It’s a
“public art” project spearheaded by Heather Parker from CityArts Cooperative. Like their tiny toy counterparts, the foam apes are
shaped with hooked arms and tails.
“We chose
this shape, from Hasbro’s ‘Barrel of Monkeys’ for several reasons,” Heather
said. “A childhood connection (many adults had them or saw them as a child),
their arms link together to form a chain (great alone as one monkey, but can
connect with each other and have a big impact, kind’a like people, huh?), and
well, they’re monkeys!”
Heather was
joined by many people intrigued or amused by the project. Adults, children,
school groups, professional artists, Friday Fest visitors, business owners and
bunches of “regular people” helped make monkeys, she said.
“We’ve had at
least 100 hands in the barrel helping to make this happen, from purchasing
foam, donating paints, meticulously hand-cutting monkeys, or just dropping by
to quickly add a splash of paint,” she said.
“Some of the monkeys are
impressive one-of-a-kind works of art.”
Heather
pointed out that Wikipedia defines “public art” as works of art in any media
that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited
or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all.
Such cultural interventions have often been realized in response to creatively
engaging a community’s sense of “place” or “well-being” in society.
“Imagine a
downtown that is a place you want to be,” she said. “Would it be lively,
colorful, lighthearted, joyful, playful, entertaining, filled with talent,
self-expression and creativity? Mine would. So for one day, I’m filling it with
colorful monkeys.”
Heather
hopes this and other public art events will bring more people downtown and
expose them to the possibilities of art. She would like downtown Panama City (along with St. Andrews )
to become a regional art hub, and to make art a “living, breathing way of life”
for everyone.
The day
promises to be a full one in the downtown district, with Vintage Market 7:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m., an artist meet-and-greet at Main
St Ga lle
Monkey installation
is from 6 to 9 a.m., if anyone wants to help Heather hang the monkeys. Display
will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., after which the monkeys will be removed.
“We expect
some to fall throughout the day, which is why they are all handcut from
lightweight Styrofoam,” she said. “If a monkey falls on your head, you’ve got a
great story, but no injury: ‘One time, I was downtown, you’ll never believe
this, but a ...’ ”
Art
is about more than murals and painting, Heather told me once. It’s about
exploring, laughter and joy.
Peace.
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