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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Robert Morris"s Interactive Glass Labyrinth

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, the Hall Family Foundation has supported the commission of a major work by Kansas City native and internationally renowned artist Robert Morris. His Glass Labyrinth is a brilliant, interactive addition that now occupies a prominent site in the south section of the park.

Best known as a sculptor, Morris has also been active as a painter, draftsman, print-maker, performer, choreographer, conceptual, installation and video artist, and writer. Growing up in Kansas City in the 1930s and 40s, Morris visited the Nelson-Atkins to draw and study art from many cultures.

In spirit, Glass Labyrinth acknowledges similar prehistoric markings on stones and cave walls, ancient Greek myths, and Christian metaphors for pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem. Thus, it transcends time and space to remind us of the power of deeply felt archetypes. In form and material, however, this labyrinth is a departure from the more familiar circular and rectangular labyrinths of old. Triangulated and constructed of glass plate walls capped with bronze, it speaks to this moment in the language of modern architecture and design–streamlined, dynamic, transparent, and elegant.

Now for astute viewers who may notice there’s only one path through the sculpture, it’s important to note that although labyrinths and mazes are often used interchangeably there is a difference. According to diffen.com:

Although both maze and labyrinth depict a complex and confusing series of pathways, the two are different. A maze is a complex, branching (multicursal) puzzle that includes choices of path and direction, while a labyrinth is unicursal, i.e., has only a single, non-branching path, which leads to the center.

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (1)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (4)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (2)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (6)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (7)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (5)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

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the glass labyrinth by robert morris at the donald j hall sculpture park (3)

Artwork by ROBERT MORRIS
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park

Robert Morris"s Interactive Glass Labyrinth

glass, installation, interactive, public space, sculpture

Thursday, April 16, 2015

The Photographic Diversity of Chicago"s Famous "Bean"

Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor. Nicknamed the Bean, it is the centerpiece of the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Inspired by liquid mercury, the Bean is made of 168 stainless steel plates welded together. Its highly polished exterior has no visible seams and measure 33 x 66 x 42 feet (10 x 20 x 13 m), and weighs 100 tons. On the underside of the sculpture is the omphalos, a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections. The apex of the omphalos measures 27 feet (8.2 m) above the ground. [Source]

Formally dedicated on May 15, 2006, Cloud Gate is widely considered one of the greatest pieces of public art in the world. At all times the sculpture attracts locals and tourists alike. The highly photogenic art object reflects different characteristics of Chicago’s skyline depending on the viewer’s angle, the time of day and the weather.

It’s larger than life, interactive and a joy to experience. It’s also a photographer’s dream, offering countless ways to compose and frame it. Below you will find a series of amazing photographs that demonstrate just how diverse the images of Cloud Gate can be.