Norwegians select "Memory Wound" by artist Jonas Dahlberg. The 43-year-old artist has sliced a three-and-a-half-metre-wide slit into the Sørbråten peninsula, which faces the island of Utøya where Anders Behring Breivik killed 69 people in 2011. It marks a "symbolic wound" in the landscape. I like the memorial as a sculptural reminder. Simple metaphor of damage landscaped and damaged nation. … [Read more...]
Funny Pavilions in Shanghai
A certain ugliness of architectural work has emerged in China. Ugliness is normally made by long-term neglect or the original laziness by the designer. But many architects of all nationalities in working in China seem to be working on a style based on a quasi-organic "flow" and plastic injection toy manufacturing. Perhaps I am just out-of-date. Glenn Weiss "Living in urban surroundings … [Read more...]
Does Parody Strengthen the Original Work: Carl Andre vs Jordan McKenzie
When the silly artist makes childish fun of a great artist, does it strengthen the memories and thoughts regarding the great artist? In summer 2013, Jordan McKenzie’s performance Carl An(t)dre introduced 20 young people dressed as ants, accompanied by a marching band, promenading through Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s historic landscape creating structures inspired by Carl Andre’s infamous brick … [Read more...]
Alley #PublicArt in Sydney
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - "The City of Sydney's Laneway Art Program has witnessed many changes in the last five years as Sydneysiders and visitors embrace the ever increasing reality of a city humming with the buzz of new art, new business and new life." Send me more alley public art. More Alleys outside Worldwide. … [Read more...]
Paul McCarthy shits on #PublicArt and #Koons
Balloon Dogs. A joy for pre-schoolers when made magically by a clown before their eyes. I still remember the feeling without a specific place or time. One day as an adult for some reason, I had to try it. Making animals with a long, skinny balloon. Discover the magic. A fantasy in my head to amaze some future child. What better momentary power is there than passing joy to another … [Read more...]
Working the House in America #publicart
Mike Kelly’s Mobile Homestead opened to the public this month in Detroit. His video shot from the window of the Mobile Homestead starts touring around the world. Self-taught or folk artist homes are regional tourist attractions, but actual single-family houses have a limited history of artistic intervention by the finer arts. Why - primarily … [Read more...]
Ugo Rondinone
The Public Art Fund returns to Rockefeller Center after a break of five years since Chris Burden's "What my Dad Gave Me". Ugo Rodinone's stone sculptures should be acknowledged as "real art" by the public. Installation photos on the Public Art Fund Facebook page. HUMAN NATURE opens on April 23, 2013 and runs until June 7. Since 1998, Public Art Fund and Tishman Speyer have collaborated … [Read more...]
Public Buyers of Public Art
On April 11 in North Carolina, Glenn Harper, Editor of Sculpture Magazine and Bill Thompson, Editor of Landscape Architecture, and I meet to kick off the "Public Art 360" Conference. Click Here to Attend. In the next few weeks, I will publish some of my letters to Harper and Thompson in preparation for the dialogue. Once in my life, I gave the same ten minute talk back … [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...]
TV and Public Art: A Repetitive Mantra
As a new item, I will add video from various sources on public art and public space. The first is a 100% repetitive report from the local FOX evening news in Tampa, Florida. If you have seen one, you have seen them all. The story starts with the "CONTROVERSY" at the public building. 1. Government spends too much on art 2. Something is strange about the artwork 3. Interview someone that likes … [Read more...]