In the winter of 2001-2002, Jim Hill and Meesh Rheault Miller, envisioned a small community art project that would allow people to experience color in a new way.
They called it the BLUE PROJECT. The assignment to photograph BLUE
generated interest and enthusiasm for all involved.
Fifteen disposable cameras were distributed to a chosen group of participants. In some cases the camera went to a single person, in others to a couple. Participants had to work out among themselves who used the camera. In a few cases family and friends were enlisted. One camera traveled in South America, another took a road trip to Salt Lake City, and still another went to London. None of the participants was a professional photographer, but the artists were a diverse lot: their professions and/or interests ranged from music, theatre, art, film, philosophy, writing, and teaching to psychology, law, journalism, and beyond.
The participants all committed to the project, which mandated taking twenty-seven photographs that were predominantly BLUE, using the camera provided and returning the cameras under deadline for development. Jim and Meesh created twelve art pieces using the majority of the resulting four hundred plus images, exercising complete artistic control in those assemblages. The pieces were predominantly collaged montages of photos done in textural groupings, themed groupings, or storied groupings.
They also created a BLUE film and a BLUE CD (all music with BLUE in it). All the members shared their remarkable insights about the experience of focusing on one color and its visual representation on comment cards provided.
Six weeks after the BLUE cameras were developed, the BLUE Network gathered wearing blue, for its first group event, to view the finished pieces, share experience and insight, to view the film, to listen to the blues, etc. Some months later a public exhibition took place in a gallery where several pieces were sold, the proceeds going towards the next collaboration.
In addition to the art pieces, Blue CD, and Blue Film, a series of BLUE art-stamps, art tickets, and written word pieces evolved from the project... [The participants all submitted their insightful comments about their experience.] Prior to the project about a month was spent researching blue- history, social context, symbolism, etc. For the first opening a slide projector was used to project 20’ x 20’ images (of all blue subjects of course) on the outside of the house for all the world to see and wonder about... it was snowing out so setting up the slide-projector and protecting it from the flakes was a challenge-- but the effect was marvelous. Blue food, blue drink, blue dress, blue music, blue film... you get the picture. It was a remarkably successful and enjoyable experience for all.
The BLUE PROJECT was a Co-Production of Jim Hill and Meesh Rheault Miller of Tinderbox Productions at the Apocalypse Center in Boulder, Colorado. ©2002