As AS220’s Foo Fest, Kari Percival and I created “Foo-topia.” The Providence art center kindly invited us to be artists-in-residence for this year’s street festival on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, and we led a Utopia parade, organized talks, designed a photobooth, and led a workshop to help visitors make bird masks. It was all about utopia (Foo-topia) and making the world a better place. And we’re so, so thankful to everyone who helped us and took part.
Thanks to the Black Out Drum Squad, who led our Foo-topia parade, and all the folks who danced along with us wearing masks and carrying bird puppets and signs and our giant rainbow.
Thanks to the folks who presented the Foo University talks on the lawn about art, global warming, and resistance: Amanda Babson of Citizens Climate Lobby Rhode Island; Shey Rivera, artistic director of AS220; Allison Cole of Solidarity Sundays; and Shawna Rihani of Indivisible Rhode Island.
Thanks to Neal Walsh, David Dvorchak, Jacob Nathan, Shawn Wallace, Chris Anderson and all the other amazing AS220 folks who invited us into their dazzling world and helped make this happen. Thanks to Todd Linkner who helped so much with the set up. Thanks to Sharon Gold of Citizens Climate Lobby Rhode Island and Andy Acciaioli, Alma Gotlieb, Philip Graham, Kathy Acciaioli, Liz Tedder and Rob Tedder of Invisible Rhode Island who spoke to visitors about their efforts.
Thank you all for helping us make a little bit of utopia in downtown Providence!
Photos copyright 2017 Greg Cook.
The Foo photobooth with signs, puppets and foreground painted by Kari Percival. Background sun painted by Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)Foo-topia parade led by Kari Percival and Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)Shey Rivera, artistic director of AS220, speaks about the Providence art center as a model of how art can improve communities during Foo University. (Greg Cook)Kari Percival (center) helps visitors make bird masks. (Greg Cook)The Blackout Drum Squad leads the Foo-topia parade. (Greg Cook)“Birds Respect No Borders” banners painted by Greg Cook on Foo Fest main gate. Whirligigs on top designed by Kari Percival and painted by Greg Cook (Greg Cook)Foo-topia parade led by Kari Percival and Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)The Blackout Drum Squad leads the Foo-topia parade. (Greg Cook)Foo-topia parade led by Kari Percival and Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)Amanda Babson of Citizens Climate Lobby Rhode Island in the Foo-topia parade. (Greg Cook)The Blackout Drum Squad leads the Foo-topia parade indoors for a bit. (Greg Cook)Allison Cole of Solidarity Sundays speaks during Foo University. (Greg Cook)A bird watches one of the bands perform on the main outdoor stage at Foo Fest. (Greg Cook)Making bird masks with Kari Percival and Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)Amanda Babson of Citizens Climate Lobby Rhode Island speaks about how the effects of global warming and what can be done about it during Foo University. (Greg Cook)Shawna Rihani of Indivisible Rhode Island speaks during Foo University. (Greg Cook)The Foo photobooth with signs, puppets and foreground painted by Kari Percival. Background sun painted by Greg Cook. (Greg Cook)“Birds Respect No Borders” banners painted by Greg Cook on Foo Fest main gate. Whirligigs on top designed by Kari Percival and painted by Greg Cook (Greg Cook)“Birds Respect No Borders” banners painted by Greg Cook on Foo Fest main gate. Whirligigs on top designed by Kari Percival and painted by Greg Cook (Greg Cook)
