Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Main Stream was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed parties were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Bowling Party: Debate Night
Hosted 10/27/2018, 6-9 PM
Visitors were encouraged to contribute their bowled scores towards one of two concepts, collectively deciding the winner at the end of each hour. People could come and go freely from play, and were not committed to playing full sets.
Results
Dogs v. Cats - 91 to 94
Football v. Basketball - 87 to 76
Mountains v. Beaches - 90 to 77

Bowling Party: Change the Station
Hosted 10/28/2018, 3-6PM
Visitors were encouraged to bowl to hear the music of their choice. Play began on one station, and bowlers could contribute their points to either “Keep It On” or “Change It”. Once the threshold of “Change it” passed the “Keep It On” score, a new station was selected and play continued. People could come and go freely from play, and were not committed to playing full sets.

Main Stream was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed parties were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Bowling Party: League Nights
Hosted 11/02/2018, 6-9PM and 11/04/2018, 3-6PM
League Nights were structured teams playing against each other in a 10 set game. Scoring was done per the rules of Candlepin bowling and were as follows: Each round, players will have 3 balls to bowl down as many pins as possible.
Each pin knocked down counts as 1 point.
If all pins are knocked down with 1 ball, a strike is scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in their first two balls of their following round.
If all pins are knocked down with 2 balls, a spare is scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in their first single ball of their following round.
If all pins are knocked down with 3 balls, 10 points are scored.
Teammates scores will be totalled, and the winning team will be determined by the highest score.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

How to score
Each round, players will have 3 balls to bowl down as many pins as possible.
Each pin knocked down counts as 1 point.
If all pins are knocked down with 1 ball, a strike is scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in their first two balls of their following round.
If all pins are knocked down with 2 balls, a spare is scored as 10 plus the number of pins knocked down in their first single ball of their following round.
If all pins are knocked down with 3 balls, 10 points are scored.
Teammates scores will be totalled, and the winning team will be determined by the highest score.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.

Main Stream explores the game of bowling as an all-American pastime in an all-American location of Muncie, Indiana. Reconsidering the Middletown studies of the early 20th Century that set out to typify what was quintessentially American, and determine a baseline for normal behavior across the country, notions of normalcy are explored through a game ubiquitous to much of “middle America”, and fraught with cultural associations and stereotypes which are heavily linked to mid-western culture, and middle-class society.
The project was created and activated during a month long residency at Plyspace in Muncie, and installed in an unused storefront at the Muncie Mall as a temporary, community-based project. The game of bowling was re-imagined with a shorter than regulation sized lane, and a softwood, unoiled lane surface which took the impressions of each person’s throws. As the project continued, the surface became increasingly dented and marred, potentially affecting the results of subsequent throws. The bowling lane was used for casual, free-play by the mall patrons, and themed events were intermittently hosted in the evenings and on weekends. Pinsetting and ball returning was completed manually by the artist after each round.