Take a balloon in your hand and recognize the potential that this small object has. Even the tiniest balloon when filled with air may encompass five or six hundred times its original volume. Pop the balloon and all that you have left is tattered remains of the beauty that drifted before you less then a second before. Balloons are all around you: floating above house signs, in the hands of a mother on the way to her child’s birthday party, in store fronts and car dealerships, at weddings and celebrations. They are whimsical and present to all ages and classes of society.

This installation holds portraits of Chicago’s Humboldt Park residents, community leaders and business members photographed at the moment he or she is popping a balloon. The balloons in the truck hold the participant’s response to questions about the past, present and future of Humboldt Park. The installation organizes the remnants of meeting between the artist and the participants.

The artist reached out to participants in an effort to create a link between himself, the participants, and their shared community. Now they all share the experience of having their portrait taken while popping a balloon. This experience has created a bond between them. A bond that signifies ongoing discussions about their community’s history, the current changes occurring in Humboldt Park and their individual dreams for the future of the community. These discussions are reflected in many of the answers participants gave to the three questions; answers that hang inside the balloons in the installation.

ABOUT MOBILE EXHIBITIONS

Mobile Exhibitions is produced by Ries Productions, created by John Song. It would not have been possible without generous support from the Chicago Artists Month, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Comet Way Inc., Mike Bancroft, DNMdesign, friends and family.