Corpse puppets? Shakespearean bikes rides? Eagle Scouts wearing Human Rights Campaign badges instead of their American flag ones?
These are just a few of the projects proposed by the finalists of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's Good 'N Plenty Award. This community-generated award isn't like other arts awards, though. It's meant to fund a project that's fun and original but addresses a concern or interest of an individual's community.
See also: Good 'N Plenty: Announcing SMoCA's Artist Grant Winners of 2013
The winner will be announced at the Good 'N Plenty Live Event at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 29. Finalists will present their projects "in the form of performance art, dance, juggling-lecture, dynamic talk, and other exciting ways," according to SMoCA's website. Attendees will then vote for their favorite project and determine the winner, all while snacking on treats from Pistol Whipped Pastry and sipping on beers from Cartel Coffee Lab.
The finalists this year cover quite a range of topics and types of projects. Julie Akerly and Matthew Mosher were named finalists for their project "nueBOX," a performance and installation residency program for artists.
Finalist Peter Bugg's project, "Equal Scouts," aims to get Eagle Scouts to wear Human Rights Campaign symbols in place of their usual American flag badges to raise awareness of the Boy Scouts of America's infringements on gay rights.
Dain Quentin Gore was named a finalist for his project "Exquisite Corpse Hootenany," which will involve artists creating puppets using "corpse methods" and performing at Great Arizona Puppet Theater.
Mimi Jardine's idea for a faux government office that processes and collects litter in an artistic and light-hearted way, called "Mobile Remittance Unit," got her a finalist spot as well.
Finalist Ashley Naftule was chosen for his interactive Shakespearean bike tour, "The Rides of March," which would take place on the Ides of March and entertain riders with plays performed throughout the tour.
Finally, "Terreno Baldio Country Club," dreamed up by Steve Weiss, Leslie Barton, and Katherine Simpson, was selected. This group plans to turn urban vacant lots into desert golf courses designed by artists.
The finalists were chosen by Ashley Hare, Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture's arts learning director, New Times' Katie Johnson, Lindsay Kinkade of Design RePublic, and artist and Navajo/Laguna Pueblo cultural attache Steven Yazzie.
The award winner will receive the comprised total of ticket sales from the Good 'N Plenty Award Live Event and the Arm Wrestling for Art event as well as a matching grant from Scottsdale Public Art.
If you want to cast your vote on August 29, tickets for the event are $10 per person, $8 for SMoCA members, and can be purchased by calling 480-499-8587 or visiting smoca.org.
