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Trevor Paglen, Cao Fei, and Jenny Holzer

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Trevor Paglen, Cao Fei, and Jenny Holzer

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About the artist
Trevor Paglen is inspired by the many uses of technology in particular military technology. He uses art to test the possibilities of what technology can and can't do.  He has flown drones over NSA headquarters launched his "Orbital Reflector" into space and used AI to shed new light on technology biases and perceptions with his training set photo collages. I chose this artist because what he does with art is innovative and because he is exploring the positive and negative consequences of the world we are building. I want my students to see that art can be found anywhere and can also serve as an exploration of the potential of new technologies as well as their consequences. I hope they will be inspired to consider the possibilities of our ever increasingly technological society.

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The government shutdown has caused museums in Washington to close and has put exhibitions like the National Gallery of Art's Tintoretto show, originally scheduled to open on March 10, at risk. It has also endangered an artist's project nowhere near the Beltway: "Orbital Reflector," a sculpture by Trevor Paglen that was recently launched into orbit.

The sculpture is not lost in space as much as stuck in a holding pattern before activation, pending clearance by the Federal Communications Commission. According to the artist, it might not survive the wait while F.C.C. workers are on furlough.

A 100-foot-long mylar balloon coated with titanium oxide, "Orbital Reflector" was designed to be visible to the naked eye at twilight or dawn while in orbit for a couple of months. It would then incinerate upon entering the Earth's thicker atmosphere.

But although it was sent to space, the balloon was never inflated as planned. The small satellite carrying the sculpture and its inflation mechanism went into orbit on Dec. 3 as part of a larger load launched by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Mr. Paglen said that afterward, his team did extensive "orbital analysis" to ensure a collision-free trajectory and secure F.C.C. clearance to inflate. But communication from the F.C.C. soon ceased because of the shutdown.

"What we're concerned about," Mr. Paglen said, "is that every time the satellite goes into sunlight, the entire thing heats up, and then in Earth's shadow it gets really cold and contracts. If you let this process go on too long, it can damage the electronics."

"It's not designed to live indefinitely," he said, adding, "We would really like to deploy this."

While at one level "Orbital Reflector" recalls the simple gesture of a child releasing a balloon into the sky, Mr. Paglen's project has been challenging from the start, with engineering and production costs over three years running about $1.5 million and SpaceX delaying the rocket launch several times last year. (Coincidentally, the same SpaceX rocket also carried into orbit a sculpture-satellite by Tavares Strachan called "Enoch," which he reports is functioning as planned.) And there's an ambitious art-world context for Mr. Paglen's project, with the Nevada Museum of Art acting as a co-producer and showing models of it in its galleries.

The idea behind "Orbital Reflector," said Mr. Paglen, is to explore who controls outer space by creating a satellite with "no militaristic or commercial ties" and with its only purpose being visibility. "It's about who gets to do what in space," he said, which makes the fact that a political standoff has endangered the project more pointed.

"It's ironic and sad," he said, "but not nearly as sad as the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of people not being paid."

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Shutdown Leaves Uninflated Space Sculpture Circling in Orbit (Published 2019)

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The government shutdown has caused museums in Washington to close and has put exhibitions like the National Gallery of Art's Tintoretto show, originally scheduled to open on March 10, at risk. It has also endangered an artist's project nowhere near the Beltway: "Orbital Reflector," a sculpture by Trevor Paglen that was recently launched into orbit.

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https://elanatsui.art

About the Artist
El Anatsui was born in Ghana but later moved to Nigeria. His art is heavily influenced by his African cultural background. He works primarily with ceramics reclaimed (used) wood and recycled caps from liquor bottles. Anatsui points to the ironic relationship between these bottle caps and the American manufacturing of alcohol for trade with Africa for slaves which were used to harvest materials like sugarcane to make more alcohol to trade with Europe. He has worked with these bottle caps for years now. After a while he recognized another irony that the black, red and yellow coloring of most of the bottle caps are the colors of the traditional kente cloth . Initially he thought of these bottle caps as merely a form of sculpture but overtime he has discovered the possibilities of his enormous sheets of bottle caps tied together to be indicative of paintings or textiles. Anatsui employs a number of young locals to help him complete his large scale projects and not only pays them well but allows them some creative freedom in designing and putting together his massive bottle cap installations. Anatsui embassies flexibility and possibility in his work. I chose him as one of my top artists because his work is about community and possibility. His work is bringing a community together in Nigeria and that community is also collectively working to create these massive metal artworks which are showcased all over the world. I hope that his love of possibility, flexibility and collaboration will inspire my students to see endless opportunity for art making in the world around them.

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https://www.theastergates.com

About the Artist
Theaster Gates is a unique brand of artist who takes his urban planning experience and pares it with a love of art and community. He is most well known for his reclamation then conversion of buildings into useful community spaces or works of art. These in turn generate funding for the revitalization of the community. He is a native of Chicago and has a heart for the black community in particular. His "Rebuild Foundation is a non profit that is working to revitalize the local community. Theaster Gates is one of my top artists because his art is a celebration of black culture and is working to revive the Chicago community. I hope my students will be inspired to see the potential art has for the betterment of mankind.

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Welcome to Rebuild Foundation, our artist-led, community-based platform for art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation.

Founded by artist and social innovator Theaster Gates, Rebuild supports artists and strengthens communities by providing free arts programming and creating new cultural amenities on the South Side of Chicago. Our mission is to demonstrate the impact of innovative, ambitious and entrepreneurial cultural initiatives and is enriched by three core values: Black people matter, Black spaces matter, and Black objects matter.

