Art Map Burlington, August 2006

What Do You Have to Lose

Over the past three years Elisabeth Howland has worked to bring new voices and visions to the Burlington art scene through her continuously evolving collaborative painting, “What do you have to lose.” The enormous work has been developed throughout several Art Hops in the alley behind the Green Door Studio with a new theme and medium each year. This year the double-sided 20’ by 6’ canvas will be on display in its final incarnation at the Specialty Filaments Building.

Howland started the project to make art more accessible to the public.

“Everyone is an artist,” said Howland. “Everyone has the ability to make art. People get weird, they think that art has to be in Art Forum, or art has to be expensive, or art has to be something in a matted frame on a circular stairwell [sic] up the Guggenheim-that’s art....when in reality art is a way of seeing the world.”

Howland developed the piece with help from countless participants. The early version in 2004 was all about “freedom,” 2005 was “as free as you’ll ever be.”

“The first year, being all spray paint, the canvas ended up as a large, somewhat abstract piece that it hard to discern who did what,” Howland said. “The second year, being the Sharpies, you could probably technically go and count the signatures and messages. Both were up for the entirety of both Art Hops, including overnight, and there was definitely work done when no one was around. I’d guess maybe a hundred or two actually tagged it.”

This year Howland challenges viewers with “what do you have to lose,” an invitation to join in the next collaborative project she’s just begun. Visitors are invited to bring wallet photos to contribute to the work, which will be shown at a future event.

“What do you have to lose” will be showing at Specialty Filaments at 1 Howard Street after 5 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday.

THERESA SINCLAIR

Art Map Burlington ARTICLE
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Image of Freedom Creation from Art Hop 2004 by Elisabeth Howland Show Location: Specialty Filaments Building (1 Howard Street). 14th Annual South End Art Hop www.seaba.com		What Do You Have to Lose Over the past three years Elisabeth Howland has worked to bring new voices and visions to the Burlington art scene through her continuously evolving collaborative painting, “What do you have to lose.” The enormous work has been developed throughout several Art Hops in the alley behind the Green Door Studio with a new theme and medium each year. This year the double-sided 20’ by 6’ canvas will be on display in its final incarnation at the Specialty Filaments Building. Howland started the project to make art more accessible to the public. “Everyone is an artist,” said Howland. “Everyone has the ability to make art. People get weird, they think that art has to be in Art Forum, or art has to be expensive, or art has to be something in a matted frame on a circular stairwell [sic] up the Guggenheim-that’s art....when in reality art is a way of seeing the world.” Howland developed the piece with help from countless participants. The early version in 2004 was all about “freedom,” 2005 was “as free as you’ll ever be.” “The first year, being all spray paint, the canvas ended up as a large, somewhat abstract piece that it hard to discern who did what,” Howland said. “The second year, being the Sharpies, you could probably technically go and count the signatures and messages. Both were up for the entirety of both Art Hops, including overnight, and there was definitely work done when no one was around. I’d guess maybe a hundred or two actually tagged it.” This year Howland challenges viewers with “what do you have to lose,” an invitation to join in the next collaborative project she’s just begun. Visitors are invited to bring wallet photos to contribute to the work, which will be shown at a future event. “What do you have to lose” will be showing at Specialty Filaments at 1 Howard Street after 5 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday. THERESA SINCLAIR

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