Presentation given by James Brenner at Gulf Coast Green 2016.

2. Previous Work

3. “Restoring Balance I”, 2010, 4' x 4' x 8', Stainless steel, sculpted jade glass, video projection, water, Women and Water Rights,
Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

4. “Restoring Balance I”, 2010, 4' x 4' x 8', Stainless steel, sculpted jade glass, video projection, water, Life-Boundary-Art,
Museum of TianJin Academy of Fine Arts, TianJin, P. R. China

5. “Restoring Balance I”, 2010, 4' x 4' x 8', Stainless steel, sculpted jade glass, video projection, water, Life-Boundary-Art,
Museum of TianJin Academy of Fine Arts, TianJin, P. R. China

6. Restoring Balance III, 2012, 4' x 4' x 8, Steel, sculpted jade glass, video projection, sand

7. Hydro Convergence, 2014, 96" x 32" x 48”, Stainless steel, glass, water, video

8. Hydro Convergence, 2014, 96" x 32" x 48”, Stainless steel, glass, water, video

13. Green Light Project

53. www.negreenlightproject.
com

54. Hydro- Illuminata
Art As an Agent for Engagement

55. Description JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Hydro-Illuminata is an interdisciplinary project that will utilize the science
of watershed management with the craft and accessibility of public art to
illuminate the theme of transformation.
Hydro-Illuminata has three interconnected parts:
• A series of 5 community workshops
• A cast iron spectacle on the banks of the Mississippi River at MWMO
• The creation of a public sculpture made of forged steel and cast iron
Hydro-Illuminata is about outreach and empowerment, using the
engagement principles of art-making to bring a wider audience into a
deeper conversation with MWMO about protecting and improving water
quality and resources.

56. Three Phases JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Workshop Labs Performance
Sculpture
Engagement
PerformanceWorkshop Labs
Sculpture

57. Participating Partners JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e

58. Workshop Labs JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Hydro-Illuminata will present a
series of five arts engagement
workshops to community
constituents, hosted at different
locations throughout the MWMO
district:
• Holland Neighborhood
Association and Edison School
• West Broadway Business and
Area Coalition
• Re-Cycle Recovery Bike Shop
• City of the Lakes Waldorf School
(pending)
• Walker Art Center (pending)

59. Workshop Labs JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Workshop Labs:
Workshops will be created in
consultation with MWMO
Community Learning and
Outreach team members and all
arts activities will be prompted
by the topic of watershed
challenges and transformations.

60. Workshop Labs JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Workshops will have three
primary goals:
• To spark an interest in
MWMO’s objectives.
• To activate a dialogue about
water and natural resources.
• To anchor ideas through the
art making process.

61. Workshop Labs JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Through the workshop process, each
group will create three objects:
• A mission statement that will be part of
the final sculpture.
• A collaborative piece/boat that will be
installed as part of the public sculpture.
• A smaller individual boat pieces that they
can take home with them after the cast
iron event.

62. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Getting Ready:
The Hydro-Illuminata public spectacle will be held
on a late September evening at MWMO's
Stormwater Park and Learning Center on the
Mississippi River.

63. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Getting Started:
The event will be both the culmination of the dialogues that sprang forth from the
community workshops and an open celebration of the project goals to spark
interest, activate dialogue, and anchor ideas for action in relationship to
watershed health.

64. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Casting Iron:
During the iron pour, the molds made during community workshops will be cast, as well
as the base form for the permanent sculpture.

65. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Performance:
The event will include a
bicycle procession, music,
choreography, projections on
the river, and a large-scale cast
iron performance complete
with fire, molten metal, and
the birth of a sculpture.

66. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
More cast iron:

67. Cast Iron Spectacle JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
Thank you!
Both the public spectacle components and setting are ultimately intended to awe and
inspire thought and action regarding watershed health.

68. Public Sculpture JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
At the conclusion of the workshops and cast iron event, artist Jim Brenner will construct
a sculpture (approximately 6’x3’x8’) that will be installed at MWMO's Stormwater Park
and Learning Center. The initial concept includes a forged topographical map of the river
with the five boats, created at the community workshops, pulling a net woven with the
words from the community's mission statements; both commemorating the Hydro-
Illuminata process and sparking future conversation surrounding our water resources.

69. Project Timeline JAMESBRENNER
s c u l p t u r e
2016 July-August September
October
Sculpture
installed on MWMO
grounds.
Cast Iron Spectacle
staged on the banks of
the Mississippi River.
5 Community Workshop Labs
conducted through partnering
organizations.

70. Solar Project

83. Thank You!