Transcript Public Art in Cleveland

Christo and Jeanne-Claude
The Umbrellas, Japan - USA,
1984-91
Andy Goldsworthy
Art found OUTSIDE
not in a museum or
gallery
~Placed in public sites, this art is
there for everyone, a form of
collective community expression.
Old style racks

In the spring of 2001, fifth year industrial design students from
the Cleveland Institute of Art created bicycle rack designs
for a juried competition. Among the Jurors were worldrenowned artist/designer Viktor Shreckengost, a former
student and professor at the institute. CPA gifted the four
racks to the City of Cleveland, and the 4 racks were placed
in front of City Hall and finished in a bronze color to match
the existing architectural elements of the outside of the
building. In the summer of 2003, two additional bike racks
were fabricated and placed in front of the newly
expanded Cleveland Botanical Garden. It is CPA’s hope
that individual building owners, municipalities and
corporate entities will purchase the racks for installation in
business districts and neighborhoods
Another of
the artists’
work
Artist: Claus Oldenberg and Coosje van Bruggen’s
One of Cleveland’s most controversial pieces of Public Art is Claus
Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s Free Stamp Sculpture.
Originally commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio), it was to be
placed at the company’s headquarters in Downtown Cleveland’s
Public Square. Shortly after the piece was finished, British Petroleum
of America, Inc. (BP America) merged with Sohio. The sculpture was
not regarded highly by the new executives. BP refused the 75,000pound, 28-foot high and 48 foot long replica of a rubber stamp. After
sitting homeless in a storage facility, the sculpture was eventually
gifted to the City of Cleveland by BP America. Willard Park, at the
corner of East 9th Street and Lake Avenue next to City Hall, was
selected as the permanent site after much debate and lobbying.
The sculpture, fabricated from ½ inch steel plate and painted gray,
red, and hot pink, looks as if a giant tossed it into it’s place, with the
word “FREE” aiming directly at the executive offices of what was
once the headquarters for BP.

In May 2004, acclaimed artist Albert Paley’s latest
work was unveiled at the Cleveland Botanical
Gardens.. Through a gift from the Donna M. and
Stewart A. Kohl Fund at The Cleveland
Foundation, the Kohl Gate was completed after a
national call for artists and juried competition.
Paley’s sixty-foot-long, fifteen feet high work
depicts enormous, stylized leaf shapes cut of
heavy Cor-ten steel. The powerful steel plantings
mirror the Botanical Garden's own collections of
plants native to Costa Rica, Madagascar, and
Ohio, reflecting the dynamic energy of the
Garden and its historic environs.
In the Works: Lakewood, OH
A forest of Little EC trees sprouting
up all around the city, to create a
virtual forest with all the smells and
aromas of the real deal!
Scientific studies have
shown that people keep
areas cleaner that seem
to be fresh and clean.
Based on that study,
Lakewood is Art, is
hoping to install a series
of the “Magic Trees”
around the city and see
If the delightful
fragrance indeed
encourages people to
pick up litter.
From
www.lakewoodisart.com
On of Historic Birdtown's most
famous residents was Robert
Crumb, artist, musician, and
legend. Robert worked for
American Greetings.
Not far from this lot on Plover,
R. Crumb used to walk
everyday down to Berea and
Highland Ave.
Years later he would move to
San Francisco, and become one
of the leaders of the
Underground Comic Movement
with Zap Comics, Fritz The
Cat, Mr. Natural and others.
Robert now lives in France and
records with his swing band,
"The Cheap Suit Serenaders."
This tribute would tower over
25 feet into the air. Made of
aluminum or bronze.
In The Works-->Crumb in Birdtown
Kelborn Castle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__CMjmVUrU
 Revere Graffiti by Paul “Moose” Curtis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lX2sP0JFw
Student works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQu5
Enl1ywk

or
vs.
..
Why do some artists choose
to create public art vs.
art found in a gallery or
museum?
Public art can be created for the
community, whether it is to beautify the
city or as a fundraiser for local charities.
 Art found in galleries or museums you
may have to pay to see, as well as make
time to go in and look around…public
art is free for all to see and view!


The first notion of a “graffiti” type of writing was
recorded in cave drawings, the rock paintings of
Bhimabetaka, and Egyptian Hieroglyphics.
(Caves of Lascaux)

Why were people of this time, B.C, drawing on the cave
walls?
Q. What was the original purpose of creating “graffiti” in B.C. times?
A. It was their way of
communicating,
whether it was to tell
a story or to record
an event.
The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc
in France

As a Memorial- to commemorate
someone’s death or life

In Protest
•Adrenaline
•To be in the public’s eye
•To communicate
•Marking territory

The word derives from the Latin word
graffito meaning a scribbling or etching
on a flat surface. In ancient Rome,
critical commentaries were written on
public walls so others may become
aware of their protests. Flash forward
2000 years ... where the concept of
graffiti has now taken on several
different interpretations.
Not your real name
 Written in a callagraphic style

The
most elementary form of
graffiti, as it is only the writer’s
signature, word, or short phrase
done in spray paint or marker.
A
more advanced form of the tag.
The writer has painted letters, a
phrase, or a name quickly with
only an outline, or an outline and
a few layers of paint.
A
piece, short for masterpiece,
is a graffiti painting. A work
of graffiti must have at least
three colors to be considered a
piece.
Store fronts/awnings
Garbage Dumpsters
Subways/ automobiles
Street signs
 Basketball backboard
 Airplane




~Think of something creative on your own; NO WALLS,
stop signs, animals or humans will be accepted in your
final artwork!!!
Legal…when
the building
owner has commissioned
the artist to do the artwork.
Name a few examples.
Illegal…when you have NO
permission from the owner
(FACT: graffiti cost taxpayers 4 billion
dollars in 1995 due to the removal .)
CHECK THE
REQUIRMENT
SHEET POSTED ON
THE WhiteBOARD!


www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1341_black_bri
tish_style/create_a_tag.php
www.graffiticreator.net
› This site provides letter styles, while allowing you to choose
your own colors and characteristics.

www.graffiti.playdo.com
› For this site you will need to choose the option of a
“private room” to be able to create on your own.
~Also check out this site for several
local public art pieces right here in
Cleveland!~
http://www.clevelandpublicart.org/