Courtesy of Big Animal Productions
On the Fourth of July, if you happen to walk by The Commons in downtown Minneapolis, you might see an unusual vignette: people briefly lying on the grass, on marked lines, forming some kind of shape.
From the vantage point of the sidewalk, it might seem a little odd. But this project is a community activation, where hundreds of folks can show up to help make an aerial image of the Statue of Liberty. “Drones will capture the event from above and the footage will be shown on a giant screen,” says Christopher Lutter-Gardella, the artist behind the Raise the Torch for Liberty project.
Lutter-Gardella and his Big Animal Productions team are veterans of the public art scene. In February, they created a 1,000-person butterfly in Minneapolis’ Powderhorn Park, and Lutter-Gardella has been involved with the city’s MayDay parade and festival for many years. He also created Mall of America’s “Kaleidoscope,” a giant monarch butterfly installation.
Of course, the Statue of Liberty is often seen as a symbol of the American spirit, dovetailing nicely with the Fourth of July. But the significance of this project goes deeper. “As the ‘Mother of Exiles,’ she’s a grand symbol of our open, pluralistic, and welcoming society,” Lutter-Gardella says. “She beckons those who seek refuge from the ravages of tyranny and its attendant violence and instability.” He wants participants in this project to be able to express their commitment to justice and diversity.
So how many people does it take to make the image? “About 500 people are needed to create the giant human mural,” says Lutter-Gardella. “As more people join in, they will be instructed to stand in other areas to create a border for the image, as seen by a drone.” Section leaders will guide everyone to their places—standing first—and have them lie down on their marks very briefly when it’s time for the Statue of Liberty to go live.
“The team is excited to expand its ability to create massive, crowd-generated public art events,” says Lutter-Gardella. “We’re excited to invite the participation of families, including the young and old. We’re excited to reveal some surprising poetic movement pieces…that will create a poignant message about the state of our fragile democracy on this 250th anniversary of the founding of our country.”
After the human mural itself, participants are invited to hang out at the park for live music—including songs with the local group Singing Resistance—poetry readings, and other activities. “Feel free to bring food, blankets, and picnic supplies to enjoy after the art cation,” says Lutter-Gardella.
To help organizers plan for Saturday’s event, participants are encouraged to sign up ahead of time, where they can also mention accessibility needs and other details. Wear comfy clothing and shoes, and bring what you need to beat the heat (or the rain)—sunscreen, hats, and loose layers.
Raise the Torch for Liberty
Saturday, July 4 | Noon
The Commons, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis
christopherlutter.com
