Billboard Exhibition at The Corridor Project by Orlando’s Downtown Arts District
In January 2023, The Corridor Project Billboard Exhibition was a sky-high exhibition featuring the artwork of 30 artists from regions along the I-4 corridor — a museum without walls.
The Downtown Arts District worked with Pat Greene, founder of The Corridor Project, to select artists and artwork for this exhibition. Eleven artists were hand selected by Greene before announcing the public open call for entries. The remaining 19 artists were selected through an open call facilitated by the Downtown Arts District.
About the Curator of The Corridor Project: Pat Greene
Pat Greene is a multifaceted figure in the art community, serving as a curator, artist, writer, radio and podcast host, and organizer. Currently, Pat holds the position of Public Art Coordinator for the City of Orlando. Since 2012, Greene has been curating and organizing pop-up events under the umbrella of The Corridor Project. This innovative museum without walls utilizes visual art, performance, and music to engage audiences in unique ways.
Bridging Communities with Billboard Exhibitions
One of the standout initiatives under The Corridor Project is the Billboard Exhibition in Orlando. This project transforms everyday billboards into canvases for contemporary art, making art accessible to the Central Florida community in unexpected places. The Billboard Exhibition epitomizes Greene’s focus on community building and elements of surprise, enriching the local landscape with thought-provoking visuals.
Although Greene primarily collaborates with the Central Florida community, his influence extends to several American cities and international locations. His work captivates the audience.
Greene has quite the pedigree. He has completed residencies at prestigious institutions such as the Atlantic Center for the Arts (New Smyrna Beach), Q21 at the Museumsquartier (Vienna, Austria), and Monochrom Residency (Anger, Austria).
He has also shared his expertise as a visiting artist and lecturer at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (Omaha), the University of Florida, and the Cherokee Reservation (Cherokee, North Carolina).
Aside from his curatorial achievements, Greene’s insights and critiques have been published in several notable publications, including Orlando Weekly, Detroit Metro Times, The Brooklyn Rail, The Daily Serving, and Atomic Ranch.
In 2004, Greene even ventured into the political arena, running for Mayor of Orlando with a campaign that was more performance art than politics, encapsulated by his slogan, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Juliet Romeo Photography Hand Selected by Pat Greene
I was approached directly by Pat Greene to create and deliver a photograph for this project as one of the 11 artists personally asked to participate.
It was an incredible honor to have my art requested and guaranteed a place in the show!
It was also great to know that my work is striking a chord with my viewers, and they want to see more!
I submitted a project that was part of a series called, “The Fountain of Youth,” inspired by Ponce de Leon’s search and the Taino Indians legend about a spring and river in what is now known as Florida that would restore youth to those who bathed in their waters. I loved the combination of the overgrown Florida landscape reclaiming the land that was hers, a true testament to the perseverance of Florida.
I was given the location for this photograph series by a friend who finds all kinds of amazing locations for his work. We went out there to find acres of overgrown plant nurseries and abandoned houses. It was truly a sight to behold. I took Lisa, my best friend and one of my favorite collaborators, along. We explored and composed a series of photographs together called The Fountain of Youth.
The photograph chosen for The Corridor Project features Lisa in a vintage prom dress riding an old, rusted out rocking horse in front of a broken down greenhouse.
Seeing my photograph on a billboard was quite awe inspiring. It’s my largest photograph yet, and my first time being featured on a billboard!
This billboard was located off Semoran Boulevard, close to Full Sail University. It was displayed there for about a month.
At the same time, there was an art show at City Arts, located in downtown Orlando, which showed all the art being displayed along with the 30 other artists selected to show their art. Shelby Swygert, an accomplished drawing artist, along with her family, are avid art collectors who visited the gallery when my photograph was on display. We owe Shelby a debt of gratitude for covering the show on her blog. Check out my photograph in the background of this photo of Shelby at the gallery! Thank you, Shelby! Photograph at right copyright Shelby Swygert from her blog.
The City Arts show was covered by the Downtown Arts District and in a variety of publications including Florida Trend, Orlando Weekly, and Bungalower.
It was an extraordinary experience to see one of my photographs sky high on a huge billboard above Semoran Boulevard. The Corridor Project Billboard Exhibition continues to impact the local community and beyond. Bringing art into public spaces bridges the gap between artists and audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for contemporary art.
