Conflux takes me back. Those days in your 20s when engaging people on the street was so powerful. You need a break from the white walls. Time to put art out there with a lot of other artists out there. For a month ahead of time, you talk with your friends and quasi-friends about your plans. On the day, you set up and go. Something a little strange happens with the non-art people. They say … [Read more...]
European Perspective: Game of Mathematics and the Body
British artist, Julian Beever, must be the most popular public art on the Internet. At least once every two months, a family member, friend or associate sends me a set of his street chalk drawings. I politely reply "Thank you." Julian Beever, Sidewalk Chalk Drawing on High Street, London, UK Date Unknown Beever's fans always describe the illusions as "amazing!" with the exclamation mark. Not a … [Read more...]
Argent and Denver’s Bear: Critique Method 3
Around 1985, two architects in Chicago got access to one of the first giant photocopy machines. The photocopier could make images 36 inches wide and very long. Several architects drew 1 inch by 3 inch drawings that were then enlarged to 3 ft x 9 ft through multiple photocopying. The ensuing exhibition was titled: "The Idea of Big". 22 years later - so crude, so small. Emperors, architects and … [Read more...]
Online Lectures on Art and Space
Are you missing the crucial lectures on contemporary public art, urban design and architecture? Well I am. Please help me put together an online list to lectures in video or other formats that include visuals and serious thoughts together. Below are a very few that I have found. Must be a lot more. UPDATE: On September 5, 2007, slate.com launched slateV.com with 2-4 minute video essays by … [Read more...]
Argent and Dehaemers: Critique Method 2
This summer, Lawrence Argent installed "Ghost Trolley" in Aurora, Colorado, at a moment when rebirth of trolley systems or "light rail" has achieved messianic proportions throughout the USA. After nearly 100 years of automobiles, light rail is the mass transit system of choice for the suburban middle class moving back to the city centers. All planners under 40 years old assume that the renovated … [Read more...]
Coca Cola Using Public Art
40th Anniversity of Blake's Sargent Pepper Album cover for the Beattles Public Art managers and curators have developed successful collaborations with community-based organizations to enhance the value and participation of a new artwork, but in general the industry has failed to capture potential coordination via the mass media and Internet. In London last week, Coca Cola gave the public art … [Read more...]
Value Judgment in Public Art and Public Space
A detour from new critical methods development to respond to Flyover. Or maybe this is on the way. Unlike the museum or journal, the players in the selection, design and implementation of public art and public space do not have the luxury of open exploration as the primary value. Everyone that has served on a diverse, but sophisticated design competition jury, knows that generally the … [Read more...]
Lawrence Argent: New Method of Critique 1
I asked Lawrence Argent and he agreed. I chose Argent because I think he is one of the best public artists in the USA. But the new method of critique may not sit well with him or other artists. Past articles at Aesthetic Grounds have addressed a number of important concepts to this method: vernacular, plagiarism, popular photography and imaginative connotative associations. Now Ottoman and … [Read more...]
Project Updates: Semaphore, Landmarks Wales, Couple
In the last eight months, I have written on a number of projects with open questions. Here are some answers. MESSAGE FROM SEMAPHORE IN SAN JOSE Artist Ben Rubin announces the message and recognizes the code crackers. Rubin sponsored an awardless competition to read the semaphore. The message was deciphered in a couple of days, but Rubin waited a year. The message was the first sentence from … [Read more...]
North America Arts Events, Fall ’07
As summer is winding down, it's time plan your North American public art and public space travel schedule. Here is my selection. Burning Man, north of Reno, Nevada, 21 Years in Different Forms August 27 to September 3, 2007 The giant performance and installation event in the Black Rock desert. Bring your tent and your caffeine to stay up for many nights. (The Burning Man website has an … [Read more...]
Writing on Public Art from Carlos Cruz-Diez
After my blog on the value of location for public art, I was honored that Cruz-Diez sent me the following essay he wrote in 1996. If you don't know his work, Cruz-Diez is one of the giants of 20th century art in Latin America. He was born in Caracas, Venzuela in 1922. In the 1960s, he began his physichromie series. These paintings, constructions and murals change color and patterns as the … [Read more...]
Best Of
Aesthetic Grounds YouTube Site Selected Videos on Public Art and Public Space Best of Public Art Websites 1. Muncipal Website: Indianapolis, USA 2. Administration and Case Studies: Public Art Online, UK 3. Photos of USA Projects: Public Art Network, USA 4. Policy for Art in Buildings: Queensland, Australia 5. Sample Contracts, Call to Artists and Other Documents: PAN, USA 6. Sample MP3 … [Read more...]