Parade of Floats is a procession of 16 sculptural “floats” recalling parades that exist in cultures throughout the world, and which are an expression of a community coming together in celebration. In Santa Clara Valley, parades traditionally involved community groups, clubs, fraternities, businesses and civic bodies in decorating floats for these processions. Keeping with this tradition, the community was asked to contribute to the identity, vitality, and diversity of the project by submitting descriptions of float ideas. A panel of local artists, historians, and community leaders selected the 16 final themes from over 250 submitted ideas.The themes represent a vision of San José's historic and contemporary identity, as well as community priorities and values. Inside the facility, in the Wing and the second floor walkway, History San Jose has mounted a series of exhibitions that celebrate the people, creativity and growth of San José. The exhibits include panoramic photos, historic artifacts, maps and paintings that help tell the story of San José’s evolution from the Valley of Heart's Delight to the Capitol of Silicon Valley.

Immigration/Diversity: The tile pattern of multicolored hands represents the diverse, but unified, nature of this community. A globe crowns the column with the seven continents represented by the seven colored bands. An example of this great diversity is found in the school system where 130 languages/dialects are spoken. I choose to post sculpture because it is similar to my art proposal and I strongly believe in diversity. I like this sculpture because it is embracing unity, no matter the background. We all have something in common, we're all unique individuals, who just happened to have similar views and aspects of life and our well-being. So why not come together to entwine the aspects of our world?

SANDCASTLES AS PUBLIC ART

Less cryptic then my previous posts, sandcastles lack any real argument against be refered to as public art. So instead I'll let you in on some interesting facts.

Did you know that there are 'sculpture competitions" that, using sand as the media, can make over $300,000 per commision?

Many particpants are trained professional artists, originally comfortable with media's like bronze and ceramics. I never knew there was so muct into the making of these sandcastles.

The final effect a sandcastle can have on the public is the sense of communitiy acheived when several people come together on the beach to compete in making the best castle.

What do you think, are sandcastles public art/landscape art? It uses sand (part of the earth) as the media. Is it still 'public art' if it's used as a competition? YOU DECIDE!

Jim Denevan (born 1961) is an American artist who creates temporary land art. He works with natural materials to create massive scaledrawings in sand, ice, and soil. His sculptures are not placed in the landscape, rather, the landscape is the means of their creation. Often aerial photography or video is needed to comprehend the final work

When people view this piece, they believe that it is just a huge water bucket, but there is so much more to it. The City of New Delhi is running out of water so this symbolizes the need to conserve more water. This piece also highlights the challenges in preserving India's ecological heritage amid rapid urban development. Public art is shrinking in the 

city, and the artists are trying to reclaim and reengage in it through art. They broke through prevailing social, cultural and political barriers to bring contemporary art out of the elitists, even if it is through a giant water bucket

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/20/AR2008122001954.html

Melting Men

Nele Avezado

Ice Sculptures

These little men are an example of how an artist cannot dictate the message that her work broadcasts. Avezado's original mission was to challenge our interpretation of monuments in contemporary cities. "In a few-minute action, the official canons of the monument are inverted: in the place of the hero, the anonym; in the place of the solidity of the stone, the ephemeral process of the ice; in the place of the monument scale, the minimum scale of the perishable bodies."

However, she has been commissioned for installations in several cities around the world in order to make a statement on our changing climate. When asked if she is a climate change activist, she answered no, "I'm glad it can also speak of urgent matters that threaten our existence on this planet," but I'm an artist.

Between the two statements, I believe these Melting Men bringing awareness to a changing climate has a much bigger impact than how we view historical monuments.

Train Train

Alley Fishing

When you view Buff Diss’s work you are immediately struck by the clean perfection of the lines and his approach of the street as part of his canvas. Based in Melbourne, Australia, the artist displays an appreciation of the city's architecture, often using the obstacles and shapes of the streets to his advantage. In this age of street artists, it is good to see an artist that brings something fresh to the streets. Often times, Buff is confronted by an authoritative figure when placing a new piece but soon counters their claim of vandalism by pointing out that the tape is easily removable. Whether it’s a piece sparking legal argument or a well-placed tape painting to be appreciated by the public, I can tell you that each piece is carefully placed in the streets. Regardless of your side of the debate, it's impossible to deny the ingenuity of his work.

I personally enjoy Buff's work, because his pieces are aided by this loophole of easy removal. His work almost seems to escape the long arm of the law due to the lack of official jurisdiction in this branch of street art.

JUMP (2008) is a collaborative project with Asherah Cinnamon, Stefanie Loeb, Nina Petrochko, Martha Piscuskas in which they jump rope in a public area while asking each other questions. Their questions held topics about war. They wanted to inspire discussions about war by presenting a visual expression with multiple points of view. The artists invited the public to jump, turn the rope, or ask questions in order to introduce many points of view about the war in Iraq. They aimed to bring this discussion out into public to contradict our "isolation and emotional numbing toward the Iraq war".

I think this is a creative way of producing temporary public art that can impact the public or get them involved. War is a topic that every individual has an opinion about, and bringing it out into the public as a sort of "game" makes it less intimidating. I think these artists did a great job of allowing the public to express their opinions or ask questions with ease.


