Art, design, creative concept, and family programming for AS220’s annual festival/fundraiser
FOO Fest Artwork
Artist-in-Residence, 2018
During this action-packed summer residency, I generated a body of creative work for AS220’s annual festival/fundraiser, FOO Fest. Deliverables included poster artwork, tee shirt design, and spot illustrations; as well as plans for an immersive photo booth installation, plus interactive programming for families attending the festival.
The residency offered a unique and rewarding opportunity to collaborate with AS220 artists and administrators to build a cohesive, multi-media visual world for festival-goers. Through fun and outside-of-the-box collaborations, my designs were translated into CNC-cut wooden spaceships, customizable astronaut helmets, and retro-futuristic vacuum form coloring pages, as well as silkscreened posters and tee shirts.
Artwork: Illustrated Foo Fest poster
Above: Spot illustrations of characters generated during the residency
Photo at top of page: Larry and Keri reviewing photo-booth plans
Artwork for festival tee-shirts
Family Programming
At the Astronaut Maker Space, kids of all ages made a space helmets and space-packs.
During Ask a Scientist! festival-goers had a chance to interview real live scientists in the fields of astronomy, neuroscience, entomology, and physical chemistry.
Finally, we all marched in a Space Shuttle Launch Parade! Having equipped ourselves with safety gear, scientific knowledge, and a community of fellow adventurers, the day’s activities culminated in a celebratory trip to the stars…
Ask a Scientist!: Exploring the world of bugs with entomologist, with Kate Conroy
Ask a Scientist!: Exploring the world of bugs with entomologist, with Kate Conroy
Ask a Scientist!: Talking about space with Professor of Astronomy, Brendan Britton
In the background: a lesson in chemical reactions is underway with physical chemist, Kerri Houghton. In the foreground: "What can this 3-D star map tell us, Prof. Britton?"
Each budding scientist was rewarded for their curiosity with a science kit from Thames & Cosmos.
Personalizing space helmets at the Astronaut Makerspace
Learning to use the vacuum form machine with AS220 Industries artist, Britton Kroessler
One young artist intently coloring an illustrated space adventure...
Many young artists busy coloring before their 3-D coloring pages are sent to the vacuum form machine...
A complete, vacuum-formed coloring page!
"Are there rainbows in outer space?" Keri and Foo host, Ricky Rainbow Beard, field questions about the day's adventures...
Ask a Scientist!: Exploring the world of bugs with entomologist, with Kate Conroy
Collaborative World Building
In addition to generating artwork and family-friendly activities for FOO Fest, it was my job to articulate the narrative concept underlying all of the artwork, and to extend a written invitation to vending and performing artists with a robust and welcoming creative prompt:
WE ARE IN THE FUTURE, Y'ALL:
Our beloved heroes, Catso and the Fool are getting ready for a space mission to disseminate an AS220 message of art, joy and community into the farthest reaches of the cosmos--- and you will be going with them!
Before you launch, you will need to gather some things for your journey:
protective space gear
scientific knowledge
imagination
and friends!
Godspeed on your preparations, space adventurers! (and have fun!)
From DIY light-up constellation maps to a booth where psychic robots predicted futures, a broad spectrum of visual and performing artists, and AS220 fans, answered the call.
Many Heartfelt Thanks
Edwige Charlot, David Dvorchak, Neal Walsh, Ricky Katowicz, Britton Kroessler, Larry Zagorsky, Ruth Harvey, Shey Rivera, Burt Crenca, Susan Clausen, and friends at AS220 Industries;
also to our guest scientists, Brendan Britton, Kate Conroy, Kerri Houghton, and to our guest educator, Lindsey Shoemaker
Research assistance was generously provided by Janaya Kizzie and Richard Goulis
Festival Photos: Erin X. Smithers