Wednesday, January 18, 2012

NBMAA Week: 20,000 Cups

"The Gravity of Color" is a 2008 installation by Lisa Hoke, a conceptual artist.  There are 20,000 colored plastic cups in this mural.  Hoke was selected from 100 artists who submitted proposals for an installation in this stairwell. Funding support was provided by the Edwin Austin Abbey Fund of the National Academy of Design in New York.
Don't overlook the spectacular blue Chihuly chandelier that hangs in the Lewitt Staircase.

The mural will be replaced in the next couple of years.  This stairway is named for Sol Lewitt, who was a major American conceptual and minimalist artist.  Lewitt grew up in New Britain.  He believed the idea of art is important, not necessarily the physical art, so he often required galleries and museums to paint over his work when a show was over.  Replacing this mural after a run of five years or so reflects Lewitt's here-today-gone-tomorrow artistic philosophy.

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32 comments:

  1. MalyssJanuary 18, 2012 at 5:34 AM

    Who could have thought that plastic cups could make something so beautyful?!very interesting!

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  2. brattcatJanuary 18, 2012 at 6:48 AM

    fantastic mural. really enjoying these images from NBMAA.

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  3. VPJanuary 18, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    Funny photo ops...

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  4. Luis GomezJanuary 18, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    These are really wonderful!

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  5. LowellJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:17 AM

    This gives new meaning to the phrase, "He's in his cups!" Certainly is colorful. And that Chihuly guy sure gets around, doesn't he?

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  6. SharonJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    I've never seen anything like that mural and I like it very much. Of course, as you might have guessed, I just love that Chihuly chandelier! Beautiful colors.

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  7. HalcyonJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:56 AM

    Wow! I love this piece. The colors are so vibrant. I'm also a big fan of Chihuly, always nice to see his work. :)

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  8. Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.comJanuary 18, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    A Chihuly chandelier usually does not have to compete for color or form, but this installation seems to dwarf the chandelier.

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  9. jooJanuary 18, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    Colour is more than welcome at the moment:)
    I love the first shot!

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  10. PerthDailyPhotoJanuary 18, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    There's no way you could overlook the chandelier Jack, it's fabulous! Gosh you just have to admire the patience of artists when they're creating..all those cups.Might try that for my next artistic venture,on a much smaller scale, I think I have 20 coloured cups somewhere!!

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  11. KateJanuary 18, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    Spectacular colors! I'd love to be surrounded by these items, and I doubt than anyone would ignore Chihuly's pieces!!

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  12. Sylvia KJanuary 18, 2012 at 12:22 PM

    Wow! That is awesome! And so colorful! Who would have thought plastic cups could be used in such an amazing, stunning creation! Some peoples creativity is truly amazing! And, no, I don't think anyone could ignore Chihuly's projects either. Hope your week is going well, Jack!

    Sylvia

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  13. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2012 at 1:42 PM

    Amazing, and that it is made out of plastic cups... outstanding!

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  14. EG CameraGirlJanuary 18, 2012 at 2:17 PM

    I think it's shame the mural will be replaced...but I guess it's time to replace it. It sure is HUGE!

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  15. LorelleJanuary 18, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    That is amazing mural! I never would have guessed someone could be so creative with colored cups.

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  16. RedPatJanuary 18, 2012 at 3:10 PM

    It looks fabulous. I wonder if they will replace the Chihuly-designed piece too? I think not!

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  17. DianneJanuary 18, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    Stunning artwork Jack and your photos are a credit to you - amazing clarity!

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  18. CildemerJanuary 18, 2012 at 5:06 PM

    Very nice work of art! Love the bright colors! I never would have guessed this mural was made of plastic cups!
    Love the beautiful blue chandelier too!

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  19. TashJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    I love the mosaic! It's so beautiful. What extraordinary vision to creat something like that with an everyday common object.

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  20. TashJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    PS - will it go somewhere else? maybe The Getty can buy it!

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  21. TashJanuary 18, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    PSS - thanks for the Sol Lewitt link. As I see it, his work is still on display. I liked Splotches on the roofline very much.

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  22. Regina KJanuary 18, 2012 at 9:12 PM

    Such a colorful mural, stunning actually. Love the Chihuly chandelier.

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  23. RandyJanuary 18, 2012 at 9:29 PM

    What wonderful art pieces!

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  24. BirdmanJanuary 18, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    Just making art.

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  25. LaurrieJanuary 18, 2012 at 11:04 PM

    We were captivated by these installations at the NB Museum last year. You can't tell until you are up close that the colorful mural is all paper cups! The Chihuly glass sculpture is so distinctive. There are several at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, including some outdoors, and with the sun pouring over the glass it was like light exploding.

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  26. Oakland Daily PhotoJanuary 19, 2012 at 12:20 AM

    I thought it was fiber art until I read your description. Amazing. Wonder how long it will last?

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  27. GunnJanuary 19, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    Nice creative ART!

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  28. KarlJanuary 20, 2012 at 3:21 AM

    Great artwork!

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  29. zaktonJanuary 20, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    I like this piece of art!

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  30. VirginiaJanuary 21, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    I would come to Hartford just to see this mural up close. It's blown me away. GORGEOUS! We have Chihuly flowers in our stairwell at the B'ham Museum of Art. I kept at it till I FINALLY got a decent shot of them.
    Love this week at the museum Jack.
    V

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  31. UnknownJanuary 21, 2012 at 3:20 PM

    The Lewitt wall drawings at Mass MoCA are very cool and on exhibition there for the next twenty years. You've got some time...

    I didn't know that Chahuly was from New Britain.

    Nice shots!

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  32. UnknownJanuary 22, 2012 at 7:30 AM

    Amazing work and great compositions! Not to mention Chihuly, of course.

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