F L A G S : a walk of good intention

More photos can be viewed on Flickr here.

F L A G S, a project of quiet intention offering goodwill and care to others as we pass, was initiated last Saturday 8.16.08 with a team of prayerflag wearing walkers. Twenty-seven volunteers, myself and my partner, Christian Butler, walked from Georgia O'keefe Middle school on Madison, WI's near East side to the Capitol to continue around the Capitol square and nearby areas of note, State St. and Monona Terrace. This walk symbolized an offering of goodwill and care for the city of Madison and everyone in our midst. F L A G S moves a step beyond the Tibetan prayer-flags, a strand of flags, 5 colors with the Lungta/Windhorse graphic affixed over a doorway or through a garden, in that it is mobile versus fixed and can be offered publicly versus privately.
A slightly larger version of this slideshow can be viewed via YouTube here.

The BLINK Temporary Public Art program organized by Madison's Art Commission, is an opportunity for experimental, ad-hoc, temporary works of art to sprout up throughout the community and vanish leaving residents and visitors eager to see what is next. Madison neighborhoods and urban areas are open canvases. The possibilities for creations on open spaces, construction sites, and public parks will provide a glimpse of how the world looks through an artist’s eyes.

This program was appropriate for F L A G S as the project reflects Madison's institutions, communities, programs, initiatives and aesthetics I see as offering similar blessings - goodwill, care, and other welcoming intentions. I have been very lucky to move to this city and find myself in a community full of support. This project also spoke directly to BLINK's aim for glimpses of art through the city. Furthermore, this project involved volunteers from the community and was injected directly into Madison's crowded Saturday Farmers Market around the capitol building. Henceforth, F L A G S sought to honor all those who produce and buy food locally, honor the festival-like celebration of community that blooms every summer weekend, and honor the capitol itself and its legal and municipal proceedings.