Art Inspiration: Reverse Graffiti

INCIDENT:
Over the past year or so, reverse graffiti has been getting a lot of attention among artists and for good reason. The creativity and beauty in these often elaborate pieces call us to question societal perceptions about traditional graffiti. And while reverse graffiti simply involves cleaning dirt or debris to create an image instead of the use of paint or markers, somehow it is still subject to the same perception of recklessness and lawlessness as traditional graffiti.

Alexandre Orion working on his piece "Ossario: Art Less Pollution" via Ossario

The blog, Environmental Graffiti, which writes about cool and quirky environmental news, did a good overview of works of reverse graffiti. The ad hoc scribbles on dirty cars that we have all done at some point in our lives are put to shame by these works. Be on the look at for this style of graffiti to flourish in the future.

One of my favorites are Brazil's Alexandre Orion work "Ossario: Art Less Pollution," where he cleaned skulls into the wall of a transportation tunnel to highlight the negative effect of car emissions.

The originator of reverse graffiti is arguably Paul "Moose" Curtis. His Reverse Graffiti Project has done several large scale works in San Francisco.

Reverse Graffiti Project by Moose Curtis via PicoCool

MORAL:
This is a great example of the rethinking of materials. Both the production and execution of these pieces are noteworthy. The pieces themselves are awe inspiring and the process is equally intriguing.

Art Inspiration: Part 1

INCIDENT:
Last year I wrote about the artist Phil Hansen in a post called "Inspiration." Hansen mostly does portraits that have a single or multiple stencil look although most do not actually utilize stencils. The latest piece that is featured on Hansen's website is a huge portrait (15.5 ft x 11.5 ft) of Lance Armstrong. Hansen made the painting by dripping paint onto the wheels of a classic red Radio Flyer tricycle that he rode over the canvas. This piece does utilize clear plastic stencils to get a clean look but the marks have a lot of depth and character because of the way they marks were applied.

Here is a video of the making of this piece: "Lance"

MORAL:
Phil Hansen's creative methods and materials are always inspiring for me. Throw in his consistent output of work and I'm sold. He has discipline and talent... both of which I could use a little more of right now.

I haven't produced new work for a long while and the last time that I did was for a class that I took last year on block and lino printmaking. So if it were not for the class motivating me to pursue my art, I would still be without new work. I simply have not had the motivation or discipline to follow through even though I have been constantly developing new ideas. I am not sure what is holding me back... fear perhaps? Lack of time? Lack of talent? All of the above? Whatever the reason or excuse, it is clear that I can no longer hide behind it.

An artist friend of mine recommended that I read the book "Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking" by David Bayles and Ted Orland. I just started reading it and already it is giving me necessary perspective.

So my next several posts will focus on artists that inspire me, like Phil Hansen, for whatever reason -- their conviction, their artwork, their methodology, the subject of their art, etc. I hope that by surrounding myself with their work something good will rub off on me.

Let It Out

INCIDENT:
As a continuation of my post on Olympic fever, an appropriately timed release of Kleenex's 40-minute documentary on US athletes and the fans they inspired does just the trick to get right to the core of the Olympic spirit.

Here is the trailer for the film:



Go to the Let It Out website to view the full documentary.

MORAL:
At the core of the Olympics is the promise of humanity. You are compelled to rally behind the pursuits of others as they test the limits of human capacity. The Olympics is not only a time of peace (theoretically) but it is also a time when differences are put aside to celebrate the human race. If only we could only bottle the Olympic spirit or learn to translate that spirit to our everyday... if only.

Has the Olympics inspired you? How can we live the spirit of the Olympics everyday? Let's try.

Olympic Fever!

INCIDENT:
We are currently at the beginning of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing China. So much press has been given to these games before they even started on August 08 2008. And while the human rights violations and the role of China in several humanitarian crises cannot (and should not) be ignored, the Olympics should really focus on athletic skill and the competitive spirit.

If you have ever worked towards an athletic goal such as running a marathon or competing with a local intramural soccer team, then you have just a taste of what these athletes strive towards... what they live and breath for for the four (or more) years leading up to an Olympics. It takes incredible devotion and even more sacrifice. And if you ever dedicated your time and energies towards something personally important, then you have an idea about what it means to be an Olympian.

The Olympics are not only for the athletes but is equally for every country's people. There is a sense of national pride during the Olympics. But at the same time there is a sense of camaraderie between countries and athletes. If only the spirit of the Olympics could continue past the 16 days of the XXIX Olympiad.

MORAL:
I have Olympic fever! The only thing that I watch is Olympic coverage on television. Handball, trap shooting, fencing, water polo... I watch it all. I love seeing the fans in the stands waving their flags, yelling at the top of their lungs, and supporting their teams. I love seeing countries win their first Olympic medals... ever. Or seeing when the athletes march in the opening ceremonies filled with pride.

The best part of the Olympics for me is that for 16 days every two years I believe I can live out my Olympic dream. As delusional as that thought may be, during the Olympics I can dream... and dream big!

UPDATE (08/13/08): I just read this quote from Dominque Dawes, who is serving as a commentator at the Olympics, about the US silver medal win in women's Team Gymnastics. I think it sums up my point quite nicely.

"I experienced Opening Ceremonies for the first time this year," Dawes said. "And what I took away is, the Olympics is not about one athlete or one moment. It is about the team and world and the impact these athletes make on the world. No matter how well they perform." -- from ESPN.com, "Team final result should not define Sacramone" By Alyssa Roenigk

In Memoriam: Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch giving a speech at the 2008 Commencement exercises at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh PA.

INCIDENT:
Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch died today of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was only 47 years old and is survived by his wife, Jai and their three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe. Pausch gained national and international fame recently for his "last lecture" delivered at Carnegie Mellon in September of 2007. The video of the lecture made its rounds on YouTube and resulted in a book that further expounded on the themes of the original lecture -- live out your childhood dreams. I wrote about his lecture in a post called "I want to be a Tigger!" back in October and since then I have been searching for more of his great wisdom on life. Luckily, Pausch had many great friends and had touched the lives of a countless number of students. His legacy will live on in each and every person that encountered him in person and through the blessing of technology. One of Pausch's friends and colleagues at University of Virginia, Dr. Gabriel Robins, has a great website with videos, PowerPoint slides, and PDFs of Pausch's recent and not-to-recent lectures for the public to enjoy. If you haven't yet, take a moment and be moved by the strength and courage of this man. Afterwards, I am certain you will be believe that you can move mountains... and you will want to.

MORAL:
My deepest sympathies to Randy Pausch's family and to all those who were close to him. I hope and pray that his children will know what an amazing man their father was and how his life inspired millions. As a wonderful professor at UVA and CMU, he encouraged his students to push the limits of creativity and technology. Those of us that did not get the chance to take Dr. Pausch's Building Virtual Worlds class (there was always a very long wait list!) were still moved by his presence on campus. You can not say that about many professors outside of your own discipline. His "last lecture" and his time management lecture gave him the chance to inspire the world.

For sharing his message and his struggle, I will always be grateful.

The Girl Effect

INCIDENT:
My friend recently posted a video about "The Girl Effect" on her blog, Tizzylish. And as I read more about it, I started to get all teary-eyed. So what is the Girl Effect?

The Girl Effect, n. The powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.

It is an almost simple concept... to give opportunities to those who are willing and capable but don't have the means. Don't we all deserve the opportunity to reach our full potential?



MORAL:
With the state of the world, it is an almost overwhelming concept to think that positive change is possible. But occasionally we get a glimmer of hope. Like minded people who are committed and driven by the promise of tomorrow remind us that we are not alone. It is not just one person working towards a better world. It is all of us. We just have to pick up our flags and fly them high so that we can find each other. That is what a good organization can do... they can organize those who want to help make things better. Together we can foster change.

337 Project

INCIDENT:
Buildings are knocked down to make way for new developments everyday (check out Implosion World to get your fill of building and structure implosions). Although there is a high frequency of building tear downs, most don't make the news unless it is a prominent or famous building or structure like Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh or the Great Buddhas of Bamiyan. So one would not expect that the destruction of a small office building in Salt Lake City (of all places) to turn any heads... except this one did.

The 337 Project was an art collaborative experiment. The owners of the building at 337 South 400 East turned the demolition of the office building and turned it into a great opportunity. They invited 94 artists to cover the building and its 42 rooms with art including installations, graffiti art, sculptures, and paintings. The building was on display for two weekends and then it was demolished as planned.

Images from the project can be seen here. The project was also documented in a film by the Dada Factory, titled The 337 Project Documentary, which is now being screened in Salt Lake City all summer for free at the Salt Lake Art Center. Here is the trailer for the film:

An exhibit is also currently on display at the Salt Lake Art Center called Present Tense: A Post 337 Project. It is an exhibition by some of the artists who participated in the original 337 Project. Aside from the documentary and the exhibition, the 337 Project also gave birth to two good resources on art in Salt Lake City.

337 Project Blog - tracks everything related to the 337 Project including another 337 type project in the works

Dada Robotnik - "Robotnik is a place for crazy art and ideas"

MORAL:
It is so great to see imaginative thinking about the demolition of a building. Often the destruction of a building only results in lots of landfill, instead this project inspired the creativity of countless of artists and observers.

It also addresses the fragile nature of life. Although you know that at some point your life will end, it is not usually on the forefront of your mind. 337 Project starts with that premise. To create art with the knowledge that it will change and in fact be destroyed is profound. We often hold close things in this world with the hope that it will never leave our lives. If we take for one second the mindset that things are transient... that life is transient... would we live different lives?

Earth Day Every Day

INCIDENT:
In honor of Earth Day I thought I would share this great compilation of two films addressing industry's effect on the earth. It speaks of the negative influence of industry on people and the planet. The video is excerpts from the short film "Birth of Industry" featuring independent film star Diane Gaidry (check out the film "Egg" - part I and part II) interspersed with footage from the movie "Beaches" where Bette Midler does a stage performance of her song "Oh, Industry." In "Birth of Industry" Diane Gaidry plays the metaphorical role Mother Nature as she watches her son grow rapidly before her eyes and be drawn to industry and its evils. But in the end, Mother Nature has her revenge.


Video compilation by mlvc816 includes clips from "Birth of Industry" (Directed by Gabriela Tollman; Starring Diane Gaidry, Karen Black and Ed Flanagan) and "Beaches" (Directed by Garry Marshall; Starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey)

MORAL:
I really love how these films were combined almost seamlessly. This video compilation conveys an important message. As we sit and reflect on how industry has affected our societies and the earth, you begin to wonder if the benefits of technology and industry have been worth it. Do we really know what we have sacrificed?

We Are The Ones

INCIDENT:
will.i.am made yet another video in support of Obama. Be inspired. Have a voice. What do you care about?



MORAL:
People say that Obama is just words and nothing more. He is more and words do matter. All the time in political arenas, people use words to inspire, to strike fear, to call to organize, and to place blame. The difference between someone you trust and someone you distrust is the amount of variance between what they say and what they do. We have seen the outcome of politicians who have conflicting actions and statements. There is little tolerance for these individuals. So words do matter.

However without charismatic leaders we are also at a loss. Little emphasis this election has been put the ability of a president to bring the nation together, or to inspire hope in a time when there is little hope left. Obama has this ability to unite the nation. We need a leader and not many people can inspire hope like he has during his candidacy. Imagine what he could do as president.

Hatred and Hope

INCIDENT:
If you have not heard the hate-filled fact-free statements by Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern (sallykern@okhouse.gov) about homosexuals, then let me be the unfortunate one to expose you to the hatred that still exists in America.



MORAL:
If I could write something more eloquent about these statements that were not captured beautifully in the letter below, I certainly would share my thoughts here. But this letter written to Rep. Kern by a high school senior from Oklahoma City speaks for itself. God bless our future.

Rep Kern:

On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day. Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would've likely have included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were injured that day and many of those still suffer through their permanent wounds.

That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn't live up to them pay with their lives.

As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind of doubt you'll find one of them that will agree with you.

I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you told me that my mother's killer was a better person than a group of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.

As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.

You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they've been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?

I've spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen, however, many gay students beat up and there's never a day in school that has went by when I haven't heard the word **** slung at someone. I've been called gay slurs many times and they hurt and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of your students?

Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They've already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home bruised and bloody because of what you said.

I wish you could've met my mom. Maybe she could've guided you in how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.

I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she won't be there. So I'll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more people again. I don't want to be here for that. I just can't go through that again.

You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me. Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.

Sincerely

Tucker

6 Word Memoirs

INCIDENT:
Smith Magazine is an online magazine dedicated to storytelling and in particular personal narrative. One year ago they challenged their readership to write their life story in six words. This idea was based on the account that Hemingway supposedly wrote a story in six words - “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The result is poignant, inspiring, hilarious, humbling, and everything that you would expect from a life story.

MORAL:
Looking forward to whatever is coming.

"Like Hope, But Different"

INCIDENT:
There has been a video circulating on the internet of a song and video inspired by Obama's "Yes, We Can" speech. Obama delivered this speech the night of the New Hampshire primary. It is compelling. So will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas took the inspirational message and created the following video:



This morning, a parody of the will.i.am "Yes We Can" video showed up on YouTube about John McCain. It is fantastic. You should also check it out:



MORAL:
It is a real stark contrast. And it is clear we need change. We need people in office who can see beyond the "business as usual" of Capital Hill. But whoever is your candidate in November, please get out and vote. Have a voice.

UPDATE (02/12/08): Go over to Cayenne & Carob for a hilarious video comparing Hilary Clinton and Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon's character from the movie Election).

Surviving

INCIDENT:
PostSecret is one of my favorite community-based art projects (Your Art Here is another favorite). There has been a lot of press, books, and even an All-American Rejects video on this art project. What is so great about PostSecret is that it makes art accessible. Some people do not think that they can be creative or artistic, but projects like PostSecret redefine the publics conception of what art can be. I have always believed that one’s perspective is crucial to the appreciation of art. And in the simplicity of the concept for this project, we find a complex outcome - life, death, happiness, and great sadness, but also humanity, hope, and faith.

Frank Warren, who is the founder of PostSecret, said at a recent lecture that "the children the world almost break become the adults who save it." I think you need to let that marinate a bit.

MORAL:
The inherent nature of our society with its freedom of choice as individuals leads to a spectrum of emotion and experience. And while children perhaps have somewhat less control over their lives they certainly are not immune to the highs and lows that the world holds for them. Those that do make it through life's experiences have a different perspective on life. Perhaps it is an urgency... maybe it is a clearer purpose... I am not sure what it is. But if you ever met anyone who has gone through anything major in their life, you have seen it. And it is inspiring.

UPDATE (02/08/08): Be inspired.