Art About: Speech Bubble and Lampshades
One of the things I love about NY is the public art – it is everywhere!
Below are two of my favourite projects as the (solarly constructed calendar) year rounds up
A counter-attack to our overly advertised and branded world, artist Ji Lee set about sticking 15,000 empty speech bubbles all around the city (and he has now printed 15,000 more).
Anyone and everyone is invited to participate!
Unfortunately, the one time I have encountered a blank bubble it was too high for me to reach and the tall man who walked passed refused to fill it in on my behalf on the account that it "was illegal to do graffitti"…hrmph! But with 15,000 more stickers about I expect I’ll come into contact with another blank soon enough.
Artist Marjorie Kouns challenges the concept of the street/park lamp by topping each 26 of Washington Park’s ones with Lamp Shades.
I love this because it is so clever and simple and fun. In one ‘small’ move changes the whole look and feel of an outdoor park at night, into a cosy indoor tree filled lounge room. Very Alice in Wonderland-esque too.
I also love that you see it and think "this is so simple…I could have thought of that…" but of course I didn’t and kudos to Marjorie for the concept!
May put some more art things out there before the NY but if not, have a happy evolution into 2006!
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January 28th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Dear Natalie:
Thanks for your listing of Well-Lit Chess Pieces as one of your favorite public art projects in NYC. I’m humbled at your commentary. I invite you and your readers to continue to enjoy the lampshade lounge effect both day and night. The show has been extended until April ’06.
Regards,
Marjorie Kouns – Artist and Producer of Well-Lit Chess Pieces
A Public Art project fiscally sponsored through Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
February 10th, 2006 at 12:21 am
This reminds me of yoko ono’s excellent work!her work is very zen and empties the mind of thought and creates a void by ending the rational and linear and replaces it with non linear ways of thinking about things
I always love seeing yoko ono’s work when displayed
they take the piss out of her still but she is so advanced and always has been in her “thought and art” thats why john loved her so very very much;he could see her beautiful soul where others just saw a Japanese lady who wrongly accused of ending the beatles etc
February 10th, 2006 at 12:22 am
I still love yoko’s all white pieces chess set!