Art in the City
Yesterday I got hired to design a poster for a symposium here in Boston hosted by Harvard in mid-April called—Art in the Life of the City—London Stories, about ephemeral art projects. What a fun assignment! I’ve already started to play around.
Last summer we watched the film, The Sultan’s Elephant which documented one of the most amazing public art projects ever. One day in London an object appeared on a major street. It looked like a space ship had crashed to earth—it was half submerged in the street and the road was all broken up. Londoners were stunned and puzzled when they encountered it. No one seemed to know what was going on—there were no explanations. The next day an enormous mechanical elephant, gloriously and extravagantly decorated, emerged from a side street and began a slow march through London. Soon the whole city was watching, the police cleared traffic, people pored out from office buildings, kids skipped school. Nobody knew what was happening. Where did it come from? There was a smile and wonder on every face. In a day or two a huge human figure, a little girl, stepped out of the elephant and began walking. The way she moved was so life-like, the whole thing was magic.
The event lasted three days and the procession ended back at the spaceship that was now, miraculously, whole again. I will say no more. Rent the film if you can.
But it reminded me that art can really take us to the place of infinite imagination and possibility if we think BIG. Imagine what might be possible if we started to think that way all the time! I’m so happy to be doing this poster. Now to think BIG!! Stay tuned. Will post when done.
Go Obama!
March 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
How fabulous, Cathy! The Sultan’s Elephant looks amazing. I’ll try to rent the film. I did find these on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQbTMEupTpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXr15K2uSc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tLJSOirOsc&feature=related
March 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I remember the event v.well…how could one forget! Yes BIG is, well, BIG. And sometimes size really does matter. Looking forward to the new poster. Yes, perhaps next time I’m over we can meet up,,, preferably somewhere where neither of us have ever been. Doesn’t have to be grand. The States is so huge. A quiet retreat or even the Grand Canyon, while we’re on the subject of BIG.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hey, thanks for the links, Debra. never thought to look on Youtube…just getting used to looking there.
And, yes, mdf—we will!