With its recent announcement that it will present a world premiere by leading performance artist Nick Cave next April, Flux Projects is exhibiting what appears to be its greatest ambition in planning its fifth year. The Atlanta nonprofit has presented an array of innovative temporary public art in Atlanta since its 2010 launch by arts advocate by Louis Corrigan, but 2015 appears to hold particular promise:
- Cave will debut a show called "Resurrection," billed as a "call to arms, head and heart," at Ponce City Market (the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. distribution center, still under renovation) in six free performances April 23-26, 2015. Best known for his Soundsuits, wearable sculptures that come to life through movement, Cave will collaborate with choreographer T. Lang, a Spelman College assistant dance professor and artistic director of T. Lang Dance. The performance will tap the talents of local performers including 13 dancers, seven actors, a spoken word artist and musicians.
- Flux announced earlier this year that it would not present its Flux Night of multiple public art projects in 2014 to better plan for an expanded extravaganza in Castleberry Hill for 2015. The event, which drew 20,000 to the downtown district's streets in 2013, will be held Oct. 3, 2015. It will be curated by Nato Thompson, chief curator for Creative Time, known for producing temporary public art in the U.S. and internationally.
Credit: hpousner
Credit: hpousner
Cave’s “Resurrection” was originally discussed as a possible substitute for Flux Night this fall and was to be thematically keyed to the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta. For a variety of logistical and creative reasons, it was pushed to next April.
“We just said, ‘We’ve hit upon a great project, we need to do what’s best for the project regardless of what ideas we came into it with,’” Flux Projects executive director Anne Dennington said. “For us, at that point, it could have been about anything. It was, ‘Do a spectacular piece.’”
Dennington said Cave has broadened the Civil War theme to address Atlanta’s cycle of destruction and renewal as symbolized by the phoenix on the city’s seal.
The idea of commissioning Cave came out of brainstorms Flux leaders were having about programs that would “take the organization to the next level,” Dennington said, while showcasing the work of an internationally noted contemporary artist who might not otherwise be presented here.
Now, Dennington, Corrigan and Flux board members are busy raising the $100,000 the project will demand, a stretch compared to more typical $10,000 to $20,000 budgets. “I think it’s easier to raise money for someone who does capture the imagination and is a push,” Dennington said. “At least I hope.”
Look for updates at www.fluxprojects.org.
