Brilliant corners

Project Pop Up was designed to use art to activate unexpected downtown spaces in Lansing and to promote creativity throughout the city. The project is a combination of three concepts: window art galleries, “artful activities” and guerilla knitting/ yarn bombing.

Every Wednesday at noon from June 17 through Aug. 12, Michigan artists will host “artful activities” at the Lansing Art Gallery that range from scavenger hunts to 3D chalk art.

Yarn bombing, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn in public spaces. Some featured guerrilla knitting/ yarn bombing artists include Tedda Hughes, Cortney Mclean, Jane Reiter and Connie Henslee. From May 30 through Aug. 30, you can sign up to yarn bomb a tree in downtown Lansing.

“The yarn bombing has gotten some real good attention,” said Barb Whitney, executive director of the Lansing Art Gallery. Whitney has been the driving force behind the organization of Project Pop Up.

“This particular project, Project Pop Up, was a grant application written for the City of Lansing’s Sense of Place in the Arts Program,” Whitney said. “That is a grant program supported by the city and partners to promote community downtown.”

The purpose of the City of Lansing Sense of Place in the Arts Program is to create community-driven placemaking projects that capitalize on Lansing’s assets, inspiration and potential, contributing to a “sense of place” for residents, businesses and visitors.

Whitney’s goal in this particular project is to promote and showcase creativity and to increase collaboration with partners throughout downtown. All of the activities featured during Project Pop Up, running now through August, will be free and accessible to the public.

“Project Pop Up specifically was generated because, as you may have seen, popups are literally popping up all over the country,” Whitney said. “Whether they are pop up food trucks or pop up art galleries, it’s an interesting concept that is fresh, inviting and temporary.”

The project is an attempt to inject art into Lansing’s downtown, especially for people who may not frequently visit the area’s art galleries.

“There’s some additional opportunities throughout the summer for downtown residents, businesses and visitors to experience the art while they are in the downtown setting,” she said.

Visit lansingartgallery.org for a complete schedule of activities.

Project Pop Up Community

Reception 6- 8 p.m., Thursday, June 4

FREE Lansing Art Gallery 119 N. Washington Sq. Lansing www.lansingartgallery.org (517) 374-6400