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Posts from the ‘Events’ Category

WJXT-TV4 Coverage

May 3rd, 2012

Doug

Kelvin from WJXT interviewed me during the opening and produced this awesome segment which aired last night. Thanks to all of you who came by during Art Walk, what a great time we all had. More to come with pictures and details, but here is the link to the news segment: http://www.news4jax.com/news/-Message-in-a-Bottle-unveiled-in-Jacksonville/-/475880/12533494/-/1ahi3z/-/index.html

The BIG day

May 2nd, 2012

Doug

Our opening day is finally here. I’m excited and the wall is looking good. We had a temporary casualty with Dots, but all is fixed now. The titles were glued on last night and we are ready. Last thing is to bring over are the printouts of the word cloud and phrases. It’s been a long journey with this project and an enlightening one. Spending long hours caulking water bottles gives you a lot of time to think. What impressed me the most is the outpouring of support from people everywhere. Truly gratifying.

The Wall takes on a different look depending on the sun, or lack thereof. The morning back light, the high noon brilliance, and the shade of the late afternoon as the shadows of the adjoining buildings cover the park. Then the lights come on and the Wall takes on a new life. My favorite is around 8:00 pm.

I hope those who come to see the Wall will take the time to experience it and feel the presence of the messages. A lot of positive energy here. I hope that visitors will return at different parts of the day. I hope that everyone takes time to reflect on the things that are important to them, and then take action. If the Wall can inspire, motivate, and move the viewer in some way, then I have accomplished my goal with this artwork.

Opening – May 2

April 28th, 2012

Doug

Our official public unveiling of the Wall of Light will be on May 2 during Art Walk in Main Street Park (see map below). The festivities start at 5 pm and normally people are downtown until long after 9 pm. Since it gets dark around 8:15, please plan to stay until the lights go on.

Hope to see a lot of you at the opening and please introduce yourself. The wall will be up until after Memorial Day, May 28.

Google map to the park, located behind the downtown main library on Main Street between Duval and Monroe:

 


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Permit for the Wall

April 27th, 2012

Doug

Today we FINALLY got our permit to erect the Wall in Main Street Park. How’s that for last minute? The latest was the paperwork for my insurance, a slight misunderstanding. After almost reaching a point of breakdown, things were clarified and the permit was signed. Yay!

Would we have gone ahead with the installation on Monday w/o a permit? Of course!

April Art Walk

April 4th, 2012

Doug

We hosted a “preview” of the panels for April at my studio. Lots of people came by to see where their bottles were going. The original concept for the wall was a single stacked design and now we have gone to individual panels. I think everyone was happy with what they saw. Many thanks to my brother Robert who was here all week to help us get over the hump, finalizing and constructing the support system and wiring the lights. Dorian was also in painting and of course entering bottle messages. It’s all these other details that take time and need to be done right.

Thanks to everyone who attended and we are super excited about the May 2, except that we know there will be some long hours to put in before the opening. Hope to see all of you there!

    

Jacksonville Jazz Festival

March 29th, 2012

Doug

Today I received the ok that the Wall can be up during the Jacksonville Jazz festival, Yay! We checked out the sight lines from the park and determined that there will be no major obstructions to Main Stage. I know the park will be packed with people, so the Wall will get lots of exposure. We are thinking of hiring a security guard to be there to keep the kids and dogs away…who know what inebriated jazz lovers may do.

WJXT interview

March 8th, 2012

Doug

Photojournalist Mark Clanton from WJXT was in the studio this morning to film a brief segment on the project. Mark took a lot of time to learn about the project and then to shoot around the studio and the wall construction. If there is a link to the segment I’ll be sure to post it. Right now I’m encouraging people to promote the website to anyone they know in the military because this project is for them. And to save the date May 2 Art Walk for our planned opening event. We’re getting excited!

Thanks to Bill Yates for the pics.

  

  

March Art Walk

March 8th, 2012

Doug

A big thanks to all who came to Art Walk last night. We had collection points at MOCA, The Art Center, Southlight Gallery, and Studio 121. Lots of people are still discovering the project and getting excited about it. It’s always great to talk to the kids, who seem to be the most receptive to the whole idea. Aren’t kids great? Next Art Walk we will be previewing the completed sections in the studio. We’re getting close to launch time. Yikes!

February Art Walk at MOCA

February 1st, 2012

Doug

MOCA Jax continues to be a big supporter by allowing us to set up in their lobby during Art Walk. Usually there’s a big crowd going through the museum and tonight was no exception. We gathered around 120 messages for the cause and signed up a few “Messenger” volunteers.  Thanks to everyone who dropped by, we’ll be back for one more round in March.

JPL – Mandarin Regional

January 14th, 2012

Doug

The Mandarin Regional Jacksonville Public Library on Kori Road held an event for students where Dorian was able to present our project and stir up some interest. The students always seem eager to help. We collected completed bottles and signed up a few volunteers. The receptacles in the libraries were specially prepared for us by the art students at Atlantic Coast HS.