Just a Suggestion...

From The Memphis Commercial Appeal's Viewpoint Section published Sunday August 26th, 2007:

The week's question-What do you think investor Andy Cates should do with the Sears Crosstown building in Midtown?

"The Sears building is an architectural treasure that caps off the north end of the art "belt" that winds through Midtown, starting at Cooper and Young. It definitely needs to be developed into some place that everyone can enjoy.
I propose mixed-use, with a heavy emphasis on an arts facility. How about incorporating The Junkyard-a youth museum built out of found objects constructed into climbable sculptures? Think City Museum in St. Louis, a widely popular destination museum that rehabbed the neighborhood and brought fine arts to the masses in simple terms."
Lisa M. Williamson
Memphis

Thoughts? Leave me a comment!

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Meet Don Knaack...The Junkman

You are probably wondering why I'm posting so much after such a long silence, but this has been a long time coming. And I don't expect it to slow down much anytime soon! I thought I would give you all a sneak peek at who we are working on bringing to Memphis for children's camps and a concert: Donald Knaack aka The Junkman. His music is all percussion with a distinct world beat sound. Please look at his website to find out all about this fantastic musician who has a passion for educating children in the art of making music and saving the environment.

I wanted to share with you a story about Lilly, my 3 year old, and her experience with The Junkman. I'll preface this by saying that working on this project has forced me to be more environmentally concious, and although I am far from being the model recycler, I am getting much better. While listening to his CD "Junk Music 2" tonight on a late night trip to the grocery store, Lilly wanted to look at the CD cover that had "trash" all over it. She examined it for at least 15 minutes. When I was getting her out of the car, she still had the cover in her hands and asked "What's this?" I explained the cover to her...in simple terms...by saying, "all of the stuff coming out of the machine are the things that we buy. The boxes your toys come in. The grocery bags that our food comes in." She asked, "Why does that man have two heads?" I said, "That is the artist's interpretation of confusion and anger." Then I demonstrate by shaking my head back and forth. She asked, "Why are his eyes and eyebrows like that?" And I tell her he is sad. "Why is he sad?" I told her it was because when all of the trash comes out of the machine, we throw it away in the earth, and it is destroying the earth. She became very worried,"I don't want that to happen mommy! I want them to put all of that trash back into the machine!" She says this with a whimper, her hands covering her face. I walked her over to the recycling bins and said, "See all of this? This is where we put all of the things that come out of the machine. When you put your trash here, it goes back into the machine!" Well, that made her feel much better, and she proceeded to tell her dad about the people at the grocery store that dropped their trash in the parking lot and didn't recycle.

How easy was that? Even a 3 year old can understand it!
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The Tate Modern

Here are some images from The Tate Modern in London of Carsten Holler's slides that were open for sliding from October 2006-April 2007. There were 5 total, stretching as high as 5 stories, and as long as 58 meters (190 feet for those of us slower with our conversions!)
If you have a cool place you've been to, or other ideas for what you'd like to see in Memphis, send me your suggestions.

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Rock-n-Romp

Last month I gathered up several baskets of "found" objects and materials that were slated for recycling bins, and headed to the Rock-n-Romp to debut the Junkyard Music Program. What started as a small group of parents wanting to expose their children to bands that played "their" music at a child-friendly volume, has now turned into one of the most anticipated family events in Memphis.

The kids built the most fantastic musical contraptions, then played along with the bands once the music started. Be sure to look for us at upcoming Rock-n-Romps this year and The Cooper-Young Festival next month. Also, check out Don Knaack aka The Junkman, who has graciously lent his music for our website and is working with us to develop projects for Memphis city students.

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months, in the meantime,
Inspire someone today,
Lisa

What's New?

I know I've been quiet for a long time, but that's only because so much is going on with The Junkyard right now. As usual, when everyone else's summer slows down, mine just seems to pick up steam.

My business plan is always developing, growing, and being fine-tuned. I've been doing a tremendous amount of research this year that has taken me from the slides at The Tate in London, to Bob Knaack's Playstations made out of "junk", and just last week to a storage room filled with boxes at the Chicago Children's Museum.

We did the Rock-n-Romp in July, unveiling our Junkyard Music program, which turned out to be a huge success. In August I'm giving a presentation at the Urban Child Institute. We are doing the Cooper-Young Festival in September. Ashley Graber, Virginia Cupples, Hana Chung, and Leah Wells make up the newest members of our Advisory Committees. Ashley taking on the job of Events Coordinator Extraordinaire, keeping me very focused and organized.

There is alot going on right now, and I will do my best to keep you posted as things become concrete. I am working on some exciting things I will be able to share with you by New Year's. In the meantime, come out and visit us at The Cooper-Young Festival in September, where we'll be continuing our Junkyard Art program. Be sure to check out our website and online store at: www.thejunkyardmemphis.org.

Thanks for all your support!
Inspire Someone Today,
Lisa