Ball-Spotting*: Kurt Perschke's RedBall heads South of Congress to The Hyde Park Art Center.

Chicago, IL USA: For all those astute Modern Sculpture Aficionados and Curiosity Hounds, Friday ignited a Weekend Blast that jointly appeals to locals (stayvacationers) as well as Tourists, Sight-see-ers and fellow Artists (of all Genres). The Hyde Park Art Center that is relatively new to The Chicago Art Scene (having opened in April of 2006) was the 9TH Site for Kurt's RedBall Project that 'coveRED' (cover + RED = coveRED which seems to be THE WORD that fits the Occasion perectly) nearly the entire Sidewalk on the South Shore (Line).

Psychology RED-efined:

The Interaction and Reaction is what intrigues the average Person who sees The Ball. The immense Size of TheBall also stops them in their Tracks. Then, like Journalists true to their Art and/or Craft, they automatically ask the 5W's of Journalism. The Combination of The Three IRS Factors (Interaction/Reaction/Size) are Elements that separate a REDBALL Day from any other on the Chicago Art Scene. And, why is this so? Because People are naturally curious. Curiosity makes a person friendlier and ultimately Conversations begin.

New Friends are made.
The Network grows.
Creations of other Dimensions spread.
Peace ensues.

Such was the exact Case when GORF & I finally arrived at 5020 South Cornell, around 2 PM on Friday, September 19TH. We had a long Trek from Edgewater, but We wanted to see the latest Reaction of The RedBall in more of Neighborhood, cozy Setting, away from Corporate Skyscrapers and Pinstriped Suits, Attache Cases and High Heeled Stilettos. Besides, with The Buzz now 20+ Days 'in the Making,' the General Curiosity & Acceptance Level would be peaking regardless of the sensational Weather Conditions.

With a perfectly clear Day and Zero Humidity Factor at hand, We really had no Excuse to be anywhere else. The General Population at the HPAC: Hyde Park Art Center appeared to be more like those enjoying the Ambiance of a French Bistro...seated on comfy Chairs-- of which there must have been 30 Seats and (at least) 15 Tables.

Surrounding KURT was an Entourage of People who were interviewing him. I strolled closer to hear what he was telling them, as a Flurry of Questions kept flying from their Lips. Maybe there was MORE to be learned about his Work than met the Eye...as we heard (FIRST HAND) from The 'Mouth' of The Artist himself.

And then from the 'Mouse' of my Interpretation.

Paraphrased (since city traffic and backround noises were prevalent) is what PERSCHKE told his Assembly of Columbia College Reporters who were all budding Journalists. Just think - their Interview may become Part of Art Journals in the Years to come...along with other Interviews given to Art Greats at deKooning, Picasso, Dali, Paschke and many others who've achieved a large Degree of Acceptance:

QUOTES FROM KP include:
"The Person who ignores it (The RedBall) is a stranger."
Kurt Perschke Quote - Friday, September 19, 2008 - 2:30 PM CST

"You never know who's watching you."

"I don't see the Project as an Object, but an Experience."
Kurt Perschke Quote - Friday, September 19, 2008 - 2:35 PM CST


OTHER COMMENTS KURT SHARED WERE:

-- Earlier in The Day, a Man was arranging Gumballs in various Colors around The RedBall and taking Pictures of it.

-- In June of 2009, Kurt will be designing a Set for a Performance in New York City, his new Home (although by Birth Rights, he's a bona fide Chicagoan).

(ASK Insert: Chances are all this will be documented and updated for his new Followers and Fans from Past Shows on his Website. Stay tuned).

-- Toronto is next on The RedBall Project Schedule for June, 2009. Quite coincidentally, a huge Expose on t-O-r-O-nt-O appears in the Saturday Home Edition of The Chicago Tribune's RedEye on Page 16.

WHEN MILLING AROUND BECOMES AN ATTRIBUTE:
As the 4 Columbia College Students wrapped up their Interview Time with Kurt, more People began gathering outdoors at The Outdoor Cafe/Art Center. Since they were now really 'charged up' from talking to The Artist himself, they were anxious to hear Comments from others on The Sculpture. Because of my 'Milling Around,' I got the Opportunity to speak to Alyssa, Jenn, Isiah and Keith and they were curious (as all inquisitive Reporters should be) as to what my Opinion of The Ball was.


