mashUPnow a social art project
Art by the Yard Studio first introduced "mashUPnow- a social art project" to KC Fringe Festival,YOUth Fringe located at the Plaza Branch of the KC Public Library on July 21. "We were thrilled to have the opportunity to unveil our new social art project at a revered educational venue. It is also a great honor to bring in St. Louis photographer, Brittany Branson of Loud Sights Art & Photography to collaborate and document the unveiling. Also we will soon have another local artist, Mark Meriweather of Kansas City, MO, helping us to mashUP the storylines into vingettes that we will present online. " (Art by the Yard).
The artists inspire participants of all ages to create hand drawn characters and story-lines. Richard and Michele will then pose the characters as actors performing each story-line on a dramatically lit three dimensional toy theater stage designed by Art by the Yard Studio. The posed scenes will be photographed and blended into mashUPnow vignettes, a technique of combining various sources of text and imagery into one cohesive artwork.
The progress of this artwork will be blogged at www.mashupnow.com inviting all to follow along and continue to be a part of the creation of the final artwork.
“mashUPnow is experimental as its format is a collage of visual art, theater, digital mediums and social engagement. Our art showcases the details of life; the look and feel of the environment around us. In our social art projects we open up the forum of our art making so the public can come in and play. The participants all become collaborative artists sharing their thoughts, dreams and opinions on relevant community issues. This group participation creates a commentary on the human condition. The result is a professionally crafted, socially relevant artwork that is honest and playful.” (Michele Fritz, Partner, Art by the Yard).
The artists inspire participants of all ages to create hand drawn characters and story-lines. Richard and Michele will then pose the characters as actors performing each story-line on a dramatically lit three dimensional toy theater stage designed by Art by the Yard Studio. The posed scenes will be photographed and blended into mashUPnow vignettes, a technique of combining various sources of text and imagery into one cohesive artwork.
The progress of this artwork will be blogged at www.mashupnow.com inviting all to follow along and continue to be a part of the creation of the final artwork.
“mashUPnow is experimental as its format is a collage of visual art, theater, digital mediums and social engagement. Our art showcases the details of life; the look and feel of the environment around us. In our social art projects we open up the forum of our art making so the public can come in and play. The participants all become collaborative artists sharing their thoughts, dreams and opinions on relevant community issues. This group participation creates a commentary on the human condition. The result is a professionally crafted, socially relevant artwork that is honest and playful.” (Michele Fritz, Partner, Art by the Yard).
seeking funding
Art by the Yard is currently seeking funding for the full social art project. KC Fringe Festival is just one stop on the tour of the mashUP social art project. The artists are seeking funding for future programming sites. The couple hopes to reach a diverse audience, bringing the project to public events, museums and art galleries in multiple cities.
“mashUP” will allow our audience to engage in a meaningful artistic experience and will give great visibility to many regional artists. For further detail regarding the proposed project, please contact us here or call Rich at 816-695-4670. Below is a letter of interest in participating in the project from the International Museum of Art and Science (IMAS) and the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA), COMING SOON LOI from North American Art Gallery and Mod Gallery. 
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Above: Details from scenes mashedUP and dramatically lit with characters acting out select scenes of a larger story on the set of a miniature stage..
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