"The artists jump rope while addressing questions to each other in a traditional call and response format. These questions elicit feelings and memories related to war in general and the Iraq war in particular. The project began with collecting many lists of words associated with war, from a wide variety of individuals and group representing differing points of view. This ongoing list informs the questions that are verbalized during the act of jumping. The physiological act of jumping counteracts the lethargy of powerlessness that people often feel in the face of war and large social issues. The public is invited to turn the rope, jump rope, ask questions or watch."

There was an installation documenting this Public Art Performance on the front window of Congress Street in Portland in summer 2008. 

Tony Tasset Eye

Loop Pritzker Park, Chicago

When it comes to temporary public art nothing strikes the interest of the public quiet like a 30-foot-tall eye. Modeled after the artists own blue eye this steel reinforced fiberglass sculpture was installed June 28th, 2010 and displayed through October 31st, 2010. Commissioned by the Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) they wanted to help bring tourism to the Loop, as well as, provide jobs to people. The Eye in my opinion carries a commentary of (big brother is watching) it's there to observe your life as you commute one place to another.

The artwork was selected as the result of a competition limited to Bay Area artists by a panel including Hayes Valley neighbors, arts professionals, an Arts Commissioner and City Planning staff. The sculpture will be on display until March, 2007, when another temporary art installation will soon follow.

The sculpture is intended to create a welcoming presence in the Hayes Green and provide another Golden Gateway for the city. The artist’s design was inspired by Tibetan prayer flags and is intended to be interactive, changing from one moment to the next with each current of wind. Hayes Valley resident Stefan Hastrup says, “The most interesting aspect of the installation is the ephemeral fabric surface, which changes dramatically in different light and weather. In a light breeze, the structure will suddenly dematerialize, transforming the ‘Arc de Triomphe’ into a tattered piñata. As we hoped, the piece has a lantern-like quality that seems to anticipate autumn.”

Mayor Newsom is a great advocate of public art, regarding it as an indicator of a vital and animated city. Last year, the Arts Commission embarked upon a series of temporary public art projects, partnering with organizations such as the Black Rock Arts Foundation and San Francisco State University. Following The Golden Gateway, in spring 2007, the Arts Commission will install a miniature golf course based upon Hayes Valley landmarks, created by the artist team of Wowhaus. This will be the 14th temporary project erected in the city over the past year and a half. The Arts Commission will seek alternative funding sources to allow more temporary projects to continue at the Hayes Green.

“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing.
And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can
make someone smile while they're having a piss.”   

Gaza Strip.

Anarchy Rat.

Soldiers Painting Peace Sign.

Dove, with gun sites.



Banksy deals wiht anti-war, anti-capitalism, anti-facism, anti-imperialism, anarchism, and the human condition. His works are very controversial, but he has become very popular, and is known all over the world. His true identity is unknown. He also uses stencils, because he has said in his book, Wall and Piece, that he could never finish graffiti fast enough before he began using them.

I really like his work because its so controversial. He deals with humanity's problems head on- the struggle for peace in a time of war,anarcism, and the growth of cities.

The State of Things

Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese

In front of Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

2,000 pounds, 36 inches tall, 180 inches wide

2008

This massive installation was set up at 2:00 p.m. on August 27, 2008 to melt away over a 24 hour period. It obviously has a political message that states our country's democracy is, as the artists claim, "wasting away at an imperceptible rate." The artists also added, "what stands out – is that for the amount of time most people view art – 1 minute or less – the sculpture won’t seem to change, yet by day’s end, it will be gone - disappeared, like so much of what is happening to the values and institutions that make America a great country…"

This installation is not just something people glance over as they pass. It engages and challenges them to consider politics in our country and voice their opinion. At the site, a video camera was placed to capture the sculpture melting as well as the spectators' comments on democracy.

For this week's assignment, post any piece of public art that is a TEMPORARY installation.

Stay tuned for upcoming details about your proposal for our class public art project.

Light Drift was a temporary interactive lighting installation along the edge of the Schuylkill River Banks that drew thousands of viewers into a playful engagement with the artwork, the river's edge, and each other. The project created a field of lighting elements arrayed along the waterfront, with elements on land and in the water. The installation was on exhibition October 15-17, 2010 at the Schuylkill River Banks between Market Street and Chestnut Street.The lighting elements are shaped like orbs or buoys and are equipped with electronics that allow them to respond to a viewer and to communicate with each other. The orbs on land use sensors to detect the presence of a person and relay a radio signal to the corresponding orbs in the water, allowing visitors to transform the array of orbs in the river. As viewers engage the orbs, the grid of lights in the water becomes an index of the activities on land. Multiple viewers can create intersections of linear patterns, encouraging viewers to “play” with each other. These orbs bring the community together by providing gathering spaces for watching the river turned into a flickering constellation of a field of lights and creating new connections on the river’s edge.

People can actually play with light orbs which is one way that it is public. I decided to post this piece because I thought it was creative to have the lights start from the side of the bridge into the water. I like the fact that it alternates colors and its on a constant float with the river.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLdgJ7556Fs

[the link to a video of people interacting with the piece.]

