idealantern: IYC 2012 public art installation @ Kiwanis Memorial Park

November 4, 2012

Inspired by the slogan and logo for the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives: “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World”, the Idea Lantern, a large graphic pavilion, conveyed a bold message to the public and provided an opportunity for individuals to share their own ideas for their communities.

The pavilion was intended  to be experienced at two scales.  The public was invited to contribute their ideas by writing messages on small business cards that posed the question:”How do you build a better world?”.  These business cards were then organized on the graphic pavilion to spell out a variation of the slogan that read: “Together we build a better world” when seen from a distance.

Prior to the conference, staged events at the University of Saskatchewan, an exhibit at the Mendel Art Gallery and a presentation at the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-operative sought to inform and engage the public and gather written messages for the public art installation.  The construction of the pavilion was completed by OPEN, conference organizers and a number of hard working volunteers.  The installation was on display from mid October until the end of the conference, November 3rd 2012, at Kiwanis Memorial Park.

Special thanks to the Centre for the Study of Cooperatives at the University of Saskatchewan especially Audra Krueger, her co-workers and band of volunteers who worked tirelessly in all weather conditions from beginning to end to see the project realized, the Core Neighourhood Youth Co-operative who generously donated their workshop for the build, Jim Siemens and our sponsors.

Shouts out to all the volunteers who made this project happen.  Lastly, thanks to the public who contributed messages to the Idea Lantern and to the City of Saskatoon for permitting us to use the space at Kiwanis Memorial Park.

While the Idea Lantern was designed as a platform for social engagement, it also illustrated what can be achieved when a group of individuals collaborate and work together towards a common goal.

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Here’s a link to our original post: IYC 2012 – International Year of Cooperatives, Saskatchewan.

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idealantern: night rendering
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Blog post and Photographs by: OPEN, Renderings and Video by: Brad