Propose Your Activity
Welcome to Open Field 2012!
Open Field is back from June – August 2012! Come and enjoy a new kind of summer gathering place that brings together relaxation and imagination, recreation and exploration. Socialize with friends both old and new at the bar and grill or while rummaging through a tool shed full of games and props to use for making your own fun. Check out the Open Field calendar to see what’s going on, or simply show up and join in.
Interested in engaging the Open Field community with your activity this summer? Whether you intend to lead a lively balloon animal workshop or a performance illustrating the secret life of plankton, begin the process by proposing your idea using the tools below. Please send any inquiries to open.field@walkerart.org.
Propose Your Activity
Open Field is the place to share your best creative self with the world. In each of its previous summer seasons, the field was home to more than 100 public-created activities, including:
• Conversations on the role of the public intellectual
• Lessons on the art of bullwhip-cracking
• Young Suzuki musicians playing violins
• A mom meet-up and parenting skill-share
• Workshops on tips for money management
These activities all have one thing in common: they all exhibit a spirit of play, sharing, and social interaction.
Open Field is an opportunity to engage people in new and creative ways.
You’re invited to bring your ideas to the field and invite others to join in and embrace the dual uncertainty and serendipity of this unique public space. View Field Etiquette and Tips and FAQs for help on how to make your program a success.
While we can’t guarantee an audience for your event, some of the best activities are intimate. Small- and large-scale activities are equally successful at Open Field.
Start sharing your creativity on the field by visiting the Proposal Form.
Here are a few examples from Open Field 2011:
Christina Elias (The Swatch Team)
The Swatch Team: Yarn Bombers Unite!
The Swatch Team wants you! Calling all knitters to create a yarn bombing at the Walker. Crotcheters welcome. Weekly creative rendezvous every Thursday will culminate in a yarn bombing on September 1st.
Robert Dante and Paul Cummings
Bullwhips on the Open Field
Enjoy whip cracking as a sport or as an art with 3-time Guinness World Record holder Robert Dante, author of “Let’s Get Cracking! The How-To Book of Bullwhip Skills.” Dante gives mini-lessons in safe whip handling to interested people of all ages. He also helps experienced whip crackers sharpen their skills. Stop by to watch — you may want to give it a try when you see how much fun it is!
Rachel Stulen (Thrivent Financial) and Rose Boyd, D.C.
If I Ignore, It Will Get Better: Correcting Physical and Financial Ailments
Rachel Stulen, Financial Associate with Thrivent Financial and Chiropractor, Dr. Rose Boyd, D. C. join together each Thursday, to analyze imbalances you have financially or physically and offer tips to get you on the road to health.
Kyle McKelvie
Be A Superhero!
If you’ve ever thought about fighting crime or simply shouting “STOP EVIL DO-ER!” then this activity is for you. You can design a symbol for your alter ego, a costume for striking fear in your enemies, write a theme song and help those in need (please bring a non-perishable food item for donating to a local food shelf). Bring your own fabric and we’ll show you how to make your own gadget belt attachment and/or mask (Donations of fabric for others are happily accepted.)
Milissa Link (Tree of Life Yoga)
Tot Mama Yoga
Milissa Link, of Tree of Life Yoga, offers a plein-air prelude to Walker Art Center’s Arty Pants: Your Tuesday Playdate. Fun family yoga for hot mamas and their cool kids! Chill with playful yoga postures, songs, balancing games and a peace walk. Just what every toddler—and their busy moms—need to bring balance into their lives.
Pamela Johnson
Suzuki Violin Play-in: Books 1–6
Violinists of all ages are invited to a group play-in at the Walker’s Open Field. A program of favorites—ranging from folk songs and Twinkles to Bach minuets and Handel sonatas in Suzuki Books 1–6—will be selected by the musicians, with requests also taken from the audience. A core group of string players from MacPhail Center for Music will be present to host this student-led event. Bring the whole family to listen in, or tune up your violin and join a spontaneous performance!
Kenna Cottman (Voice of Culture)
West African Dance and Drumming
Dance workshop led by Ms. Kenna of Voice of Culture Drum and Dance. We will get a serious sweat on under the open sky – the way our ancestors did it in West Africa! Djembe, Djundjun and possibly even Sabar drumming will be in effect, so bring your instruments and participate in the drum crew. We will learn a traditional dance and work on the rhythm that goes with it. You can drum, dance, or switch off but you must bring your own instrument because instruments are like children. Be prepared to dance barefoot and to get an intense cardiovascular workout. African attire is encouraged.
Coffee House Press
Speed Submissions
Coffee House Press editors want to hear your book idea! Stand in line to take a shot at getting published in a three-minute speed submission. This is your chance to pitch your work directly to a Coffee House Press editor just before our open submission period begins in September. Time is limited, so you’ll want to get there early.
Jordan Wicklund (Author of Cribbageland)
Cribbage in the Field: Open Games, Story Swap, Art Board Show & Play
Cribbage in the Field is a free, family-friendly, all age’s cribbage extravaganza hosted by Walker Open Field. Bring a pic-i-nic basket, blanket, your lucky cribbage pegs (or use ours), and get your Crib on! Cribbage in the Field will feature hoards of boards and cards, an Art Board Show & Play, a free raffle for a custom cribbage board, cribbage stories, and more. This is a perfect alternative activity to the State Fair on an August afternoon, and an additional opportunity to check out the Eclectic Ensemble and the Walker Art Center.
