And now, the end is near...

The 24th of March was our last day of  making art in 2515 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. After the bizzarro night on the 23rd, we couldn't help but feel a little bit odd as we returned to the space to make it all happen one last time. It made for a day of true mixed emotions and energy levels. Two things would go without saying though.  First, the reality of this being the last day of The Colorboration Project - Chicago was indeed enough to make us sad. Secondly, their was no admitting, we were tired.

Walls filled with art are happy walls.

So as we went about our morning routines we automatically began reviewing the highlights of this project of which there were many. So many in fact that we knew that we were going to have to chalk this one up as a success.

Last day art sales.

One other thing we noticed was that each day there were more and more people that were coming into the studio during the day because they had heard about what was happening in this old seemingly abandon space.

We even had a father and his 4 year old daughter come in today so that she could paint with us. It was pretty funny since she was quite a precocious little lady, with definite ideas and an over active imagination.

The little artist admiring her newest work.

Tonight we had mitre slated to perform with us. And as much as we thought we understood what we might be in for, there was still just enough mystery surrounding what would be, that we  had a difficult time accurately describing what the music would be like.

mitre is a group of one. It is made up solely of a man named Scott Richardson his guitar and a case made up of what appears to be a collection of every guitar peddle ever made.

mitre

Stereotypes are funny things because there is a certain amount of credence to them even though they are pretty much unfounded. Like, what does a musician look like? The last ten days we have certainly seen that they come in all shapes, colors and sizes. That said, you may never guess Scott Richardson was musician when he walked in the room except that he has a guitar case in his hand. You can only assume he is the musician since he certainly doesn't fit the stereotype of a roadie.

So much for appearances, because they really don't count for a whole lot. Another thing we learned over the last two weeks or so is to expect the unexpected. And what was really wonderful about the atmosphere that we cultivated in this immense space we allowed things to just be and there were no judgements. So when Scott was followed by two women that both could have been his wife no one batted an eye. (Only one was.) And when they sat on the couch no one but Alpha thought it a little strange that they both began knitting.

Knitting

As if last night was not surreal enough, tonight there was painting, music and knit one, pearl two...

Scott Richardson aka, mitre plays this atmospheric guitar that he  runs through this crazy collection of peddles he has and samples and resample his own sounds till he fills the room with colors, textures and shapes. 

Always painting, where ever we are.

Among all the music we worked with the music of mitre stood alone, and we truly appreciated that for it's originality and uniqueness. It was an interesting challenge to feel the effect of this music on us and how in someways almost forced us into slow motion.

Tali with the first brushstroke.

This is what this experiment that we designed here and now call The Colorboration Project is all about.

Collaborating in the Colorboration.

After the show I was talking to Scott about his music and I was reminded of an interview I did with the band Low from Duluth. If you know the music of Low you will understand. I asked them, what would be the perfect Low song, and Alan Sparhawk replied, "I think it would be to play a song with only one note." I told Scott that I believe that he had in fact accomplished that.

It was with a certain amount of sadness that we closed the lights on this evening, but there was a huge relief that we had done so much, so well and apparently we were going to life to tell about it.

©2011 The Colorboration Project is the property of Tali Farchi and Royce Deans.