A good bit of metal sculpture, mostly bronzes

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

By Aaron Wallis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Our fair town of Jackson has a good bit of metal sculpture, mostly bronzes.

One such piece is a large bronze of a cowboy and child atop a horse by artist Vic Payne, located in front of Mountain Trails Gallery on the Town Square. I wonder why a quarter-million-dollar work of metal is sitting on a pallet covered with Astroturf. Is this method of exhibition in line with curatorial standards at major galleries and museums? Astroturf is responsible for a large number of career ending knee injuries in the NFL, and using it as a base for a sculpture is kind of like hanging rubber testicles from the bumper of a 600 series Mercedes.

Just when all hope for a tolerable piece of public sculpture was fading, I received a press release for Artspot 2.0. Artspot is a project of The Center of Wonder and installation artist Bland Hoke. Artspot is a large cut and welded metal sign that stands in a lot between The Virginian and Jackson Hole Whitewater. In a former life, Artspot was a part of the old lift system at the Mountain Resort. Bland has transformed this piece of old ski equipment into a kind of metal art road sign.

The master plan involves artists creating custom works of art to place in the frame. An estimated 30,000 drivers pass this spot daily during tourist season.
Bland initially described Artspot as a carnival ride, which instantly gave me a vision of being disemboweled by a snapping cable and being left to die in front of the hospital because I owe them money. Come on Obama, I thought I was supposed to have healthcare by now. For the record, I did not pay my bill at the hospital because the doctor refused to prescribe me medically necessary painkillers.

Anyway Artspot 2.0 stands about 50-feet tall but folds in the middle and lowers via wench to allow installation of artwork.

Just to be safe, Hoke provided me with a hard hat while riding the sign into the air. I felt much better about the possibility of falling to my death while wearing an OSHA approved safety device. During the ride on the Artspot I was impressed by the strength of Hoke’s wields and the mechanically smooth operation of the sign. The sign is eco-friendly and solar powered, though a carbon-spewing automobile is required to operate the wench.

Artist John Frechette will be the first to construct custom work for the sign. The Center of Wonder is offering a $1,000 stipend for artists to complete installations for the Artspot. To quote the press release “Artwork that is cynical, political or negative will not be considered.” So if you are the type of artist who can create something that will not offend 30,000 tourists, then apply for Artspot 2.0.
Proposals should be submitted to cgeraci@gmail.com before June 18. Artspot 2.0 opens on June 21. JHW

Courtesy BLAND HOKE, JR.
Aaron Wallis plays it safe.


PERMALINK:
A good bit of metal sculpture, mostly bronzes | Planet JH News Article: Arts Beat

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