FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Amy MacDonald at 801-231-8274 or brolly@brollyarts.org THE BEAUTY AND THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF PLASTIC BRINGS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER Plastique, a multi-disciplinary project that utilizes art to engage our community and increase awareness around this vital environmental issue of plastic, its use, misuse and lasting impact. Brolly Arts’ project Plastique brings to light the wonderful horrible nature of plastic. It is resilient and it lasts. That’s the beauty and the destructive nature of plastic particularly single use plastic such as plastic bags. Plastique is a multi-disciplinary show full of visual art, dance, poetry, film, and research. Artists, community members, and community organizations will work to fully realize the performance and visual aspects of Plastique . The installation art will be made out of plastic during outreach projects and by individual efforts. Many are amazed to learn that this colorful stuff is the thermoplastic junk of our throwaway culture. Plastique engages artists and audiences alike to examine, like archaeologists, how each piece of plastic opens a window to the whole of human culture, piece by piece. With our interactive event, we increase awareness of an important environmental issue and engage our community which is the first step in social change. Although Plastique addresses a real environmental problem, art is the central theme. Plastique by design will be a replicable model. Once this project premieres, it can be repeated in other areas so that many communities can benefit from a project such as this. By involving a number of artists and organizations in the creation of Plastique we are able to reach a larger audience, have a greater impact and increase the potential of our cultural and civic communities. To date, participating organizations include Brolly Arts, Bad Dog Arts, Utah Arts Alliance and Rowland Hall. Brolly Arts has extensive experience and positive outcomes for work such as this. Our 2009 and 2010 H2O projects were awarded a 2010 NEA Access to Artistic Excellence award for our work in art, environmental issues and community outreach and engagement. Participating Artists: Amy MacDonald - Director, Brolly Arts, Victoria Lyons/Michael Moonbird - Co-Directors, Bad Dog Arts, Sofia Gorder - Choreographer, Cat Palmer - Urban Arts Gallery Director/Curator, Joel Long - Poet, Colby Bryson - Filmmaker, Nathan Adair - Costume Design, Ashley Burnett - PR/Marketing Visual Artists: Kandyce Galanis and Jessie Sharp, Margaret Willis, Carol Ann Sogard, Bad Dog Arts Students, Megan WIngeleth, Veronica Spalaikovitch, Jen Lopez, Dawn Taylor, Jackie Burns, Clair Jones, Renee Keith, Christopher Wallace, Jude Higgins-Lewis, Timm Paxton, Carmen Davis, Chad Farnes Brolly Arts is dedicated to creating meaningful art and vibrant communities through artistic and civic collaboration and experimentation. As a non-profit umbrella arts organization, Brolly Arts is committed to increasing the opportunities and impacts of artists and arts organizations in Salt Lake City and Utah. “Brolly Arts has, from its inception, been an agent of change and community development through the arts for Salt Lake City. Every project undertaken has moved the arts community to work together and has creatively addressed a number of issues, both local and global.” ! ! Nancy Boskoff, former Executive Director of the Salt Lake City Arts Council !!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! Plastique * ! ! * ! ! * ! ! ! ! ! Urban Arts Gallery Friday, April 18, 2014, From 6 - 9 pm in conjunction with Gallery Stroll ! ! Plastique exhibit runs from April 7 - May 3 Joel Long