THREE WIN-WIN SITUATIONS:

After all, it's Part of the(ir) Job Description and it's the Food For Fodder (as Chicago Tribune Metro Reporter, Eric Zorn states) that ultimately makes for interesting Reading for their Subscribers;

demonstrates their Instructor was 'right on TARGET' (although Target Retail Stores is Kurt's Sponsor) in assigning this Story; and

their Take makes for a colorful Story in The Archives of Modern Art that all becomes 'history' as the Day passes.

THE BOTTOMLINE: It's a good Idea to take a Tablet of Paper with you wherever you happen to go, as you don't want an(y) Idea to escape a possible Red-Event Story.

Alyssa asked me which Day (from the past 8 Apperances was my Favorite.

"It's not that you like One Location better or over another," I tried to explain to the Students. "A parent doesn't or should not like one of his/her Children more than another. It's just that everyone brings their own Charisma or Charm (or lack of both) to The Table. 'So it goes' is the perfect Phrase that Kurt Vonnegut said as Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse 5 (with his own Preferences). Five (5) different Locations (actually more to this Date) all have something different to offer The Viewer. Then, of course, it's what The Viewer puts into The Surroundings that makes The Opinion either positive, negative or somewhere between in varying Shades of Red (We could and are say(ing)). You just have to be mindful to what each Location (Red Spot) offers and presents. It's the simple Law of Supply +Demand. Kurt Perschke supplies The Inspiration and whatever the Viewers' Demands are (which are totally personal), will emanate from that Presentation and the(ir) Contact."

Quote of ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:20 PM CST

As Alyssa, Jenn, Isiah, Keith & I finished our Chat, two Senioritas (Ladies who just happened to be Senior Citizens) walked by, taking 2 Souvenir Booklets from Kurt's Assistants. "We came by for this Special Occasion," the taller Gal said smiling, pleased to be Part of The Assembly of People who had gathered to admire.

THE DELGADO DILEMMA:
David Delgado arrived late. He was the 5th Spoke(sperson) of the Columbia College Student Group who missed 'the Bus' but biked the Distance, nevertheless to interview Kurt and become a Part of The RedBall Project Experience.

"We could interview each," I said to him, "Since We are both Writers. It's is a good Exercise in and of itself - in order to see WHAT the other Comments are a Person may not pick-up immediately. We both know something about 'The Craft of Writing' and I'm sure the Conversation could be beneficial and spark another Idea or two..."

"You should really go talk to the Artist himself, David. Kurt is right over there," I motioned to him. DD walked over and within a few Minutes came back to where I was still standing with another terrific Quote, that one being:

"The City acts as a Canvas and The Big RedBall is moving through the City, juxtapozed."

"Juxtapoz(ed), "I commented: "That's the Name of a Magazine - an artsy one -- found at Borders and popular Bookstores in your area. You should write up a RedBall Article and send it in to them; maybe you can get it published. You should check this out, seriously. Score some Points with your Creative Writing Instructor, too and 'ace' The Class."

Maybe David will do just that. It is Something he definitely would not have done if Kurt Perschke's RedBall Project had not visited Chicago this September...

OR

do you say that We have been:

septembeRED?

I choose the later, for the obvious Reasons, of course!

UnlimIITed Access to THE RED BALL PROJECT EXPERIENCE continues on:

SATURDAY:
September 20, 2008: The RedBall Project will be at The IIT Campus - 3201 S. State

SUNDAY:
September 21, 2008: The RedBall Project will be at The Chess Pavilion - North Avenue & Lake Michigan

Comments can either make or break a Creative Endeavor. Once again (if Perschke's RedBall was a Movie), you'd have to admit, Roger Ebert would give the Production a 2-Thumbs up.

And, "that's the Way The RedBall Bounces..." for Day #9.

Reported By:
ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
GORF Werks Central
'Home of The Grin Reaper - Chicago's First Green Mascot
& The Icon of The Green Movement
&
Koopersmith's Global Communications
"People read what ASK writes about..."
Chicago - chicaGORF - IL USA

NOTE: Ball-Spotting*: A Spin-Off of PR Maven Richard Laermer's Term: Trendspotting and the Book of a comparable Title.

Posted on: Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 10:45 AM

ASK's EDITORIAL CORRECTION:

Ainsley posted a Comment to KOOPERSMITHin stating that:

The Hyde Park Art Center actually dates from June, 1939.

Doing some further Research, I found that after 10 Homes, this Art Facility finally arrived at its modern Center as of 2006. My Posting was to reflect its latest Location from where THE REDBALL PROJECT was documented on Friday, September 19, 2008.