The Forest Park Arts Alliance (FPAA) met at Jimmy’s Place on Sept. 25 to brainstorm new ideas for the nonprofit organization.
“We’re here to talk about what the future of art in Forest Park looks like,” said Laura Twining, president of FPAA.
“I don’t want Forest Parkers to merely live close to opportunities for art. I want Forest Park to be the place with opportunities for artists and art,” said Twining.
The Arts Alliance has held similar brainstorming sessions in the past, and projects have come to life from ideas generated by these meetings, including Stoop Sessions and the upcoming mural project near the Roos Recreation Center.
FPAA has already held one Faux Pas comedy show to raise money for the large-scale mural and has a second scheduled for Oct. 11. (Find out more at bit.ly/2lIq33D).
Over pizza and drinks, the alliance members and visitors brought up a wide variety of ideas involving visual art, dance and writing.
Collaborations with other community groups or events were discussed, including the Forest Park Public Library and the annual House and Garden Walk. A goal of bringing together like-minded artists was also explored. Networking for painters, writers, potters or sculptors would be a way to allow artists to meet one another for idea sharing and support.
The group also talked about how to reach more people and increase membership.
Jessica Luciano, owner of Creativita, has been involved with the alliance from the beginning, with the “Cover our Rust” painting project on the Circle Avenue bridge.
“It was such a cool event,” she said. “It was a great project and a great group of people.”
She particularly likes that FPAA focuses on art being for everyone and includes projects that aren’t strictly related to visual art. “There’s comedy and music and chalk art. And the projects involve the community.“
“There’s so much potential,” she said. “The bridge project was magical. I want to help bring that magic to Forest Park again.”
