Community Corner

It's Hoop to be Square for Maplewood's July 4

This year's collaborative, community-wide art project features a new spin on last year's hoops.

 

Remember last year's hoops that sprang up all around Maplewood in preparation for the town's July 4 festivities?

This year, the hoops have morphed into squares.

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It's all part of Maplewood's Annual Fourth of July large-scale, public art project. Sponsored by 1978 Maplewood Arts Center and Post 10120 VFW Maplewood, the project is the brainchild of local artist Benjamin John Kaufman. Last year, the circles mounted on poles were filled by local residents with decorated canvas, fabric or crochet. (Check out the 2009 project and the 2011 project). 

For 2013, the circles will be swapped out with squares. The goal: to create an art project the entire community can be involved in.

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"Over the course of the fall and winter people kept asking me what would we do this year," said Kaufman. "The thing about squares is that they lend themselves to modular assembly and display, so that on the 4th of July, I think we will have a serious gallery -- albeit a short lived one."

Residents who want to participate can decorate the squares and display them on their front lawns or in other spots. Then, on Independence Day itself, residents will bring the squares to be assembled together at Memorial Park for all to enjoy.

Recently around a dozen people came to the Burgdorff Center to assemble square frames, hang burlap in them and collage the squares. 

Interested in participating? Email Kaufman or visit 1978 Maplewood Arts Center on Saturday, May 11 to join in the next workshop.

"I am hoping that in the next few days more squares will begin showing up around town," said Kaufman.

Have you seen squares popping up anywhere around town? Share your photos with Patch.


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