The Soap Factory Presents Aaron Dysart's SURFACE

Somehow both expansive and dense, the lock at the Upper St. Anthony Falls is of course outside but feels somehow interior, almost internal. Its' tall walls and liquid floor struggle to even define, much less confine, this dense space. With the lower gates permanently open, its' imposing presence is constantly visible from the historic Stone Arch Bridge standing as a testament to the utilitarian history of this great river.
Taking data from the extensive logbooks kept by the staff of the Army Corp of Engineering over the years, this project will speak to the times this space was filled with the Mississippi River. Data derived from handwritten pool heights will dictate a constant shifting background color while the color intensity will speak to the times the lock was emptied or filled with the river allowing for navigation of the falls. This spectacle will thus display the 52 year operating history of this central iconic Minneapolis space through data recorded by the people who tended it.

Dates & Location
September 15th & 16th 7:30pm - 10:00pm
St. Anthony Lock and Dam1 Portland AvenueMinneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Also Presented by Northern Lights.mn, Mississippi Park Connection, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, with support from St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

About the Artist

Aaron Dysart is a sculptor whose objects and environmental interventions push ideas of propriety, gift giving, data interpretation, and reciprocity, while showcasing his love of material ability to deliver content. He has received awards from Franconia Sculpture Park, Forecast Public Art, The Knight Foundation, and The Minnesota State Arts Board and his work has been in Art in America, Hyperallergic, and Berlin Art Link, along with other publications. He has shown nationally and is currently a City Artist through Public Art Saint Paul, embedded in the city of St. Paul.

About Here & There Aaron Dysart: Surface is one of several public projects being presented by The Soap Factory as a part of Here & There. Here & There is The Soap Factory's out-of-building programming during 2017 while the building undergoes renovation. Here & There includes a residency exchange program with Kultivera in Trånas, Sweden and Rethinking Public Spaces, public projects that will take place directly outside of The Soap Factory and around the state of Minnesota including locations such as; Rochester, Willmar, and Brainerd.

About The Soap Factory

The Soap Factory is a laboratory for artistic experimentation and innovation, dedicated to supporting artists and engaging audiences through the production and presentation of contemporary art in a unique and historic environment. Based in the historic National Purity Soap Factory in downtown Minneapolis, The Soap Factory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.