paperandglue.net

Via Letter Writers Alliance, news of a super cool art project happening outside of Winnipeg’s unofficial sister city Minneapolis: the Art Shanty.

LWA takes interest in the Art Post shanty, naturally.

As a postal afficionado, I am equally intrigued by the prospect of a small construct where mail will be hand-cancelled, new stamps will be unveiled, and postcards will be mailed. However, I think that the Assiniboine River would be a perfect locale for our own village of Art Shanties!

Some Shanties that particularly capture my imagination:

• Ace Stellar Shanty — for stargazers, astronomers and astrologers!
• Art Swap Shanty — “Filled to the brim with intriguing art objects, and visitors are invited to swap their own art for any work that strikes their fancy.”
• The Black Bania — A working sauna!
• Dance Shanty — I think the name is self-explanatory.
• The Light House — “With the ‘light’ house, we intend to gather as much energy as possible so that we can give it away freely.”
• Shan-Tea — “The door is the handle, the stove is the spout, the Tea fosters hospitality, conversation and giving.”

If you ask me, this kind of project has Art City written all over it. Let’s do it!

I’m picturing Christine Fellows in a songwriting shanty. Fred Thomas in a graf shanty (though I suppose the enclosed space would preclude spray paint — still, there are other tools of that particular trade that are less toxic!). Send + Receive with a sound art shanty. Videopool with a video shanty. The list goes on! It would be a great midwinter antidote to the cold. Plus, one could skate between shanties!