Brian Kelly's Projection Initiative

Rapid Growth and the GR Press ran stories about Brian Kelly's projection initiative downtown, which would have digital media (art, short films, etc.) projected onto buildings. We've had the privilege to co-produce the first short film Celebrate Heartside. We'll watch it unfold tonight at the Pre-Glow party.

February 12, 2009

Projection initiative could spotlight art onto downtown buildings

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

An art initiative spearheaded by Grand Rapids photographer Brian Kelly could light up the city nights, literally. The Projection Initiative, an idea to project the work of local and regional artists on the sides of select downtown buildings after dark, began with an idea from Grand Rapids artist Reb Roberts.

Roberts, founder of Sanctuary Folk Art, received city approval months ago to display a painted mural of his work on the multi-story west wall of the parking ramp at Cherry and Commerce. But the logistics created too many obstacles.

“Brian was in here talking about doing a promotion video for Heartside and wanting to project the film on the parking ramp,” Roberts says. “We said wouldn’t it be great to combine our ideas and to project art in the city?”

The proposed initiative would fund the installation of projection systems at some 10 locations to help boost downtown’s vibrancy.

Artists would submit their work—photography, short films, animation, paintings—any artistic media that can be digitized for projection. A proposed computer server system could store the digitized art and control each projection remotely. And none of it would cost the artist a dime.

“If you spend any time walking around downtown at night, it’s already a great experience, and with projected art it could be off-the-charts great,” Kelly says.

He envisions people walking from restaurants to pubs and museums or strolling across the river just to see the projections along the way. He has had encouraging initial discussions with potential funders and will soon have cost estimates for the project.

Locus Development commissioned the first projection art: Celebrate Heartside, a four-minute film Kelly created in partnership with Creo Productions. The projection will take place at 6 p.m. tonight on the west wall of the Cherry/Commerce parking ramp as part of Heartside Pre-Glow, a public celebration of the Heartside neighborhood.

“This initiative could create another type of energy in this community,” says Reb Roberts. “Grand Rapids could become a destination for art buyers and dealers; we just need more public exposure.”