photo by Liz Gadhela
All aboard Art on Track: Interactive art exhibition takes over Chicago train
By Aynsley Karps
Published: September 4th, 2008 | 2:20pm
“This train is not in service," the Chicago Transit Authority announcer declared over the intercom. "At the Randolph and Wabash stop, you may get out and change cars." The excited chatter inside the crowded train heightened, and people began inching closer toward the doors. Soon it was like a game of musical chairs, with people dashing out and scrambling to one of the other seven cars before the doors closed.
Art on Track was responsible for CTA riders’ unusually high spirits on Saturday, August 30. The interactive display, which its Web site claims is the world’s largest mobile arts exhibition, transformed an eight-car Orange line train from 6 to 10 p.m. that night. More than 900 people paid the $5 fee to circle the Loop in the art train. The event was put on by Salvo, a group of young Chicago artists, and Lethal Poetry, an arts and entertainment promotions label.
photo by Leonard Moody III
Each car showcased local galleries and independent artists. Some cars were themed, like one that covered the seating area with plywood to create a raised grassy construction with flowers wrapped around poles and drawings of bulldozers on the windows. A couple of other cars featured a collection of hanging prints for viewers to admire. But for the most part, cars incorporated both the still and interactive aspects of art. From performing musical ensembles to a puppet show to punching bags with photos of Obama and McCain on them, each car was fun, engaging, and conversational — let alone completely different from the next.
Mojdeh Stoakley, CEO and curator of Lethal Poetry, was happy with the exhibition’s outcome. “It was excellent,” she said. “I ended up being like the mom of a 4-year-old instead of my 21-year-old self. I was just so proud of everyone involved. I’ve never seen a bunch of young people work so hard. We really pulled it off.”
photo by Aynsley Karps
Salvo founder Tristan Hummel first came up with the idea of converting an El train into an art gallery when reading an article on ways to spend money in Chicago. The article suggested renting out a CTA train for a party.
Stoakley says the exhibition served a dual purpose. “We want to get the message across that youth can get something like this off the ground,” she said. “A train is so accessible and such a part of our everyday lives, so we wanted to make art accessible too.”
In fact, anyone interested in buying a piece of featured artwork was given the contact information for the artist or gallery. “There were no price tags on the train,” Stoakley said. “We didn’t want to perpetuate what happens in a regular gallery.”
photo by Aynsley Karps
Stoakley and fellow co-workers set up a promotional campaign that included media partner WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. While they were successful at appealing to the targeted college-aged, “alternative-thinking” crowd by arranging various digital and event promotions, people of all ages still turned up Saturday night.
As for the possible return of Art on Track, Stoakley says they’re hoping to make it an annual event, perhaps moving the date to October next year as a part of Chicago Artists Month.
In the meantime, El patrons may find the Orange line a little less colorful.
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To learn more about Art on Track and its featured artists and galleries, check out chicagoartontrack.com. To learn more about Lethal Poetry, check out lethalpoetry.com.
[see original screen shot archive below]
www.lethalpoetry.com
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