September 8 - 15, 2007
Intent on exploring the structure and aesthetics of gaming in relation to art and public spaces, Michael Coolidge has organized a week-long prize tournament of Bowls that will span the downtown core of Calgary.
Similar to Bocce and Lawn Bowling, the objective is to bowl closest to a marker ball. The players, however, must negotiate and determine their own courts, selecting from a vast array of existing urban spaces. One match leads to another, as the game and its players traverse the various landscapes of the built environment.
The feature component and epicenter of this meandering activity is the Free Bowl Clubhouse, an installation located in the lobby of the Calgary City Hall building. This site will function as the base meeting point for the players, and will display and map the tournament draw as it progresses through the week. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Clubhouse, which will be attended to by the artist during tournament draw-times.
