Spring quarter classes completed last week, and we have a few week’s break before summer classes begin. At the request of my students, I’ll be posting creative project suggestions on V. Notes until classes start up again on June 21.
Christo and Jeanne Claude
Christo and Jeanne-Claude looking for a possible site for The Mastaba in February 1982. Photo by Wolfgang Volz
On May 31, 2020, Christo, the his partner Jeanne Claude through the yellow fluttering gates to art heaven. The art duo Christo and Jeanne Claude were known for their large scale installations that involved wrapping landmark buildings and landscapes in fabric. Their pieces were designed to encourage the viewer to experience the artwork in the moment, in the context of its environment.
For your project today, wrap an object, or erect a temporary fence where there wasn’t one before. Photograph or draw this in context with its environment. Appreciate the moment.
Post your project to social media with #Christo #seattleartistleague so that we can find it.
More of a Process
What people don’t often talk about when they talk about work by Christo and Jeanne Claude, is the hundreds of hours each project wrapped them up in community meetings while they discussed and negotiated terms of how they hoped each project was going to be built covering objects not theirs, and across land that was not their own.
To achieve the full art experience with the creative project challenge above, choose to wrap or fence an object that does not belong to you. Before wrapping or fencing this object, write a proposal to the person who actually owns and uses this object on a daily basis. Tell them that they should allow you to wrap up or fence off their object (this part of the process is best experienced if this person does not like you, or approve of anything you do). If the owner of the object is not immediately convinced that this is a brilliant idea, and immediately realize that you are in fact a brilliant artist, then listen to what they say, really listen, and then ask again. This process of asking and listening and asking again may take years, but do not give up. When they finally agree, then you may wrap their object, appreciate the moment, and post it to social media.
Pictured above: Patty Haller’s mother in the Smith & Vallee Gallery Patty Haller was invited to use the front studio space at the Seattle Artist League so she could prepare several large panels, including a 12′ painting for her January show “Growth Patterns” at the Smith & Vallee Gallery. Haller spent the fall and winter at the …
I got this idea from Makena Gadient at the recent CoCA 24 hour Art Marathon. This is an excellent design study. Take a stack of cards. Using a big sewing needle, poke random holes into the stack of cards so they all have the same pattern of holes. Then, using the same holes, create a …
[image_with_animation image_url=”8555″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Yesterday I talked about Joseph Cornell, and how he didn’t consider himself an artist, but felt he was a collector, and a maker of things. I like to think sometimes I make things. Contrary to my website, I avoid calling myself an artist. Doing so can be validating, but …
Welcome to the 30SAL Creative Challenge! Broaden your creative skills Every day this January we’ll post a creative challenge to our V. Notes blog. Subscribers will receive these posts in their inbox. Designed to foster a wide variety of creative skills, our challenges are not restricted to any style or genre, and medium is artist’s …
All Wrapped Up
Spring quarter classes completed last week, and we have a few week’s break before summer classes begin. At the request of my students, I’ll be posting creative project suggestions on V. Notes until classes start up again on June 21.
Christo and Jeanne Claude
On May 31, 2020, Christo, the his partner Jeanne Claude through the yellow fluttering gates to art heaven. The art duo Christo and Jeanne Claude were known for their large scale installations that involved wrapping landmark buildings and landscapes in fabric. Their pieces were designed to encourage the viewer to experience the artwork in the moment, in the context of its environment.
Completed Projects
Projects Not Realized
Christo’s Li’l Wraps
Package on a Table
Fabric, lacquer, rope and round wooden table
Photo: Eeva-Inkeri © 1961 Christo
Wrapped Jerry Can
1961
Metal jerry can, fabric and rope
Photo: Eeva-Inkeri © 1961 Christo
Wrapped Telephone
1962
Polyethylene, rope, telephone and telephone cord
Photo: André Grossmann
© 1962 Christo
Wrapped Motorcycle
1962
Polyethylene, rope and motorcycle
© 1962 Christo
Photo: Anthony Haden-Guest
© 1963 Christo
Wrapped Armchair
1964-65
Armchair, fabric, polyethylene, rope and cord
Photo: Peter Cox
© 1965 Christo
Wrapped Tree
1966
White birch tree, jute fabric, polyethylene and rope
Photo: Ab de Jager
© 1966 Christo
Today’s creative challenge a la Christo
For your project today, wrap an object, or erect a temporary fence where there wasn’t one before. Photograph or draw this in context with its environment. Appreciate the moment.
Post your project to social media with #Christo #seattleartistleague so that we can find it.
More of a Process
What people don’t often talk about when they talk about work by Christo and Jeanne Claude, is the hundreds of hours each project wrapped them up in community meetings while they discussed and negotiated terms of how they hoped each project was going to be built covering objects not theirs, and across land that was not their own.
To achieve the full art experience with the creative project challenge above, choose to wrap or fence an object that does not belong to you. Before wrapping or fencing this object, write a proposal to the person who actually owns and uses this object on a daily basis. Tell them that they should allow you to wrap up or fence off their object (this part of the process is best experienced if this person does not like you, or approve of anything you do). If the owner of the object is not immediately convinced that this is a brilliant idea, and immediately realize that you are in fact a brilliant artist, then listen to what they say, really listen, and then ask again. This process of asking and listening and asking again may take years, but do not give up. When they finally agree, then you may wrap their object, appreciate the moment, and post it to social media.
Related Posts
Glowing review for Patty Haller
Pictured above: Patty Haller’s mother in the Smith & Vallee Gallery Patty Haller was invited to use the front studio space at the Seattle Artist League so she could prepare several large panels, including a 12′ painting for her January show “Growth Patterns” at the Smith & Vallee Gallery. Haller spent the fall and winter at the …
30SAL Challenge: Connect the Dots
I got this idea from Makena Gadient at the recent CoCA 24 hour Art Marathon. This is an excellent design study. Take a stack of cards. Using a big sewing needle, poke random holes into the stack of cards so they all have the same pattern of holes. Then, using the same holes, create a …
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[image_with_animation image_url=”8555″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Yesterday I talked about Joseph Cornell, and how he didn’t consider himself an artist, but felt he was a collector, and a maker of things. I like to think sometimes I make things. Contrary to my website, I avoid calling myself an artist. Doing so can be validating, but …
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Welcome to the 30SAL Creative Challenge! Broaden your creative skills Every day this January we’ll post a creative challenge to our V. Notes blog. Subscribers will receive these posts in their inbox. Designed to foster a wide variety of creative skills, our challenges are not restricted to any style or genre, and medium is artist’s …