Sunday, October 30, 2011

International following of this blog...


International following of this blog..

This blog in French


I found my blog translated in French!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

LSE 2011 [Icarus, by S. Thomas Scarff]


Icarus
By S. Thomas Scarff
24’ x 6’ x 6’ / Aluminum, LED and Neon
Location: Fullerton, Lincoln and Halsted
Sponsor: Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association..




From the Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE} website..
Scarff is a full-time sculptor based in Chicago. His use of illumination in large public sculptures was seen in last year’s exhibition with his piece, “Goddess of the Wind and Sand”. The same techniques can be seen in Scarff’s most current featured work, “Icarus”.

The title of Scarff’s piece will immediately recall the old tale of young Icarus who, with his craftsman father Daedalus, attempted to escape their imprisonment by crafting wings. Ignoring his father’s warnings and acting on every young boy’s impulse, Icarus flew too close to the sun, melting the makeshift wings causing him to plummet to Earth. In “Icarus”, the bronze boy is seen in descent, while the sculpture’s curved silver beams create the appearance of rapid downward motion. Scarff is truly a master of sculptures and light use, and “Icarus” is as ambitious a use of his skills as were Daedalus’ wings.


RELATED LINKS:
# LSE: 2011 [Various Artists] ..
# LSE..

LSE: 2011 [Various Artists]

Boundless..
by Boyan Marinov
6’ x 5’ x 5’ / Metal
Location: Burton and Wells [Old Town]
Sponsor: Old Town Merchants and Residents Association
For more, click here..

Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit..
The Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit is a privately funded, not-for-profit corporation. Sponsors from the community contribute financially, serve on the jury and attend related events. Their commitment to providing our neighborhood with this unique form of beautification makes this event possible every year and we could not do this without their support.

The "Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit" started in 2002 ...
Each year, there are 20 large-scale sculptures on display throughout the 43rd and 44th Wards, extending from Burton on the south to Irving Park on the north and from the lakefront to Southport. The display is from spring of one year to spring of the next year ... The theme changes each year ... Every piece is available for sale at the conclusion of the show.

Prairie Town Dweller..
By Nicole Beck
10’7” x 3’8” / Glass Mosaic & Stainless Steel
Location: 3505 N. Southport - Sheil Park
Sponsor: Lakeview Chamber of Commerce..
For more, click here..

Icarus
By S. Thomas Scarff
24’ x 6’ x 6’ / Aluminum, LED and Neon
Location: Fullerton, Lincoln and Halsted
Sponsor: Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association..
For more, click here..

Balancing Act
By John Adduci
15’ x 4.5’ x 4’ / Aluminum
Location: Stockton Dr. and Webster
Grandmother's Garden, Lincoln Park..
Sponsor: Newsweb Corporation
For more, click here..

Burst
By Dusty Folwarczny
10’ x 22” x 22” / Recycled Steel
Location: Sheridan/Sheffield and Dakin
Sponsor: East Lake View Neighbors..
For more, click here..

Once Around the Block
By Andrew Arvantes..
9’ x 4’ x 6’ / Stainless Steel..
Location: Dickens and Lincoln Park West - LP Cultural Center
Sponsor: Mid-North Association..
For more, click here..

Getting Older While Standing in Line..
By Wilfredo Velez Jr.
8’6” x 10’ x 4’ / Fiberglass Resin
Location: Eugenie and Cleveland [St. Michael’s Church]
Sponsor: Old Town Triangle Association..
For more, click here..

RELATED LINKS..
# Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit..
LSE: 2011..
# LSE: 2011 [Prairie Town Dweller - by Nicole Beck]..
# LSE: 2011 [Icarus - by S. Thomas Scarff]..
# LSE: 2011 [Burst - by Dusty Folwarczny]..
# LSE: 2011 [Once Around The Block - by Andrew Arvantes]...
# LSE: 2011 [Getting Older.. - by Wilfredo Velez Jr.]..
# LSE: 2011 [Boundless - by Boyan Marinov]..
# LSE: 2011 [Balancing Act - by John Adduci]..

Thursday, October 27, 2011

LSE: 2011 [ Once Around The Block - by Andrew Arvantes..]



Once Around the Block
By Andrew Arvantes..
9’ x 4’ x 6’ / Stainless Steel..
Location: Dickens and Lincoln Park West - LP Cultural Center
Sponsor: Mid-North Association..
Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE]: 2011..


From the Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE] website..
In his 25 years as a sculptor, Andrew Arvanetes has displayed work all over the country; Texas, Iowa, Arizona, and Wisconsin. How-ever, if his sculptures were to be collected into one space, what you would find would be more reminiscent of a cast of characters than a sculpture garden. Though there is nothing human about Arvanetes’ steel sculptures - he always manages imbue an expression of humanity into his work by including a jaunty angle or curious tilt.

The newest character in Arvanetes’ cast, “Once Around The Block”, fits easily into a body which he describes as “object oriented, narrative work.” And, in true deference to imagination, Arvanetes leaves it up to the viewer to dream their own story.


RELATED LINKS:
# LSE: 2011 [Various Artists] ..
# LSE..

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Willis Tower Temporary Exhibit [Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret] Part I

People..

Sculptures in Bronze..
By Jean Jacques Porret
Location: Willis Tower..
There are about 32 sculptures, big and small. I photographed about 24 of them, and am posting them in two parts...
For more.. click on Part II ..

Prologue..

Flirt


Chaperonne..

Legacy..

Flamboyente..

Boheme..

Ottello..

Jean Jacques Porret is the conductor of a ballet in bronze. Like the classical dance technique, Porret's surreal sculptures transcend the mere human form they represent, and instead draw the viewer in with their delicate expressionsim, rhythmic movement, and abstract sensuality.

