Calgary Fun: Pocket Art Machines
A sucker for fun, funky and quirky things, I had to apply when I saw the Greenview Business Improvement Area wanting artists to create small-format artworks for their Pocket Art Machines (PAM).
What is this you ask? Think millworks!
Who or What is PAM?
It is an art project where three snack vending machines will be placed in various locations around the city. Each machine will be stocked with mini-artworks, art cards, mini-zines, pottery, jewelry, textile patches – anything art that will fit in the machines and able to survive the fall. Think pocket art snacks!
Two of the machines will accept Apple Pay and Google Pay, while the flat sticker machine is old school i.e. coin operated.
Watch for details on social media as to where PAMs can be found and/or follow me on Facebook or X.
My Proposal
I proposed a photo shoot of the Greenview Industrial area’s fun, funky and quirky (FFQ) flaneur finds, in the alleys, parking lots, front and back yards and even rooftops. I would then choose six FFQ street photos to create mini postcards, with a colour photo on the front and typical postcard text on the back. As they don’t meet Canada Post’s minimum size, they will have to be placed in an envelope if you wish to mail them. Or you could just drop them in a neighbour’s mailbox for fun.
I would then print 100 of each, package three together and sell for a toonie.
Global Car Wash Fun!
Who knew Calgary has had a Racing Pigeon Club since 1904?
Yahoo! I was chosen.
After being notified I was chosen to be one of the first 10 artists to participate in PAM, I immediately headed to Greenview Industrial area to do my photo shoot. Greenview Industrial area is in Calgary’s northeast quadrant, with 32nd Ave its northern boundary, 41st Ave its southern one, 6th St its eastern edge and Centre Street its west one. Definitely off-the-beaten-path; my kind of place for flaneuring!
It is an old industrial area with a quirky mix of businesses, from car restoration and repair shops to millwork shops, from MEOW thrift store to a day care, from Congress Coffee & Live Music to Burger 320 and Citizen Brewery Company.
In the middle sits the huge Centre Street Church. FYI: It is not on Centre Street, but 2nd St N.E. The church can accommodate 3,300 people in its 110,000 square foot building. Hmm, I should really go back on a Sunday for another photo shoot.
Greenview is also home to 30+ outdoor murals (I was tempted to just do postcards of the murals, but I didn’t) and Burnt Toast Studio a not-for-profit artist collective and printmaking studio.
And of course, we had to have lunch at Burger 320 and coffee at Congress. Next time it will be beer at Citizens. Collectively, Greenview’s businesses make for a couple of hours of fun flaneuring, eating and drinking.
One of the best burgers in town!
One of the best beer spots in town?
30+ murals make for an interesting walkabout!
Congress Coffee Company is a funky place to hangout, meet-up etc. There will definitely be a Pocket Art Machine here.
Greenview Industrial Street Photo Essay
Here is a sample of some of the photos I took on my photo shoot. Can you guess which six I chose for the postcards? Hint: Think colourful, playful and a bit strange - these are not your grandmothers postcards!
The back of the postcards.
Last Word
If you are in Calgary this summer, be on the lookout for PAMs. Who knows you might even find one of my street photography postcard artworks.
Note: A big thanks to Minuteman Press in the Beltline for helping with the postcard design and printing.
