jun 30 2009
Nothing Happened Here is a full-circle gesture to place art in an entirely unusual and unexpected context. All we leave behind are smiles.

Agenda
We curate Ephemeral Art Interventions

Iterations
Reading In Public
Library!

Interventions
Donut Shop Formal

Visionaries
We are Mignon Khargie and Catherine Trujillo

wHere
We are based in San Luis Obispo, CA

Web
http://thereadinginpublicproject.blogspot.com
twitter.com/readinginpublic
twitter.com/NothingHappened
NothingHappenedHere@gmail.com

jul 30 2009
Join booksters of San Luis Obispo for a day of reading!  

Click on this link to access a Google version of our Larger Map

jul 29 2009


Why?
People need words. I like to bring the words to them.
– Ryan

Books are cool. Period.
– Ariel

I've led a professional life surrounded by books and privately, reading has often been the calm that centers my life.
– Michael

Because I resent the use of the standard TWEET number limitation to express my self and I enjoy ripping the bindings off first print books and using them as bracelets.
– Heidi

How Do you Read?
With passion.
– Brett

I read large print books, Kindle books with large print, books on CD and tape, and audio books downloaded to my shuffle. ??I love books, so despite my visual impairment, I read any way I can.
– Jennifer

Books in bed, books on the couch, books propped up at the kitchen table.
growing, learning, escape.
but don't ask me to write em.
– Josephine

jul 27 2009
Colophon for our Reading in Public Reading Chair!

Design: Chris Allen Woodworking
Fabrication: 

• 13 Ply Russian Birch supported by steel rods 
  
• Cherry stain 
  
• Ottoman is covered in lacquered book pages
  
• Handles of ottoman are a book cut lengthwise, with glued pages
  
• Roller blade wheels for mobility
  

Specifications:

• Event marker: The design needed to have a connection to reading. The lid opens to form a chair, and both seat and back rest gently curve at the hinge, which are all design elements drawn from the shape of a book. Chris Allen used laminated plywood, the striations of which are a reference to book pages. We installed the chair at Steynberg Gallery in San Luis Obispo before the event so the public could sit on it, and it is now on display at Cal Poly’s Kennedy Library
• Mobility: We needed to be able to wheel it around easily, but not have it move once it was set down. Chris placed 2 rollerblade wheels at the rear, and we pushed/pulled it by the open lid/chair back
• Size: It had to have a small footprint so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic on city pavements as we wheeled it around
• Stability: Sturdy enough to not tip over if a kid climbed on it (they did, it didn’t move)
• Comfort: The gentle curvature of the seat and backrest makes it comfortable to sit on
• Storage: For any reading material our readers brought with them. The space under the seat works asa small bookcase. Chris Allen also made an ottoman which fits into that space, essentially a box with a lid, which functions as additional storage and seating (we used it for both, and we had all the readers sign the underside of the ottoman’s lid). Chris Allen sawed a book in half and used the halves as handles for the ottoman. The name of the book was “Hand Luggage” by John Bayley, on the recommendation of our book-loving friend, Karen Templer
• Ease of transport: The chair folds to a cube so we could lift it in and out of a car (the top edge of the lid is notched to prevent pinched fingers)

You can see photos of the chair here.

jul 20 2009
The RIP reading chair is fabulous!
If you've been following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/readinginpublic/) you'll know that we've been watching the reading chair come together. Photographs are on Flicker and it is just gorgeous.


In addition to its original function as seating for our various readers, the Book Chair was designed to be mobile, and, when set up, to work as temporary storage for any reading material.

Chris Allen, our brilliant furniture designer, went a step further and is building an ottoman, which fits into the storage cavity under the seat, and can be popped out to serve as additional seating should we need that. The chair has two casters in its base, and the lid (which opens much like a book, gently curving at the hinge) can be fixed in its open position for us to easily wheel it from place to place. It was constructed out of plywood, with the natural banding of the laminated wood referencing book pages, and when the lid is closed it becomes a simple cube.

jul 14 2009
Live! Aisle 9: Supermarket Concertos
Sign up and claim your favorite aisle!
NOTE: Sign-ups are now closed

The art collective NothingHappenedHere is looking for volunteer participants in an upcoming experience economy event! We are also looking for food/grocery/shopping related art to hang in the market during the event.
Deadline for online sign-ups: Sunday July 26th 11:59pm

Jul 9 2009
Still time to sign-up!

jul 6 2009
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK HERE: http://nothinghappenedhere.com/non-pursuit-of-unlively-things-ascap-blocked FOR AN UPDATE

Call for Artists, Performers, and Musicians
Live Aisle 9! Super Market Concerto

The art collective NothingHappenedHere is looking for volunteer participants in an upcoming experience economy event. We will be placing live musicians and performers at your local supermarket.

The goal is to remove art from the stage or gallery and place in an entirely unusual and unexpected context to explore what art means to people, and make them smile. Event will be held Sunday August 9th at Spencer’s Fresh Market in San Luis Obispo.

We are also looking for food/grocery/shopping related art to hang in the market during the event.

More info and to join our art intervention:
nothinghappenedhere@gmail.com

jul 4 2009
More Interventionists Flash Mobbing in support of Reading in Public

jul 4 2009
Thank you @gwennyyd for snapping photos of our first Reading in Public Flash Mob! 

See more at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/readinginpublic/

And a mention here:http://marleneandlyle.blogspot.com/2009/07/coasters.html

Jul 2 2009
Be a spectator??or??Be an interventionist??by bringing a book and being part of the Flash Mob!
More:??http://nothinghappenedhere.com/intervention-reading-in-public-flash-mob

Jul 2 2009
Nothing Happened Here is hosting a public art intervention.
Flash Mob with us as we celebrate the art of reading.

Here:
Thursday July 2nd, Farmer’s Market, San Luis Obispo
7pm (corner of Higuera and Chorro)
and Here:
7:20pm (corner of Broad and Higuera)


Read more Here:
http://readinginpublic.com