Mason Nye, the project leader, at his home in NYC. That evening, CityArtLab had its opening exhibition. A huge crowd of people came for the event, which focused on last summer’s successful Graffiti Project led by artist Carolina Falkholt. Irina Anufrieva, a Shaping the City participant, did an arresting performance in the exhibition space. Linda Svensson, the culture secretary of Mariestad, donated her car to be covered in graffiti by exhibition visitors. Students and residents young and old contributed to the spray-fest, transforming her car. The event, and her car, were featured prominently in the newspaper the next day!

The Wall



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