There is a grand community of artists in Syracuse – some well-known, some at the creative fringe, and others whom we have yet to discover. One of our aims on the Connective Corridor is to seek out these folks and highlight their endeavors. At the moment, we’re following Briana Kohlbrenner and her triumphs as an up-and-coming regional artist. Consider this an insider’s look into one local artist’s life.

After last month’s personal interview with Briana, we still manage to discover new things about her, such as her involvement in 40 Below, an organization meant to connect and empower young adults in Central Upstate New York. In March of last year, she became the co-chair of 40 Below’s Public Arts Task Force (PATF). Broadly, the PATF seeks to engage the community and integrate public art in a variety of forms throughout Syracuse. As you’d expect with Briana at the helm, their ideas lean solidly toward the offbeat and innovative!

For instance, “Concrete Jungle,” which took place for the first time this past summer, had people gathering under I-81 and blasting jungle sounds to drown out the highway noises. Salt City DISHES (Dine In. Sustain Happenings. Enliven Syracuse!), which started last month and will now occur quarterly, uses proceeds from ticket sales to award one mini-grant to a local artist whose project is selected by the dinner attendees. Pop-up galleries are also part of the PATF’s revolving menu and allow artists to showcase their work in empty storefronts while highlighting spaces available for lease.

If you’re craving some artistic outlets or perhaps intrigued by this rogue group of creative folks and want to see what they’re up to, here are a couple of events on the horizon:

• Upstate Snowdown at Lipe Art Park

On Saturday, February 5, from 1-4pm, Upstate Snowdown will take place at Lipe Art Park on W. Fayette Street. Join in a snow sculpture competition, partake in hot beverages and delicious cupcakes, and try your hand at the snowball target range. If you, as an individual or part of a team, are interested in participating in the sculpture competition, email the PATF at info@40belowpatf.com

• Rack-Pack Project

Members of the PATF will design and build five bike racks this spring in response to the increase in bicyclists in the community and the in-street bike path that will soon wind its way down University Avenue and E. Genesee Street, eventually stretching along Fayette to West Street, as part of the Connective Corridor streetscape. These won’t be any old bike racks, though – these will no doubt have a certain Kohlbrenner flair to them.

Between her exhibits at Craft Chemistry and events with the PATF, Bre energetically bounces from one thing to the next, deeply engaged in the community she now calls home. “Love it! Can’t stop!” she says in parting, as I step out into the cold Syracuse morning. We’re lucky she can’t, I think to myself.

The PATF meets the first Thursday of every month, at 5:30pm, at the Everson Museum.