I volunteered at the Birmingham Museum of Art yesterday. We have a wonderful new exhibit of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci which began today. Wish you all could see it. It reminded me that I had this photo in my archives. This sculpture is an interesting one for sure. It is made entirely of styrofoam cups!! "Untitled" may be the name the artist chose, but visitors I overheard described it as " a brain, coral, and a wasp's nest". The artist is Tara Donovan and employees and volunteers at the museum actually hotglued the tens of thousands of cups together for this piece. I like the way the trees outside reflected this nice soft green tint. Maybe styrofoam can "go green". (Yeah - right.)
The Tune du Jour is "Paper Cup" by the wonderful Fifth Dimension.
Can you believe I found a song for this post???
30 comments:
Well, I don't think styrofoam would ever go green, V (in my humble oppinion), but I like the look and the idea behind this work of art.
Volunteering is one idea I admire about America.
If it were a wasp nest I'd be looking for an exit.
V. I like the photograph a lot more than I like the art. Call me old school, but I like my art made from popsicle sticks.
Hello Virginia !
I think "This is the end" by "The Doors" !
Why ? I don't know...
See You later.
Ordinarily I love abstract installations but my first thought here was: intestinal polyps!
(Backing off in shame for being so unsophisticated...)
Wish I could see the DaVincis. I'll bet it's marvelous to see those ink strokes in person!
surprenante cette statue, on dirait qu'elle est sorti d'un autre univers.
Cela doit être bien de travailler dans un musée.
Comme morceau, je propose "Sounds of sculpture" de Coleman
Surprisingly this statue, it looks like it came out of another universe.
This should be good to work in a museum.
As song, I propose "Sounds of sculpture" Coleman
When I first saw it, I immediately thought of wasp's nest. It is beautiful though and you have a done a great job here in picking up the right angle and the perfect colours.
Well, I suppose that's one good use of those environmentally awful, petroleum-based styrofoam cups. What will happen to the piece at the end of the exhibit?
For some reason, I could't hear the music. I knew Aquarius... but not Paper Cups. Found it on YouTube - of course!
Maybe this will be last souvenir, kept for the future, of the styrofoam cups?
I like artworks made of unusual objects. I think you need a great dose of creativity to conceive them.
Gee, I thought there for a minute they'd really found a way to make styrofoam environment-friendly. Dream on. But I like this idea of at least making intriguing sculptures like this.
The first thing I thought was Coral!!
Okay, whoa! Glad they are recycling styrofoam into something they call art, but I'd much rather view something by DaVinci!
Whoa! that's a lot of cups!! Interesting sculpture made from styrofoam. I'm a little surprises styrofoam is still around in this era of going green.
My first thought was "wasp's nest" also. The green color also caught my eye.
The transformation from cups to sculpture is wonderful, but after a couple of years this thing awfully dusty to hang over the dining area.
Oh yes, you're right about the dust. Also, some of you mentioned what happens when it's removed. Fill that landfill up with all that styrofoam is my guess.UGH
What a thought-provoking post, it's so stimulating! To me this is definitely like a coral reef, I love the effect. Your photo really does a great job in presenting the work.
The other post I had missed was your joint birthday/anniversary one. How sweet was that! The girls are to die for, your photos are real eye candy!
Congratulations on your 100th post, I completely agree with you about the hard work it takes and the rewards it reaps!
And one more thing: I was delighted to discover Michael's pianistic talent through your blog. I listened to some of his music, it's wonderful!
My first thought was a wasps nest too. I prefer the paper cup kind as opposed to the real thing!
Interesting for sure! Who woulda thunk you could find a song "paper cup"?!
First, I thought it was some coral! Then I read and remember to have seen a lamp made like this in a magazine!
Volunteered at an art museum, I would like to do the same...
What a great piece of Art everyone has their own interpertation and it makes one think... Its job is done!
Oh wow! That's really funky! I can't stop staring at it. The Turner prize is causing it's ususal conttoversy here, the candiates. I'm sorry I can't concentrate. I have this compulsion to squeeze them like sponges. Gary quickly I need a sponge! Little things please little minds.
Little things please little minds. Oh my, that hits home!
About the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit. I tried to find something I could photograph for you all. I plan to go back and go through it again on one of my Thursday volunteer days. The drawings are exquisite but very small and detailed. The light is kept low in the gallery. Hand held magnifiers are given so that you can get up close and inspect them. I would very much like to see it when there are not as many people there. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful exhibit. There is also a photography exhibit that I will definitely tour this week when I'm there. MOre on that later.
this looks like something I would eat!
I was stumped trying to figure it out. I was thinking some sort of sea monster in a net...
Scary. Looks like some sort of deadly mega-macrophage. Quick, slap a biohazard label on it.
Ha, it needs a label, especially when they take the darn thing down. Mega-macrophage???? Allow me to check the handy dictionary for that one, Prof. Crowe. ( cells within the tissues that originate from specific white blood cells called monocytes.....) Well that could certainly be an option. Merci.
They have been advertising that da Vinci exhibition on the radio over here. Is it worth the trip? My husband and I visited his home in France when we made a tour of the Loire Valley a few years back. It was quite interesting. This expo could be just the trick to get him to Birmingham!
Halcyon,
This is a small exhibit. While the drawings are exquisite, there are not many of them. I am guessing maybe 15 or so. It is free! THere is also a photography exhibit that you might enjoy. I haven't seen it so I don't know if it's worth the trip or not. I work again THursday. Will leave you a comment on your blog with more details. You might try the museum website for more info as well. Would love to see you if you come!!
Absolutely fascinating. Nice shot too.
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