An old rusty bell, discarded spring coils, splintered wooden dowels; artist Joan Rasmussen has a knack for spotting these intriguing objects and giving them new life and meaning long after their original purpose for existing has long passed.
I met Joan at the SOFA expo awhile back where I was drawn to a display of whimsical doll figures displayed on a chalkboard wall filled with curious sayings. She combines the objects she finds with ceramic arms, legs and heads that she makes herself. I stopped to talk to her and she shared with me tidbits about her life as an artist:
She first started out as a trained painter, then turned to ceramic arts 10 years ago. She spent five years learning the craft, including studying at Penland School of Crafts.
Before she takes a "found object" home, she must first connect with it and be able to envision how it will be used in a new piece of artwork.
She was once fired as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for turning a troop meeting into an art event (though the Scouts themeselves thought she was "the coolest leader ever").
She says: "Collecting, gathering, and repurposing is a favorite pastime. It was therefore natural and predetermined that I would incorporate found objects with my interpretation of the figure."
Although she is a ceramics artist now, she is still most comfortable with a painter's tools. She uses brushes instead of the traditional ceramic tools to sculpture her figures, snapping off the ends of the long brushes to make them easier to use.
To learn more about the work of Joan Rasmussen, visit her site at www.joanrasmussen.com
By now much of the arts community has heard about how East Village artist VH McKenzie was strong-armed by the MTA for selling oil paintings she made on discarded Metrocards. The MTA wants a piece of the action if McKenzie is going to sell the paintings (10 percent to be exact), claiming copyright infringement and lost revenue. Hmmm...
Under their proposed profit-sharing agreement, The MTA would have collected a measly $10 from this local artist who up until yesterday had only sold two of the Metrocard oil paintings in 3 months (now, thanks to the media attention they are sold out).
But what I want to know is, why is the MTA harassing this artist for cleaning up their trash?
If you ask me, the MTA has far bigger issues it could (and should) work on correcting.
Watch the video for Ms. McKenzie's story and then scroll down...
So now, lets ask ourselves...
1. If I purchase a Metrocard...isn't that card now mine to do what I want with? If not, then aren't I simply LEASING the Metrocard and must return it?
3. If the MTA is concerned about lost revenue from cards, then what widely advertised program does the MTA have for salvaging and recycling the tons of discarded Metrocards that litter streets and landfills every year?
4. Ms. McKenzie says she found many of these cards littering the street. In essence, shouldn't Ms. McKenzie be paid for cleaning up the MTA's trash? (If we don't own the Metrocards, to be able do what we like with them, then it is still the property of the MTA and they should handle their mess. )
Artists Highlight MTA's Bigger Issue
As far as I am concerned, a much BIGGER issue the MTA needs to focus on is why these artists are able to get their hands on all of these extra Metrocards in the first place.
Last week artist Stephen Shaheen was in the news for designing a beautiful bench using many of the 5000 discarded Metrocards he was able to find from different sources. Another blog called singlefare displays Metrocard art made by artists.
Ms. McKenzie, Mr. Shaheen and other artists are able to make this kind of art for one simple reason. Metrocards are incredibly wasteful. On any given day, the average New Yorker can pick up (in under 10 minutes) 15-20 cards lying around on sidewalks, steps and subway platforms. Should Ms. McKenzie and others be applauded or harassed for turning this trash into treasure?
These artists are calling attention (albeit unintentionally) to an issue that is far more consequential than a few bucks in copyright revenue. The MTA needs to be more concerned with the environment and find a way to recycle, reuse, repurpose these cards. Artists are doing it. So should the MTA.
In the past, the MTA has been otherwise very "artist friendly." Over several years, the MTA has supported the arts, in particular musicians with their Music Under New York program. Why not do something similar with visual artists? A couple of suggestions:
1. Team up with visual artists and turn Metrocards into Collectibles: VH McKenzie's work reminds me a lot of Artist Trading Cards. The MTA should partner with artists and create a "Metrocard art series". Maybe this way the cards will then have value, interest and appeal beyond their 5- ride shelf live. People may have incentive to hold onto them or collect them rather then tossing them onto the subway tracks.
2. Sponsor an "Subway Art" exhibit:Good publicity for the MTA could be supporting rather than prohibiting artists and celebrating the art they make from the MTA discards.
The MTA has much BIGGER FISH TO FRY and it's called "cleaning up Metrocard litter." Until the MTA can find a way to solve this problem...
leave the artists alone who are cleaning up your trash.
Imagine walking through the park on a Monday afternoon and suddenly hearing the violent blast of an air raid siren signaling that you have 15 seconds to find shelter before missiles strike.
A group called "Artists 4 Israel" wants New Yorkers to know that this terrifying scenario is a daily possibility for many people in Israel.
On Monday March 28, Artists 4 Israel attempted to simulate this terror in the park. The group designed an installation in Washington Square Park called “The Bomb Shelter” built to the exact specifications of bomb shelters in Israel on the border of Gaza. To give visitors the same visceral reaction that Israelis might feel when suddenly alerted to an attack, Artists 4 Israel planned to sound an air raid siren and have participates race to the shelter in 15 seconds. I went down to the park that afternoon to see how Artists 4 Israel translated this concept.
Grafitti Artist at "The Bomb Shelter" in Washington Square Park, NY
ART Punctuate! is organized and curated by Rashida "Chida" Craddock. Rashida is an artist, journalist, writer and all-around creative rejoicer who believes that art when lived in action enriches both the individual and the world. Enjoy a little bit of art everyday.
