Unusual Places to find Art

Some of us may take these mundane, everyday objects for granted: window screens, cornfields, power boxes and water and storage tanks. Huh? Yep, artists can use anything as a canvas. In fact, there’s a major juried competition coming up (see below).

There is an exhibition this weekend called “Rowhouse Rembrandts,” where the artists have painted window screens in the Baltimore area. Its kinda kitschy but fun. I’m curious to know what paints they use on metal and to outlast the elements, especially when they window wash those screens during spring cleaning? It’s sponsored by The American Visionary Arts Museum. This is a quirky site and kinda cool. On an aside: While clicking on this link, I immediately recognized the “God is Love” guy — artist in the movie, Into the Wild, which I loved. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie’s depth and liked that this artist played himself — with no canned dialogue. The script was “real” and the subject very moving. Since I have a teenager who’s trying to find himself (as they all do), I thought this movie and the music were great and would be a perfect choice for him to watch so I’ve already sent it to him. Even the tear jerking ending is worth it with a very positive message that unfolds. (And I’m not even an advertising agent for them. 🙂 )

Back to unusual places for art…This one in cornfields you might expect but it’s no mystery and not by aliens. Stan Herd conceives of “Earth Murals” on America’s plentiful pastureland, as Clara Kilbourn describes in this Hutchinson News article, a Kansas newspaper. Some of his work is conceptual but also figurative. I like the large-scale “nature” (no pun intended) but I wonder if you’d get it as an observer from the ground? One would have to have big bucks to fly in a helicopter to see them. Fortunately, patrons Sir Richard Branson and Khalid Latif must. I would think the conception of such artwork would be much easier than the actual creation, so I give him credit knowing it would be hard to step back and view the work as it progresses.

Do you have an functional but ugly power box or water tank you want covered? Marc Spijkerbosch is a Rotorua artist — from New Zealand. He’s an accomplished muralist using power boxes and water tanks as his canvas. I love the fact that his work not only covers what could be an otherwise only a mechanical structure but it enhances it and is a showcase for displaying wonderful artwork.

This leads me to a challenging but worthwhile competition out there for anyone who dares. The Maine Center for Creativity is sponsoring an open call for artists to paint 16 of Portland Maine’s storage tanks along the harbor. It’s an Art All Around™ international, juried design competition with a shared $70,000 cash prize between five winners. From Jean Maginnis, the Center’s Executive Director, “All interested individuals, artists (professional emerging and students), designers, architects, illustrators, engineers and teams from any location are eligible to apply.” The deadline is June 25th, 2008. Please check the website link for further information. This project really does exemplify that Art is truly Everywhere. OK, come on get those creative juices flowing…