A
Community Catalyst
The Dreaming
is an architectural installation and public plaza that combines
sculpted glass with painting, weaving, etched stone, and light.
Phase 1 of the work will be complete in September of 2007.
The
Dreaming is woven into the east facade of the old
Francis Scott Key Hotel, where it faces the dawn's early light.
The five story tall work overlooks an ancient crossroads,
now the center of the arts, financial and historic districts
of Frederick, Maryland. This has been the site of a tavern
or a hotel since well before the American Revolution. Glass
is used prominently in the work in celebration of Frederick's
early history as a leading glass making center in the nation
in the late 1700s.
The
intention of the work is to help reclaim the city's historic
roots as a center for the arts, to explore imagination and
creativity as the engines of human progress, to challenge
the viewer's capacity for vision, and to transform a longstanding
scar in the streetscape into a catalyst for cultural, social
and economic vitality. The appearance of The Dreaming
changes dramatically as the light and the position of the
viewer varies. The work has layers of artifacts and materials
that reflect the strata of history and of dreams.
You
Are Invited
Like its predecessor, the Community
Bridge project, The Dreaming
has engaged the community in its creation. Countless
residents have participated in the process of the design,
development, educational components, historical research,
support and installation of this artwork. You are invited
to contribute your
words and thoughts. There are five different
ways you can participate. Learn how by clicking the
"BE A PART OF IT" panel located on the left side
of every page in this web site.
Four Sections
In This Web Site:
This web site has
four main sections, listed in black
at the top of every page. You are on the first page
of the first section, called About the Dreaming,
which explains each component of the work.
In the second section,
called Crossroads
of Culture, we examine many
aspects of the cultural history of Frederick, Maryland ––
the play of human imagination through the centuries. Frederick
has long been a crossroads of culture and magnet for artists
and artisans, whose work helped shape the personality of this
city and the nation. Some became famous, others found creative
expression in everyday ways that enriched the lives around
them and the spirit of this place. The dreams of our ancestors
became what we call history today.
In the third section,
called Your Voice,
we invite you to weave your thread into this permanent work
of public art as a legacy to the future. You can take part
in person, or here on this
web site. We want your creative input so we can weave
it together with others as an exploration of the imagination
and an expression of this place today.
The fourth section,
called Weaving
Community, describes our vision
for participatory works of public art that build community.
The goal of these works is to leverage the imaginative power
of the community to build catalysts for economic, social,
and cultural transformation.
Note:
This site remains under construction and
will evolve during the creation of The Dreaming,
after which it will remain as an educational resource and
a record of this project. Also, look for small links called
"Down the Rabbit Hole." The Rabbit Hole is another
level of this site where some of the more curious implications
of this project are examined in more detail.
Next
>
The
Vision • The Process •
A Place of Dreams • Imagination
• The Glass Veil
The Weaving Layer • Carved
Stone • Dream Pool •
Artistic Team |
