Battle of Everyouth

• 2011
• Participatory Public Projection

• Description

  The Battle of Everyouth
  Jenny Schmid and Ali Momeni

  The Battle of Everyouth is a large-scale outdoor projection performance that blends live drawing, participatory theater, music and live animation. Through a collaboration between the artist team (Momeni and Schmid), the Minneapolis Institute of Art (venue) and Washburn High School (English, Art and Geography classes), this work created a platform for a youth-led investigation of youth-violence and its impact on our society.  This work utilized a number of custom instruments that allowed the youth to engage audience members directly as storytellers and journalists, while gathering visual-content (drawings, mugshots) for the large-scale project from the audience.

  A miniature set, The Circarama, serves as a tiny
  stage for projections and stop motion animations, while wireless devices, S booth, D case, and P basket, offer ways to engage with live theater and contribute to the resulting projection panorama on the facade of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

  DJ Luke Anderson joins the amazing trio, DKO, which features Jon Davis (Bass, Bass Clarinet), Graham O'Brien (percussion) and John Keston (Rhodes, Pro-One, electronics) for live experimental music on the steps of the MIA.

  Students from Washburn High School are audience guides. This group has been studying youth and violence in their Art, Geography and Literature classes during the Spring, 2011 term. Their studies have included a mock United Nations session focusing on child soldiers, the reading of graphic novels Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Maus by Art Spiegelman as well as discussions about artists that address controversies about borders, faith and security.

  Artists Jenny Schmid and Ali Momeni are stationed at a “mixing station” which combines live video feeds from these numerous dispersed performance contexts. Jenny layers drawings and words over the input imagery, while Ali animates and manipulates the many visual elements of this project.

• Acknowledgements

  “MIA Inside/Out: Battle of Everyouth” is made possible by a Joyce Award and a grant from the Friends of the Institute, with additional support from Northern Spark.

  • Artistic Concept and Direction: Ali Momeni, Jenny Schmid
  • Media Design, Sculptural Design and Electronics: Ali Momeni
  • Production Team: Sinan Goknur, Drew Peterson, Maneli Aygani
  • Music: John Keston, Graham O’brien, Luke Anderson, Jon Davis
  • Camera: Amir Husak
  • Guides: Students from Washburn High School

  Thanks to: Teachers, Mary Jo, Krista, Liz, Susan, Elisabeth Workman Steve and all the staff at the MIA for their help in creating this work