What Needs to be Said? is a new work of public art by Rebecca Krinke; it will be installed in an empty storefront at 2401 University Avenue West, St. Paul (near Raymond Avenue). The project will provide the setting and opportunity for all to say what "needs to be said" - however one wants to define that. A room within the storefront - a semi-transparent “Writing Room” - made of paper and charred wood provides a unique environment for anyone to write what “needs to be said”. Your words can be made public by pinning them to the walls - or should you prefer to keep your writings private - the Room is designed such that messages can be placed out of reach and not readable, but collected, and they will burned at the end of the project’s week in the storefront.
Asking “what needs to be said”, (even if a visitor should choose not to write) has the impact of this question resonating in your mind. Should something long kept to oneself be unburdened? Should a joy be celebrated out loud? Is there something you wished you had said and now that person is gone? What do we as individuals, and/or as part of larger groups feel needs to be said? Or is being said but not being heard or believed? It can be cathartic to “speak up” and share in public, and this artwork offers a compelling physical setting for this activity. “What needs to be said?” is deliberately differentiated from blogs and message postings that are virtual and linear. This project offers the possibility for writing and reading others’ writings in a random, physical, visceral way. “What needs to be said?” invites all the voices from the community to speak, and to speak their truth. There is a tremendous need for new places and objects to address our emotional life.
The weeklong residency is for What Needs to be Said? is made possible by the vacant storefront rentals facilitated by the Starling Project and their St. Anthony Park Pop Up Space, see http://starlingproject.com/
Two University of Minnesota graduate students, Michael Richardson and Miss Emily Lowery have been working with Krinke on the project. During the week of residency, this team will be experimenting with a variety of other approaches to What Needs to Be Said? including sound, recording, and speaking/listening. Krinke is extending an open invitation to individuals or groups to participate in the project and to propose their own ideas for how the What Needs to be Said? space could be seen as a catalyst for their work – such as a community meeting, or a spoken word performance. Krinke is interested in the possibilities for taking the “Writing Room” to other indoor or outdoor locations and invites ideas from the public.
Dates/Times Open to the Public:
Open 5 PM - 8 PM, August 15-19.
Reception: Thursday 16th: 5-9 PM – reception with refreshments
