Your Art Here

2002

Your Art Here is an organization that puts art on billboards and other public spaces. Initiated in 2002 by Shana Berger, Alyssa Hill, Owen Mundy, and Nathan Purath, it began as an experiment to influence possibilities for making art, creative activism, and public expression. Over the course of three years the group founded three artist-run community billboards in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana, and realized numerous projects in collaboration with community members. The recurring Billboard Generation project, for example, empowered students at schools in Indianapolis and Bloomington to express their perspectives on topics such as war, censorship, and gender equality, among others. While the founders of the group dispersed in 2005, Your Art Here has continued on in various forms to reclaim visual spaces usually reserved for commercial messages.

Billboard 101, Bloomington, IN, 2002 thumbnail-0
Billboard Generation III, 2005; The third Youth Art billboard competition took place in Bloomington and Indianapolis, resulting in a total of nine billboards. Eight different artworks made by students in grades k-12 responded to the question "Free Speech: Voice Your Opinion!" Search for Truth, 6th St, Two Blocks West of College Ave., Bloomington, IN, by Amber, Harmony School; Photo by Stephanie Stanley thumbnail-1
Billboard Generation II, 2004. The second Youth Art billboard competition took place in Bloomington and Indianapolis, resulting in four billboards in each city. Eight different artworks made by students in grades k-12 responded to the question "What would you like to tell your community?" Winning themes included the effects of pollution on our environment, diversity, and the importance of community involvement. Members of Your Art Here hanging "My Neighborhood Is, Billboard Generation II, Indianapolis, IN, 2004" with winnners from the Minnie Hartman School, Indianapolis thumbnail-2
Billboard Nation, 2002; Call for entries in Bloomington, IN resulting in two art billboards on commercially rented spaces; Figure Study, by Andrew Glenn thumbnail-3
Billboard Nation, 2002; Call for entries in Bloomington, IN resulting in two art billboards on commercially rented spaces; Making my Neighborhood Luckier One Penny at a Time, by Dana Sperry thumbnail-4
Billboard Generation I, 2003; Billboard Generation I was the first YAH call for entries within Bloomington area schools in Celebration of National Youth Art Month. The contest theme was Peace and/or War, and it resulted in two youth art billboards on commercially rented spaces in Bloomington, IN. Peace, Worth Striving For, by Esther, and This is Your Choice, by Benjamin went up for display the day before the War with Iraq started. This is Your Choice, By Ben, 8 years old thumbnail-5
July 4th Parade, 2003; Billboard float by Your Art Here co-founders that participated in the Bloomington 4th of July Parade, and was subsequently hung on Billboard 101. Media Conglomerate, Collaboration by Your Art Here co-founders, Shana Berger, Alyssa Hill, Owen Mundy, and Nathan Purath thumbnail-6
Flatland: Billboards in the Crossroads of America, 2003; A collaboration between Your Art Here and the Indiana University SoFA Gallery. Resulted in 7 art billboards. Iraq by Angela Edwards in the School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery thumbnail-7
Flatland: Billboards in the Crossroads of America, 2003; A collaboration between Your Art Here and the Indiana University SoFA Gallery. Resulted in 7 art billboards. Mine is Bigger Than Yours by Benjamin Long thumbnail-8
The Patriotic Art Series, 2004; This series of four billboards was exhibited on the YAH Massachusetts Ave. billboards, leading up to the November Presidential Election of 2004. Each piece took a unique look at the media's influence on the mainstream perception of 'patriotism.' Dang, it's Good to be A Gangsterer! by Dana Sperry and Chuck Jones thumbnail-9
Nature is Special, by Emily, Billboard Generation II, Bloomington, IN, 2004 thumbnail-10
Billboard Generation II, 2004; The second Youth Art billboard competition took place in Bloomington and Indianapolis, resulting in four billboards in each city. Eight different artworks made by students in grades k-12 responded to the question "What would you like to tell your community?" Winning themes included the effects of pollution on our environment, diversity, and the importance of community involvement. Think Before You Act by Zech, age 12, (Belzer Middle School), 922 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis thumbnail-11
Whats Important? by Tashana, Billboard Generation II, Indianapolis, IN, 2004 thumbnail-12
Saving the World, By Sarah, Billboard Generation II, Indianapolis, IN, 2004 thumbnail-13
Use Your Mouth!, by Max, Billboard Generation III, Bloomington, IN, 2005 thumbnail-14
Equality for the Handicapped, by Doyoung, Billboard Generation III, Bloomington, IN, 2005 thumbnail-15
Fat Food, by Rachel and Diana, Billboard Generation III, Indianapolis, IN, 2005 thumbnail-16
Raise Boys and Girls the Same Way, by Kellie, Billboard Generation III, Bloomington, IN, 2005 thumbnail-17
The Only Thing Thats Free in The World Is Love, Billboard Generation III, Bloomington, IN, 2005 thumbnail-18

Press

  • Komp, C. (2004, October). "A Solution to Corporate-Owned Billboards". Clamor Magazine, 5.
  • Kick it Out!, Adbusters Magazine, vol.12, no. 5, SEP/OCT, 2004, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Pogue, P. F. (2004, March). "The Billboard Generation". NUVO, 5.
  • Charney, J. (2004, March). "Galleries in the open air: Local students use artistic talent to strike conversations with the community". The Indiana Daily Student, 5.
  • Charney, J. (2004, February). "Billboard contest features youth art". The Indiana Daily Student, 5.
  • Phillips, K. (2003, June). "Artists to redefine art with competition: Winners work to be displayed on billboards throughout Indiana". The Indiana Daily Student, 1.
  • Charney, J. (2003, February). "Look up! Local group puts art on Bloomington billboards". The Indiana Daily Student, 1.
  • Lombardi, C. (2003, February). "World Wide Billboard Domination: Your Art Here, Bloomington's Finest Subvertisement Agency". The Pin-up, 2(3), 7.
  • Perry, J. J. (2002, December). "Billboards perfect canvas for art group". The Herald-Times, 1.