Kittiwat Unarrom got a master's degree in fine arts and now makes lifelike body parts out of bread at a bakery in Thailand. All the disturbing yeast sculptures are made out of dough, raisins, cashews and chocolate. He'll also paint the outside with some sort of edible paint to give it an even more gruesome appearance. When asked why he does it, Kittiwat replied, "I'm a wackjob and I like making people sick".* And what does The Geekologie Writer think of these bready body parts? We may never know -- he's too busy puking up the Spaghetti O's sandwich he had for lunch.

Youtube Used for Public Art?

This is a Youtube video uploaded by nicepeter. There are group of friends who get together and write rap songs with famous people and non fiction characters. They're hilarious, and you can find more of them on youtube. I'm glad to get a chance to post this.

PROMO BABLE:
I'm not quite certain if we have yet to establish the internet as a means of achiving public art. My justification for youtube being considered 'public' relies on the belief that television is considered public. It is free, along side with the allowing all peoples access. I find it unnecisary to point out why Einstien VS Hawking is art. The creativity as well as entirtainment derived from it show more then I could ever tell.

Truly this potrayal of what could be described as icons in the scientific field is note worthy. The clever repertoire between geniuses instills a sense of history existing not some much in our textbooks, but or intellects.

It is most certain, had Einstein lived long enough to meet Hawking, and epic rap battle was sure to ensue.

« PWP Landscape Architecture Wins National Design Award

CO2Led: Zero-Carbon, Solar-Powered Public Art

07/24/2007 by asladirt

Interesting use of disused public space: In Arlington, Virginia, across the river from Washington, D.C., a group of artists has created a temporary public art project aimed at raising awareness of global warming. The project, called CO2LED, is made up of more than 500 plastic water bottles, culled from local government employees, attached to white plastic poles ranging from 5 to 13 feet high. Inside each inverted water bottle is a bright white LED light. At a distance, the stems look like gently bobbing cattails in the median of a busy intersection. The high-efficiency LED lights are lit by solar power.

The Encampment on Roosevelt Island may have been a crazy public art project but it was a good kind of crazy. During its 3 day run it produced photos of the 100 tents the remains of the abandoned smallpox hospital at the souther tip of the island and various Manhattan and Long Island City backdrops. The installation, put together by artists Thom Sokoloski, focused on the island's days as a lunatic asylum, prison, ward for abandoned babies and other happy uses that have nothing to do with today's condos and apartments.

"The refulgent atmosphere conveys an apparitional encounter of the obfuscated recapitulation of the island. Allowing the souls of today to take a descry of the abomination that occurred here many years ago."

The Guardians of Time were created by Manfred Kielnhofer, and they are located in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.  However, there are many Guardians of Time all over Europe.

The Guardians of Time are an exquisitely consecrated structures of modern public art. The Guardians of Time are placed here to exercise caution to humanity, alluding to the ramifications of our actions. They are "Time Travelers" that find out the good-bad status of our actions, and restore cosmic balance.

Mark Jenkins is an artist most widely known for the street installations he creates using box sealing tape. When interviewed, Jenkins stated that the practice of his art is "to use the street as a stage" where passersby become actors. In addition to creating art, he also teaches his sculpture techniques through workshops in cities he visits. If you are interested in learning about his style of art, you can learn his casting technique from his website, tapesculpture.org.

Mark Jenkins' enthralling oeuvres and captivating conceptions often carry the quaint message of whimsy within the subservient medium of packing tape.

Call of the Wild

Patrick Dougherty

Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA

2002

*Contrasting philosophies of environmentalism and urbanization are seen in this piece. Superfluous amounts of organic willow branches meander and spiral from lifeless concrete to form assortment vessels that appear to dispense water, a symbol of life and nature, into the cold concretes landscape to create reflecting pools. Utilizing living flora in a lifeless landscape, this piece demands us to act and prevent the bleak and fleeting future of nature.

From the title, look, and material, I would assume the intent and ideas are along those lines of environmentalism, but there was no information given. I found this artist a while back when hedid a work similar to this in front of downtown Shreveport's ArtSpace on Texas St. Here is the work that was in Shreveport:

All of his work is neat. See more on his website: http://www.stickwork.net/news.php

http://freshome.com/2011/04/28/breathtaking-urban-art-wall-sculptures-by-alexandre-farto/

Alexandre Farto (also presently referred to as Vhils) formulates prevalently recognized formations of art alongside buildings within cities engrossed by entrepreneurs and excursionists. He manipulates various surfaces in order to constitute his extraordinary vision.

Vhils has always been one of my favorite "graffiti artists". His work pops up on building, billboards, in museums, etc. He has tedious methods in which he peels off layers of "flyposters", drills into brick, or digs into sheet rock. He also works with prints and metals. I think that his works have so much appeal and emotion in them. Each face has an expressive feature and draws you to it. He doesn't create these pieces on well used buildings (He doesn't destroy anything valuable). He takes old abandoned buildings and gives them a new and beautiful aspect. I've posted a great video and a link that shows a few more of his works.