Two Miami bloggers recently promoted an event with the tongue-in-cheek goal of creating a sketch of every Miami resident. Approximately 400 people attended the project, called "Sketchy Miami." That's a lot of drawings for one night. The brief blog entry appears in today's Miami Herald, and the story includes a link to BeachedMiami.com, which initiated the event. The link includes sketches, but not necessarily only those related to "Sketchy Miami."I liked what I inferred about the event's playful spirit and everyday sensibility. It didn't try to create art with a capital "A." The project drew people (no pun intended) to local, little-known artists and created a "way in" to grasp how art is made. That the sketch is a simple, somewhat primitive piece does not necessarily mitigate the understanding and appreciation of its creation.
Another point in the event's favor is its avoidance of official imprimatur. This spirit is in keeping with how America's singular art forms -- movies and jazz -- were spawned entirely outside respectable, established cultural institutions. I hope more events connected to this promotional style emerge in other areas. They're a sorely needed breath of fresh air.
