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Sherri Cornett
Independent Curator/Artist/Writer

New Public Art, Green Drinks, Open Studio
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www.sherricornett.com
Despite the almost daily rain storms, our version of summer is definitely better than The Long, Long Winter and slows us down, invites us to perambulate downtown, and check out public art.
~~Come to Green Drinks on July 30th for the unveiling of my newest public art piece, Unearthed, see some of my other new works, celebrate High Plains Architects 20th anniversary, to chat about all things environmental
~~Head over to Kirk's Grocery where you can see my Inflamed and Erupted sculptures and take in music, spoken work and experimental performance
~~And, if you haven't had the chance yet, check out my Thicket installation under the Sky Point. 
Green Drinks and Unveiling of Unearthed
at High Plains Architects and Sherri Cornett Open Studio
Join us Tuesday, July 30th, 2720 Minnesota Avenue, 5-7 pm. 

Art & the creative vibe continue to grow on Minnesota Avenue or Old Town, as it is known in its historical context. With the support and assistance of the Downtown Billings Alliance, we installed my Unearthed, part of my Freedom Series, in which I explore energy released from constraint (or unofficially, where I channel my responses to increasingly alarming news about actions and policies undermining our freedoms) on the corner of 28th and Minnesota - the parking lot for High Plains Architects and my studio.

Molly Schiltz, who heads DBA's Public Art program and I will "unveil" Unearthed and share some brief thoughts about public art and community around 5:15. High Plains Architects will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with news about its latest LEED projects.

Green Drinks is a monthly, informal gathering of environmentally-minded locals. Feel free to bring your family and friends and a reusable cup for your beverage. Saddle up to the long "bar" in my studio, have a glass of wine, beer, or perhaps some non-alcoholic jamaica, join a discussion, start one, see my new works and High Plains Architects newest LEED projects and explore the High Plains offices in the historic and LEED Platinum-certified Klos Building and hear music by local artist Grant Allen Jones!

Unearthed
78 x 26 x 21
steel, cedar, copper, shovels, steel & copper wire, findings, deck stain, enamel
$2000
More from my Freedom Series:

Chained, Unchained, Repeat
75 x 24 x 16
steel, cedar, steel chain, steel fittings, locks, keys, deck stain
2019
$2000
We move forward, we move backwards, and, hopefully, move forward again

Unfettered
81 x 48 x 36
steel, cedar, chains, wire, zip ties, steel fittings
$2000
This one is for my flamboyant friends and makes me smile. I think I was channeling Bob Macke and Cher. 

Notes from my chat at the unveiling of "Thicket" under the SkyPoint in Billings, June 7th

"Thank you all for joining us tonight at the beginning of art walk!
 
Thank you to Virginia Bryan for planting the seed suggesting I create a sculpture as part of DBA’s Public Art program and introducing me to Molly Schiltz, DBA’s Arts & Culture Coordinator. From our first conversation, Molly and I realized that we were both comfortable being in the center of a roundabout, with ideas spinning off in multiple directions, but all of them tied in the center to our common belief – how art can frame and be the impetus for community dialogue, community enrichment and connections within the community. Those of you who know me know that creating opportunities for dialogue and connections underpin my curatorial, art and advocacy work – and when all three of those – curation, art and advocacy – can work in tandem, my work is so satisfying.
 
In 2008, I facilitated Conversations Among Women gatherings within the circle of my Ancestresses & Wise Women sculptures, which were symbolic of women who had mentored me. I asked participants to keep an open mind, to possible learn something new. Whatever the starting focus of each of these conversations, there was always some point when we referenced the symbolism in the art and, at the end of the gathering, new connections were made, common ground found, ideas for supporting each other in work, or projects or dreams were formulated, even if the participants have just met.
 
I have seen these rewarding moments in my exhibitions and community engaged projects in New York, the Bay Area and in Asia…
 
Locally, our ALTITUDE: 3123 collective of creatives here in Billings – visual artists, musicians, spoken work artists, alternacirque, writers, filmmakers –  began a couple of summers ago. It formed out of a need to create a space to share our ideas, however new and fragile, to support each other and promote each other – in others words a haven, like the symbolism in my “Thicket” piece.
 
I shared with them how during my Political Science degree, one professor talked about how when cities reach about 100,000 population, there is typically an explosion of new ideas, new organizations, and services, but it then takes about 150,000 people to populate ALL those new opportunities In Billings, we are in the middle of those numbers. As someone who has the honor & privilege of engaging with many of these new idea makers, I am excited about the future of our community and the various communities within our larger community.
 
We do need to make and are indeed making a haven for these ideas to grow so our city continues to weave its rich tapestry of cultures and opportunities that will, in turn, attract other to Billings.
 
One important way is to seek out and, if we are mostly aware of established cultural offerings, make some space for and explore and support the pop up events, the informal gatherings, the experimental, alternative offerings that help make Billings an attractive place for visitors and those seeking new homes and, mostly, for those of us who want to feel more connected in our home town.
 
Another way to connect more broadly across our city,  is through the resource guide You + Community which will soon be on the DBA website. It is a place to find links to events and gatherings that are no – to – low-cost, are welcoming to new folks, inclusive of all of our community members and are opportunities to strengthen bonds and our community fabric, to learn more about each other, new ideas and to play together.
 
Things like:
Story Nights at  Montana Gallery 
The 406 Pride Resource Center at First Church
Learning about civic engagement at Western Native Voice
 
I would be remiss if I didn’t plug my studio home, behind High Plains Architects on Minnesota Avenue. Old Town is a historic district and seems destined to be a creative hub for Billings. I encourage you to check out Kirk’s Grocery tonight for art and entertainment. Please pass along that the tracks are just a few bumps in the road, not a wall!
 
Again, thank you to Molly and Virginia and also to Joe and Nick for their enthusiastic installation assistance! The Downtown Billing Alliance/Association’s Public Art Program is not only a gift to Billings, creating agoras or public gathering spaces, especially with the art under the SkyPoint, which I have the immense honor of being a part of, but is also laying the groundwork for Billings getting a 1% for Art program. As we know, cities rich in art tend to have vibrant communities.
 
Here’s to more public and here’s our strengthening connections within our community."

Thicket:
•ubiquitous to our waterways •broken, nibbled willow and dogwood branches softened by wild clematis vine and connected by entwined roots •shelter for seeds, nests and small creatures • lush, precious weaving together of ideas, beliefs, cultures, children, families and vulnerable communities within a protective haven."
Steel, copper
57x 45.5x 45.5 x 75 inches high
$2500 

Inflamed and Erupted from my Freedom Series at Kirk's Grocery through August! 
 
Summer Hours T-FR 2-9 PM with events every night! Check out Kirk's Facebook Page or Instagram @kirksgrocery for the latest mix of music, spoken work and intriguing, creative explorations.
2920 Minnesota Avenue

Inflamed
Steel, copper, river rock
94 x 35 24 inches
2019
$2000

Erupted
Steel, altered wooden fence post, paint, hardware, glue
84 x 28 x 24 inches
2018
$2000

Shane DeLeon (missmassivesnowflake@gmail.com), owner/director of Kirk's, weaves together art and performance and opportunities for high schoolers, spoken word artists, solo musicians and many others in our creative communities. Fifty percent of sales of these works will go a long way to helping Shane’s dream stay alive and expand. 
Copyright © 2018 SHERRI CORNETT ART INC,  All rights reserved. 
Mailing address:
3222 LeeAnn Boulevard, Billings, MT 59102

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Sherri Cornett Art · 3222 LeeAnn Blvd · Billings, Mt 59102 · USA

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