On the way to Kara Walker's Domino Sugar Factory installation, see the mural by Hellbent in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. http://hellbentart.com/ … [Read more...]
Halo versus Halo in #publicart
One tricks the sense of gravity. Another strives for heaven. Turpen + Crawford, Sydney............... Titia Ex, Amsterdam … [Read more...]
Recalling a Tom Finkelpearl Moment on the Way to Director of NYC Cultural Affairs
In honor of Tom Finkelpearl's appointment as the director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New York, let's recall one of Tom's great battle's in his efforts to the support that artists that worked for the community. After years working with communities in the Bronx, John Ahearn was selected to create three sculptures for the NYC Public Art Program under Tom's leadership. Due to opposition by … [Read more...]
Finding a New Public Art Commission
For a $100,000 public art project that I am managing in Tamarac, Florida, I asked the artists to tell me how they heard about the commission. As the submittal was through callforentry.org (CaFE), the vast majority found the project through CaFE, but PublicArtist.org is gaining ground. I also asked the minimum public art project budget required to interest an artist. The large majority was … [Read more...]
RAINBOWS: Less Joy. Burning in Warsaw
Julita Wojcik's rainbow of plastic flowers in Warsaw has been burnt five times by Polish nationalist in the mistaken idea that the sculpture supports gay rights. The sculpture is now a main visual element of the battle for the heart of Poland as a conservative, nationalist bastion or a city of tolerance, especially for LGBT Poles. Yet the artist Julita Wojcik continues to say: "The Rainbow … [Read more...]
More Joy – RAINBOWS: Best loved, least used #publicart
An actual rainbow generates a smile in me every time. They are just suddenly THERE. The feeling is like seeing a fish jump or the landing of a bird on your window sill. A quick momentary gift. My attention heightens and nothing else matters around me. EXCEPT to share the pleasure with anyone else in space. LOOK - I yell or whisper. We jump a little. Yet when the actual event, becomes a … [Read more...]
Dallas Park Pavilions: CooperJoseph outshines Snohetta
In 2003, the City of Dallas passed a bond to renovate its parks. The bond included generous budgets for new picnic pavilions as architectural features. After a series of pavilions from regional firms, Dallas hired CooperJoseph and Snohetta. If this was a football game, the final score would be CooperJoseph, 45 and Snohetta, 10. A few years ago, I heard Ai WeiWei describe his frustration with … [Read more...]
Bring me your Ladders! Charlie Brouwer makes Art
Since he turned 60 in 2006, America artist Charlie Brouwer has become popular in the Carolinas and Virginia for "Rise Up". He asks for donations from the garage, basement or truck. The old ladders of the handy man, the working man and grandpa touch my heart. The ladders are spotted with paint, chipped, dented and a slightly broken - but "darn good" for cleaning the gutters. Thanks … [Read more...]
Ian Strange cut up earthquake condemned single family homes in Christchurch, NZ
In what could be called "Matta-Clark lite", artist Ian Strange (or Kid Zoom) got permission to cut-up and light up single family homes condemned to demolition after the massive earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Strange's new work has been added to the Aesthetic Ground's post on Single Family Houses. Ian Strange has buried a house in … [Read more...]
Bruening: Part of the “New Joy” movement in Public Art
We are deep into it: The New Joy Movement. Like the Pharrell Williams "Happy" song and 24 hour video, we are firmly into a new time of pleasure in public art. Olaf Bruening is part of the movement. [contextly_auto_sidebar id="EFCCdL5aXtap49n9UC5Vs8nVczF2pTAM"] … [Read more...]
Public Artists earn $37,000 annually in England
IXIA Public Art Online in Britain has just completed its third annual survey of public art. A few interesting facts. Number of Projects in England: 900 England averaged 20 public art projects per million people. Popular Art Forms: Social engaged practice and festivals with public art are growing fast with local agencies, and art in architecture remains strong. Large permanent and … [Read more...]
Studio Weave: Thank you for your Work and Words
I must have been a sleep to not notice Studio Weave and its directors Je Ahn and Maria Smith. Read this... The statement could be crap. But the work proves it is not. At Studio Weave, we are fascinated by the powerful role that stories play in creating a sense of place, both as a design tool and a way to engage with everyone surrounding a project including clients, consultants and users, both … [Read more...]