Downtown Orlando has turned into a living gallery. Art in Odd Places (AIOP) has transformed six blocks of Magnolia Avenue with sculptures, shadow puppets, murals, singers, and interactive exhibits that will run from today until Sunday. Fifty artists are participating in the free event themed “Tone,” which takes place from September 17-20. The local and national artists will be showcasing everything from live music to straw drinking installations and a wearable, musical sculpture.
Each day’s events will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Friday and Saturday offering special programming for seniors and families, respectively. Art in Odd Places founder Ed Woodham’s mission with AIOP is to remind people that public spaces function as a place for social interactions and the exchange of ideas. "We're becoming people who prefer to connect to things, rather than people," Woodham told the Orlando Weekly.
Painting over items found on the sidewalk, Ian Nolan’s Interruptions will interrupt the monolithic surfaces pedestrians experience daily. Among the performance art pieces will be Katya Grokhovsky’s sidewalk banners donning social media-style messages while Rokaya Mikhailenko's Doormat will feature 30-minute postmodern dances. Mikhailenko’s installation explores how our mental states are shaped by our relationships and emotions.
Conceived in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, AIOP began in 2005 and has taken over the streets of Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Australia and St. Petersburg in previous years. The Gallery at Avalon Island will serve as event’s headquarters.
