Rainbow Connection
Celebrating Kansas resilency and encouraging outdoor activity through placement of rainbow art installations.
Leader
Lauren Ashley
Location
Throughout Shawnee, KS 66216
About the project
Miracle Wonderland Carnival Co. is an artist collective dedicated to creating engaging and interactive experiences. We take our name from The Wizard of Oz* Our work seeks to embody that transformative moment of magic and wonder when Dorothy opens the door from a black and white world into a technicolor dreamland.
As we live under a stay-at-home order many people are realizing how magical the world beyond their front door is. Inside and isolated we face uncertainty, anxiety, and fear as we wait to weather this storm. But it there’s one thing that we look for after a storm it is rainbows. Across the world, Rainbows have become a beacon of hope for communities and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
As the stay at home order is lifted, similar to Dorothy entering the land of OZ, we will enter a world with a new set of rules that may be challenging to adjust too. Art provides one of the most importance outlets for communication and coping and will help ease in this transition. We will create a series of rainbow art installations intended for the public to engage with and enjoy, while also abiding by public health priorities. Additionally, we will complete community outreach to encourage residents and neighbors and in particular, local youth, to create and share their own rainbow art. These will be compiled to create a rainbow scavenger hunt, encouraging physical activity and demonstrating community togetherness, while still practicing safe social distancing.
Bringing these rainbow installations to life will allow us to activate the values of connection, community, and inclusivity, which are increasingly needed as we continue to face the COVID-19 crisis.
*Fun fact: Before ruling Oz, the Wizard held the title Premiere Ballonist Par Excellence for the Miracle Wonderland Carnival Co. traveling across Kansas.
The Steps
Once fundraising is complete our artists will begin work on their rainbow art installations and work to identify and secure any necessary permitting/approvals for placement. Additionally, we will create a project website and outreach materials to share with residents, neighborhood groups, area schools, and local media to encourage public participation in the rainbow scavenger hunt. We can't wait to get started!
Why we‘re doing it
Rainbow Connection offers opportunity for emotional connection, learning, and community enjoyment while we continue to face the challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis.