i miss the new french

I'm not sure if it will turn the tide of danceclubs and stumbling sports fans taking over the warehouse district but there's an effort underway to bring back a bit of the artistic spirit that defined downtown Minneapolis.



The Warehouse Business District Association and brand agency Wolfmotell have put out a call for artists to design banners that will hang on the light poles along First Avenue from Washington Avenue all the way up to 8th Street. Called Brick By Brick, the event is calling for banners that represent the spirit of the Warehouse District. I'm not sure what that means but let's rally and flood them with art worth looking at.

Deadline for entries is May 14th. Click here for submission guidelines.

In a related note...it was years ago that I was first dragged to the Deep Ellum district in Dallas, TX on a business trip. It absolutely horrified me. Then, as more and more clubs opened along First Avenue here in Minneapolis, bringing with them the pretentious velvet ropes, the surburbanistas and the horse patrols, I thought for sure we'd lost the warehouse district to a similar 'vision' for the city. I'm encouraged, however, by this entry at Metroblogging Dallas. If an art gallery/publisher like Art Prostitute has enough faith in our culture to brave the drunken bachelor parties then perhaps there is hope for us.