BrushFire is Provisions’ new national public arts initiative showcasing key contemporary artists whose public projects engage crucial social issues such as immigration, the war in Iraq, food, sustainable energy, housing, the electoral process, the economy, health, and the environment. Taking place in highly visible public settings such as state fairs, suburban shopping centers, public parks and highly trafficked recreational areas around the United States, BrushFire aims to enrich the environment for public discussion about the value of democracy in the crucial run-up to national elections in November, 2008.

BrushFire public art projects include The Beehive Collective, The Floating Lab Collective, Futurefarmers, Ligorano/Reese, and Jon Winet. BrushFire will culminate in an exhibition at The American University Museum in September called Close Encounters: Facing the Future, along with a DC-wide festival of exhibitions and arts events on key social issues.

BrushFire’s special blog will keep you updated.

BrushFire is made possible in part by a grant from the CrossCurrents Foundation, established in 2006 to promote social, environmental and economic justice through civic participation with a special focus on voter engagement and support for emerging artists whose work contributes to a more just society. Additional support has been provided by The Creative Communities Fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Humanities Council for Washington DC, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Tides Foundation and individual donors.