Dashboard’s Coloring Book Art Will Make a Kid of You

For the past few weeks the walls of Old Fourth Ward’s MINT Gallery were filled with pages from coloring books, due to a project called Nevermind the Lines by Dashboard Co-op.

When I walked into the August 7th opening a memory came back to me: a weekday night several months ago, when I’d gone down the street for a beer at 97 Estoria, and always-happy-to-see-you Luis Ponce handed me some colored pencils and a sketch of a stegosaurus on a page torn out from a drugstore coloring book.

The five or six of us bumming around Estoria brought our pencils and paper up to one of the large empty tables, pulled out chairs, and colored our hearts out.

The show that closed Sunday was full of works—unwitting locals who don’t ask questions when given an opportunity to color—as well as talented professional artists—Michi, Sam Parker, Paper Twins. But perhaps most interesting are the works in between: the unsigned pages filled out by people bored on a Tuesday night that surprise you with their wit or use of color. Why didn’t I think to add a caption, or to color outside the lines?

In addition to spotlighting notable artists, Nevermind the Lines showcased the everyday creativity of ordinary Atlantans.

It also supports a cause. This Thursday Dashboard will use the proceeds to deliver art supplies to three inner-city elementary schools

Courtney Hammond, creative director of Dashboard Co-op, said, “I am excited to deliver boxes of glitter and paint to schools. I hope it is as emotional as that home building show with Ty what’s-his-name.”

Up next:

Sept. 30/Oct. 3: Artists’ workshop with Rory Golden of NYFA

Photo Credit: Ryan James