Our 5×5 is coming up on October 30, and it’s making us a little nostalgic. So, we reached out to our presenters from last year to see what they’re up to now and what advice they have for future 5×5 participants. (RSVP to attend.)
First thing, what was your idea for last year’s 5×5?
I worked with some fellow artists from the Harrison Center along with a few community members on an idea to take large-scale portraits of IndyGo bus drivers and post them in high-traffic areas around Indianapolis. The point was to give attention to an incredibly important yet under-appreciated part of our city. And the idea was inspired by the internationally renowned art movement called the Inside Out Project started by French street artist, JR.
At the time transit was a really big topic, which is exciting but also makes it easy to forget about the real people who make mass transit possible. We wanted the campaign to focus on the bus drivers. They’re amazing people and the city needs them.
There’s more to presenting at a 5×5 then just winning, right? What would you say you learned from participating?
First, it’s really important to work in a team. You get way more done that way assuming everyone have the same vision/outcome in mind.
The second thing is that you’ve got to have clear expectations for the outcome of your project and a solid plan to get you there. Ideas are fun and easy, but putting together and executing an actual plan is a totally different story.
Even though your idea didn’t win the cash prize, how would you say you’ve benefited from your participation?
Whether you win or not, presenting at a 5×5 allows a person to put an idea or issue out there—it’s an amazing platform to share your ideas and bring awareness to a need in the city.
I didn’t win, but after the event I got two phone calls from people interested in funding the project. The first call ended up covering all the materials we needed to move forward with the 45 bus driver portraits, most of which went up on the exterior of the Central Library. And the second call ended up providing $13k to fund another project I was pursing in South Asia.
That’s pretty awesome. Maybe even better than winning, right? I think some of the portraits are actually still hanging on the east side of R Bistro.
As a 5×5 veteran, what would you recommend to someone participating in a 5×5 challenge?
Have a very clear outline that presents a doable idea. You might not think so, but $10k goes really fast. So, know what your expenses are going to be and have a plan to cover them.
Also, get the people who are invested in you out to hear your pitch. I wish I had done a better job with that. Email your friends. Share it on social media. Ask your friends and family to bring people they know. I get that maybe it feels a little counterintuitive if you’re not used to promoting yourself, but trust me, you want to do this. These people are your best advocates, and you never know who has some extra cash they’re looking to invest in a project.
It’s been about a year since our last 5×5, and we want to know what you’re working on now.
Right now I’m working on my masters in Conflict Analysis at the J Kroc School of Peace Studies in San Diego. I’m also putting together a large-scale installation that will be a part of this year’s Spirit & Place Festival–opening on November 12 at the Central Library. The theme this year is “journey,” and the installation will focus on the stories of immigrants, migrants and refugees in Indianapolis.
