Creative Placemaking and Public Art with Lynn Basa (#26)

Chicago painter, public artist, and creative placemaker Lynn Basa joins the show today. She discusses making the art you want to make and the varied ways that artists are intersecting with public life. Lynn, author of The Artist's Guide to Public Art, also talks about the legacy she is creating with The Corner Project and how public art has changed over the years.

In this interview, you will hear Lynn talk about:

• Her background as a studio artist and how it led to her interest in public art.

• Her time at the Seattle Arts Commission.

• The big jump of having her tapestries fabricated as rugs in Nepal, to then selling art to private collections, to finally teaching herself the business of finding customers.

• How the accessibility of art and availability of selling it online has changed the industry over recent years.

• What creative placemaking is, why it has gotten a bad rap, and how it is different from public art.

• Why she felt the need to go back to school in 2016 and get an MFA.

• What The Corner Project is, who funds it, the main mission of the space, and why she was inspired to start it.

• Some of the obstacles Lynn faced to build a coalition and organize a community in The Corner Project.

• What a typical meeting at The Corner Project looks like, her biggest challenges in running it, and what she wishes she would have known before starting it.

• Why an artist would be interested in creative placemaking, and who isn't cut out for it.

• How her personal art has developed over time.

• The Chicago art scene and the way her community supports other artists.

• Her upcoming book, the second edition of The Artist's Guide to Public Art.

• Getting better results by truly listening rather than by imposing your ideas — especially in local politics.

• How she learned how to pace herself and manage her time more effectively.

• Inspiration for artists on how they can be catalysts in their communities.

Resources:

The Artist's Guide to Public Art

Lynn Basa

The Corner Project

I'd Rather Be in the Studio

Quotes:

"Art is a billion dollar business, and someone has to do it."

"There is so much demand for art of all kinds."

"Buying art isn't a rich person's hobby anymore."

"I do think artists have a holistic way of looking at the world, and we need to recognize that."

"Look around you, there are more resources than you think. "

*** This episode of the Art Biz Podcast is sponsored by our Art Career Success System, a year-long business training program for committed artists. See http://ArtCareerSuccessSystem.com ***