blog GAMIL: an insider look at design » public art

Street-Signs into Spring Flowers

britt — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:14:58 +0000

This morning I was running through the blogs I read on a regular bases, and came across this public art piece done by Mark Jenkins on Three Potato Four’s Blog. The “Signs of Spring” public art was done in both Washington, DC and Malmö, Sweden back in March/April of 2008. I wish our street signage was as pretty as Sweden’s!

In case you are new to our blog, we have written several posts on Public-Art installations both around our community as well as in other parts of the world. AND we have posted about Mark Jenkin’s work Here.

photos from Mark Jenkin’s website.

Ummmmbrella Tree

joey — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:10:14 +0000

Thanks to artist Sam Spenser of Goldsmiths art college, London we are prepared to take on the drearies of a rainy day.

Originally seen at http://www.woostercollective.com

Breaker Box Camo

beth — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:18:59 +0000

The ‘early 00’s version of disguising a breaker box was to stick a giant plastic rock shape over it. These late 00’s look new and fresh, at least in Playa Vista, California, thanks to the creativity of Joshua Callaghan. If you stand on the right place it actually IS like it’s not there, instead of some giant plastic tumor rising up outta the ground…

via urbanprankster.com

A Night of Art in Toronto

aly — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:07:09 +0000

Preparing for its third year, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche will foster insomnia in Toronto with an all night celebration of modern art. Scheduled for October 4, they might engage more than 1 million people this year. Their system is to choose curators for different locations of the city, who then work with artists to create the event. It’s a curious collaboration between public art and private investment, and I wonder if something like this could happen in Raleigh.

Props to Sheila for showing us this cool event!

Another Stumble Upon: Street Installations by Mark Jenkins

britt — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:44:52 +0000

On monday beth posted a site she “Stumbled Upon.” Well I have stumbled upon something I would like to share. First off let me say that I really enjoy public art installations. I love the everyday but different… curiosity they can bring. The above photo is part of a series of Street Installations by Mark Jenkins. This installation was done in Washington DC, July 2006.

Charlotte’s Light Rail

britt — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:08:59 +0000

Congratulations Charlotte on being the first city to build a light rail in North Carolina. Last Saturday the LYNX Blue Line South Corridor opened for operation, and in celebration of Charlotte’s new feline, CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) ran the trains for free through the weekend. I had the chance to be one of the riders on Saturday morning, and took the trip from the 485/South Blvd Station in South Charlotte up to the 7th Street Station in Uptown. Along with the construction completion of this first line (there are 3 more lines proposed) CATS commissioned 13 artists to install art projects at the different stations.

Thomas Sayre, a sculptor living in Raleigh, was one of the artists selected and his six “sculpture casts” are located at the Scaleybark Station. According to CATS’ website the sculptures “…were inspired by harrow disks, the agricultural tool used for centuries behind a plow to cultivate farmland and still used today. Titled “Furrow,” the name refers to the cultivation trench or “Vee” left in farmland by a plow or harrow and pays tribute to Scaleybark’s agricultural past.” As with many public art projects, “Furrow” was greeted by controversy. Personally I thought the trip was more interesting, because of the variety of art that could be seen through the train windows. After all South Blvd (the road the train runs beside most of the way Uptown) is nothing special to look at.

Lastly in case you are one of those who may be apprehensive to ride the LYNX, CATS has provided the “new rider” with a series of videos to make the process more familiar…