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.
You all have been drawing so many cats, I figure I might as well make it official. Today, draw a cat. If you don’t have a cat, find an unusual photograph of a cat. If you want to draw a dog instead, draw a dog. To get you off on the right paw, I’m including …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10122″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Mahala Mrozek, Quick Time New Participants for Week 2! The SAL Challenge is growing! Happy creatives have been posting work all over the everywhere on Facebook and Instagram pages. You can look for them by searching for #salchallenge and #seattleartistleague. Great stuff! Artworks I found were by Margot Booth, Madeline Mimi Torchia Boothby, …
Because Chinese Emperors wore yellow. What??? Pencils are yellow because the emperor wore yellow. Long long ago in China, a complicated system of social rank began to develop, and it developed with color codes. As early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), social hierarchy emerged to be graded by costume color. Over generations, this system …
Opening Reception: Saturday Dec 14, 5-8pmOn display: December 14, 2019 – March 2020Open: Monday – Friday, 8-5pmShow on display in the foyer, and on floors 3 and 4 at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA “Notations” is a multi-media art show about migration, music, health, and family. Lucy Garnett’s prints, paintings, installations and …
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.
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You all have been drawing so many cats, I figure I might as well make it official. Today, draw a cat. If you don’t have a cat, find an unusual photograph of a cat. If you want to draw a dog instead, draw a dog. To get you off on the right paw, I’m including …
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[image_with_animation image_url=”10122″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Mahala Mrozek, Quick Time New Participants for Week 2! The SAL Challenge is growing! Happy creatives have been posting work all over the everywhere on Facebook and Instagram pages. You can look for them by searching for #salchallenge and #seattleartistleague. Great stuff! Artworks I found were by Margot Booth, Madeline Mimi Torchia Boothby, …
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Because Chinese Emperors wore yellow. What??? Pencils are yellow because the emperor wore yellow. Long long ago in China, a complicated system of social rank began to develop, and it developed with color codes. As early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), social hierarchy emerged to be graded by costume color. Over generations, this system …
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