Manic Machine: What is it?
Manic Machine was first created in Philadelphia in 2013, in partnership with Blick Art Materials, Small But Mighty Arts Grant, and other local businesses. With Manic Machine, there was a focus on Philadelphia-based communities and their personal stories and expression.
Lyric Prince, an interdisciplinary artist with ties to social practice art, writing, bodypainting, muraling, and assemblage, worked with several artists of different mediums to introduce techniques to the public: these artists include Steve Teare, Feya Sterling, Wes Gil, Yo Kene, and Kitakiya Dennis, with a special mention of Manny Marzzallino as one of the lead painting participants.
In 2016, Lyric Prince moved to Arlington and obtained a residency at then-Arlington Arts Center, launching a version of the Manic Machine project there with visitors that would come to her studio during open houses. She would then work on connecting the narratives on the wall to make a cohesive whole. Artists such as Rachel Schmidt, Leo Wilson, Yuri Long, and Meei Ling Ng contributed their talents to the wall's creation as well.
Lyric Prince, an interdisciplinary artist with ties to social practice art, writing, bodypainting, muraling, and assemblage, worked with several artists of different mediums to introduce techniques to the public: these artists include Steve Teare, Feya Sterling, Wes Gil, Yo Kene, and Kitakiya Dennis, with a special mention of Manny Marzzallino as one of the lead painting participants.
In 2016, Lyric Prince moved to Arlington and obtained a residency at then-Arlington Arts Center, launching a version of the Manic Machine project there with visitors that would come to her studio during open houses. She would then work on connecting the narratives on the wall to make a cohesive whole. Artists such as Rachel Schmidt, Leo Wilson, Yuri Long, and Meei Ling Ng contributed their talents to the wall's creation as well.
History of Manic Machine
In 2013, Lyric Prince Harris started an interactive arts event in Philadelphia called Manic Machine, being one of the first to come up with the concept of “adult coloring.” During the course of that year, she staged four different public interventions at Blick Art and at different community events, inviting people to come and paint– usually on canvas, but sometimes on live models. She also worked with other artists to introduce their mediums and artworks.
Photos below are courtesy of artist and Kene Photo.
Photos below are courtesy of artist and Kene Photo.
Real-world results of Manic Machine work. The first two pictures were directly worked on in-store; the last two feature canvases that were later refined and then given to private collectors. Body painting on far left was done in partnership with Intuitive Expressions.
Real-world results of Manic Machine work. The first two pictures were directly worked on in-store; the last two feature canvases that were later refined and then given to private collectors. Body painting on far left was done in partnership with Intuitive Expressions.
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Market East Art series, a few months after the Blick shows. Images courtesy of Tieska Smith/Witty Gritty, 2013.
Coloring outside of the lines: The artist launched two different versions of coloring pages to go along with the real-world happenings in Philadelphia. Over the course of the year, she published one hardcopy of a coloring page, and five electronic coloring pages on www.elpea.me (now offline.) There was a color legend for those who wanted one, but participants were encouraged to follow their own preferences.
In 2016, the artist followed up with a second version of the experience, staging a live painting mural at Arlington Arts Center. Over the course of her four-month residency, she guided participants to paint on her wall, which would then be incorporated into the larger fabric of the mural’s progress. Also, she used cast-off items from a previous installation with fellow AAC artist Rachel Schmidt, as well as other found items around the center.
Photos courtesy of artist and Yuri Long.
In 2016, the artist followed up with a second version of the experience, staging a live painting mural at Arlington Arts Center. Over the course of her four-month residency, she guided participants to paint on her wall, which would then be incorporated into the larger fabric of the mural’s progress. Also, she used cast-off items from a previous installation with fellow AAC artist Rachel Schmidt, as well as other found items around the center.
Photos courtesy of artist and Yuri Long.
Before and after photos: first one is strictly audience-led, the second is after editing by artist.
The mural’s circuit around the room.
The mural’s circuit around the room.
Crowd shots from mural’s progress, Jan-August, 2016. Photos by artist, Hilary Morgan-Watt and Mavra Bari.
This is an example of the Manic Machine concept on a micro scale, with younger participants. The following year after Arlington Arts Center, Lyric led a Project Create Family Day workshop, in which 20 participants, from pre-K to 12, created a paper collage. Below, see the premade “before” canvas that uses orange and brown tones, in comparison to the final result, which use all of the colors of fall.
The Manic Machine Project connected communities with art with an added twist of therapeutic healing of place and story. The many people that contributed to this project's creation and life are appreciated, and the lead artist hopes that the message of healing through creation will continue to carry on throughout their everyday lives.
Over the several years it was in operation, the artist estimates that 500 touched and altered the displays in some way. While there is no official list of their participation, the artist took extensive photographic documentation of participant involvement, and obtained their verbal consent of every participant before proceeding. Many of these photographs were publicly shared and tagged by participants on social media channels.
Over the several years it was in operation, the artist estimates that 500 touched and altered the displays in some way. While there is no official list of their participation, the artist took extensive photographic documentation of participant involvement, and obtained their verbal consent of every participant before proceeding. Many of these photographs were publicly shared and tagged by participants on social media channels.
Copyright 2021-2023, Lyric Prince Harris. All rights reserved.