"Dialogue" Tour Comes to Downtown Asheville May 11

One-day outdoor public arts project intended to inspire viewers and celebrate the freedom of expression in public spaces.

The City of Asheville Public Art Program will host the "Dialogue Project Public Art Installation" on May 11, 2006, at the main entrance of Pack Place in downtown Asheville.

The Dialogue tour is traveling to over 27 cities throughout the United States during 2006 and 2007 and will make a one day only visit to Asheville as part of the national tour.

Dialogue is the newest public art installation by artist Mike Garibaldi Frick consisting of nine, 7 X 8 foot freestanding screens covered with thousands of inspiring, insightful quotations from people throughout history - from Martin Luther King Jr. and George Orwell to Madonna, Oprah and Gandhi. Some of the 18 main themes addressed include: power, politics, community, wisdom and character.

WHY THIS PROJECT
The project intercepts and surprises people during their regular daily routines in order to challenge and inspire viewers to reflect on social issues, gain new personal insights, connect in meaningful ways and enjoy public art. Specifically, Dialogue is intended to:
* Catalyze personal inspiration and reflection
* Enliven our public spaces
* Promote literacy and education awareness
* Spark meaningful, deep conversations among viewers

STATUES OF JERRI, BRIO AND GUY
In addition to the quotations, many screens have expressive life cast faces emerging from their surfaces which contribute to a powerful, intimate experience for the viewer. Completing this provocative installation are Jerri, Brio and Guy - striking life-sized statues also covered with hundreds of quotations (most written by viewers of past installations).

WRITE YOUR OWN QUOTES
Blank books laid out on tables invite viewers to write their own meaningful quotations and contribute insights for others to read. Selected quotations gleaned from the books will be published in a Dialogue tour book and added to the statues as the project travels.

FILM CREW JOURNEYS WITH DIALOGUE
An award-winning film crew is following the Dialogue tour; detailing this intriguing journey and the challenges the four-person crew faces as it zigzags across country from San Francisco to New York City and back. The full-length documentary will be submitted to Sundance and HBO for distribution in 2007.

ABOUT MIKE FRICK OF EVOLVEARTS
San Francisco artist Mike Garibaldi Frick formed his art studio (EvolveArts) in 1991 to bring innovative, temporary public art to viewers in cities throughout the United States. The projects are installed in busy metropolitan areas such as public squares, parks, tourist attractions and other highly trafficked areas.

For more information on the Asheville exhibit, contact David Mitchell at 828-259-5815. To see more about the Dialogue project go to www.dialogueproject.net.

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