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.

32 comments:

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

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  2. fantastic mural. really enjoying these images from NBMAA.

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  3. 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. Colour is more than welcome at the moment:)
    I love the first shot!

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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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  11. Amazing, and that it is made out of plastic cups... outstanding!

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

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

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

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  16. 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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  17. 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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  18. PS - will it go somewhere else? maybe The Getty can buy it!

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

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

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  23. 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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  24. 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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  25. Amazing work and great compositions! Not to mention Chihuly, of course.

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