To categorize Jean-Jacque's work as figural or abstract is moot. Though figurative in practice, the work is never about figure, but the emotion and ideas shared by human race, expressed in fuild curves and precarious balance. Though abstract in nature, the recognizable form and innate human residing within each piece is impossible to ignore. Thus we are given a case-study in restraint, with the artist utilizing the best aspects of each genre without clouding his final result, creating a self-styled harmony Porret symply describes as "rhythm in space".

The ability to do this is any material is impressive, in bronze sublime. Only in using the intense process of the lost-wax technique is Jean-Jacques able to carry out his poetic experiments, the outcome is a testimonial to one of nature's most hard and brittle elements, elevated to flowing, enigmatic forms at the hands of man..

Related Links..
Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret [Part I]..
Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret [Part II]..

Willis Tower Temporary Exhibit [Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret] Part II

Chaperonne..

Continued from above post, click here..
Sculptures in Bronze..
By Jean Jacques Porret
Location: Willis Tower..

Wisdom..

Flamboyente..

Geisha..

Set of Four [Chaperonne, Wisdom, Flamboyante and Geisha]

Fugue..

Burlesque..

Renegade..

Awakening..

Set of Three [Burlesque, Renegade and Awakening]

Apogee..

Panache..

Accolade..

Geisha..

Ottello..

Jean Jacques Porret is the conductor of a ballet in bronze. Like the classical dance technique, Porret's surreal sculptures transcend the mere human form they represent, and instead draw the viewer in with their delicate expressionsim, rhythmic movement, and abstract sensuality.

To categorize Jean-Jacque's work as figural or abstract is moot. Though figurative in practice, the work is never about figure, but the emotion and ideas shared by human race, expressed in fuild curves and precarious balance. Though abstract in nature, the recognizable form and innate human residing within each piece is impossible to ignore. Thus we are given a case-study in restraint, with the artist utilizing the best aspects of each genre without clouding his final result, creating a self-styled harmony Porret symply describes as "rhythm in space".

The ability to do this is any material is impressive, in bronze sublime. Only in using the intense process of the lost-wax technique is Jean-Jacques able to carry out his poetic experiments, the outcome is a testimonial to one of nature's most hard and brittle elements, elevated to flowing, enigmatic forms at the hands of man..

Related Links..
Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret [Part I]..
Sculptures in Bronze - by Jean Jacques Porret [Part II]..

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

LSE: 2011 [Getting Older while Standing in Line - by Wilfredo Velez Jr.]


Getting Older While Standing in Line..
By Wilfredo Velez Jr.
8’6” x 10’ x 4’ / Fiberglass Resin
Location: Eugenie and Cleveland [St. Michael’s Church]
Sponsor: Old Town Triangle Association
Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE]: 2011..



From the LSE website..
Wilfredo Velez received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Velez is a young artist who is still developing his expressive voice. He knows himself, his origins, and influences well enough to know that his experiences as a Latino and a Chicagoan will be central to his art no matter what his final aesthetic looks like.

“Getting Older While Standing in Line” represents a scene Velez would have encountered numerous times growing up in Chicago. The five figures presented in diminishing, stooping stature are Velez’s representation of the interminable feeling experienced while losing time waiting in line at the post office, library, bank or grocery store. By tapering the scene with a clear border around its base we know that Velez envisions this as only a small snapshot of the line which, if we could expand the confines of the sculpture, would go on ceaselessly in both directions.


RELATED LINKS:
# LSE: 2011 [Various Artists] ..
# LSE..

Monday, October 17, 2011

LSE: 2011 [Boundless - by Boyan Marinov]



Boundless..
by Boyan Marinov
6’ x 5’ x 5’ / Metal
Location: Burton and Wells [Old Town]
Sponsor: Old Town Merchants and Residents Association
Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE] 2011..




From the LSE website..
Boyan Marinov, who owns and runs his own custom furniture shop, is new to formal sculpture. This freshman work, “Boundless”, reveals Marinov as an artist to watch as both technically skilled and thematically daring.

The figure in Boyan’s “Boundless” is not constrained by chains, but composed of them. As the sum of his potential shackles, the figure does not stoop or stall but leans forward and advances. Because the iron skin of the sculpture was left untreated and vulnerable to the elements, “Boundless” will rust. In naturally becoming weaker with age, the work is a reminder that the struggle to become boundless is not Sisyphean, but temporal and thus worthwhile...


RELATED LINKS:
# LSE: 2011 [Various Artists] ..
# LSE..

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

LSE: 2011 [Balancing Act - by John Adduci]


Balancing Act
By John Adduci
15’ x 4.5’ x 4’ / Aluminum
Location: Stockton Dr. and Webster
Grandmother's Garden, Lincoln Park..
Sponsor: Newsweb Corporation
Lakefront Sculpture Exhibit [LSE} 2011...



From the LSE website..
John Adduci’s sculptures have been featured in shows and museums across North America, from Denver to Manitoba, Canada. The artist’s broad appeal is his talent for finding a simple, meaningful image and bestowing upon it a sense of spectacular wonder. He often recreates a single symbol or idea in gleaming aluminum, steel or bronze, buffered to reflect sunlight in wispy, electric streaks.

“Balancing Act”, Adduci’s shimmering submission to this year’s LSE, appears to pay homage to the hard hustling street performers from cities around the world whose livings are as precarious as a spinning plate. A living that is not too dissimilar from that of a sculptor whose job it is, in Adduci’s words, to “excite our intuition to explore, to see all sides,” and create an “on-the-street experience with art.”


RELATED LINKS:
# LSE: 2011 [Various Artists] ..
# LSE..