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Thank you for your patience as we renovate our site and lay the foundations for enhanced digital engagement.

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We are grateful for the opportunity to uplift our creative communities and to develop ambitious cultural initiatives on the South Side of Chicago.

Our work depends on the generosity of our partners and our patrons.

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Thank you in advance for your continued belief in Black space, in community and in artists.

Rebuild Foundation Announces Two New Culinary Residencies at Retreat

Kenwood Gardens and artists' incubator strive to erase stigma of vacancy on South Side

Theaster Gates Partners with Prada Group to Launch Incubator for Emerging Designers of Color

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Welcome to Rebuild Foundation, our artist-led, community-based platform for art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation. Founded by artist and social innovator Theaster Gates, Rebuild supports artists and strengthens communities by providing free arts programming and creating new cultural amenities on the South Side of Chicago.

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Theaster Gates Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative 

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Theaster Gates Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative 

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Theaster Gates Sanctum Installation 2015

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Theaster Gates Sanctum Installation 2015

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Trevor Paglen From Apple to Anomaly 2019

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Trevor Paglen From Apple to Anomaly 2019

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http://www.caofei.com

About the artist
Artist Cao Fei is a pioneer of the digital platform for art. A native of China Cao has made a number of films as a social commentary. Through her films such as "Who's Utopia" and "Asia One" she has explored issues ranging from the industrial takeover of the traditional Chinese farming community, to the secret dreams and desires of those working in Chinese factories, to our relationship with technology. In all her work Cao pushes the envelope and forces the viewer to really consider the issues China and the world are facing today. She is best known for her interest in the world of "second life" where she created "RMB City", a virtual city which is also a statement about China and the possibilities of a utopian society free from traditional or current government or social constraints. She has found in the emerging virtual world a social platform and a means of deep personal expression. I chose Cao Fei as one of my top artists because of her innovative and soulful approach to filmmaking and virtual reality. I think it is important for my students to see the possibilities of art in this digital and VR age. They should be inspired to see the potential of the emerging virtual space to draw attention to social issues and universal questions about our humanity.

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Trailer for Cao Fei's Asia One Video Work at The Guggenheim Musuem

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https://projects.jennyholzer.com

About the artist
Jenny Holzer uses words to create thought provoking art. She uses a variety of media from the Stone Age to the modern day to showcase her own quotes and more recently the thoughts and ideas of others. She has used everything from classified documents to poetry all to expose truth and provoke the viewer to question society. Her texts serve as a means of social commentary and give a voice to some of our  longings fears and secrets. She is best known for her billboards, digital signs and projections which have exhibited all over the world.  The venue and location determine the text as well as the form of display. I chose this artist for her use of digital signs and projections in particular as a means of social expression. Her use of color, size and light is inspiring to me and I hope it will inspire my students to seek out new ways to make their voice heard.

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Jenny Holzer Projection For Chicago 2008

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Jenny Holzer Projection For Chicago 2008

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Jenny Holzer "Prtect Me From What I Want" from Survival 1983-1985

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Jenny Holzer "Prtect Me From What I Want" from Survival 1983-1985

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Maya Lin Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle 2000

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Maya Lin Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle 2000

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https://www.mayalinstudio.com

About the Artist
Maya Lin is best known for her design of the "Vietnam War Memorial" in Washington D.C. However what she should be best known for around here is her design of "Rosa Parks Circle" right here in Grand Rapids! Her work is inspired by environmental concerns and often takes on natural forms. She grew up in Ohio near ancient Native burial mounds and these have also had a tremendous impact on her work. I chose this artist as one of my top ten for her local acclaim as well as for her sensitivity to environmental issues and her use of architecture to create beautiful spaces which reflect natural phenomena and human presence. I hope my students will be inspired to know the ideas and meaning behind the design of Rosa Parks Circle as well as to consider how we can make a positive impact on our environment.

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Maya Lin, who at twenty-one became one of America's most recognized artists with her winning design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is filmed transforming an urban park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A work that is part art and part architecture, the park features a skating rink which Lin has outfitted with sophisticated fiber optic technology to produce an image of the starry night sky onto the surface of the ice.

"Everything I've done in life is about polarities, about two sides balancing out," says the artist. Carving layers of circles out of the pages of an atlas in order to create topographic islands and canyons, both Lin's studio and outdoor projects mark an identification with the land.

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Maya Lin catapulted into the public eye when, as a senior at Yale University, she submitted the winning design in a national competition for a Vietnam Veterans Memorial to be built in Washington, DC. She was trained as an artist and architect, and her sculptures, parks, monuments, and architectural projects are linked by her ideal of making a place for individuals within the landscape. She draws inspiration for her sculpture and architecture from culturally diverse sources, including Japanese gardens, Hopewell Indian earthen mounds, and works by American earthworks artists of the 1960s and 1970s.

"Everything I've done in life is about polarities, about two sides balancing out."

Interview

Maya Lin discusses her process of designing a monument for a park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Art21 is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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Art21 is a celebrated global leader in presenting thought-provoking and sophisticated content about contemporary art, and the go-to place to learn first-hand from the artists of our time. A nonprofit organization, Art21's mission is to inspire a more creative world through the works and words of contemporary artists.

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About the Artist
Do Ho Suh is a visionary taking unconventional to a whole new level. Homesick for his childhood home in Korea he decided to remake it using traditional Korean silk. This idea spiraled into numerous models of architecture in bold bright colors of fabrics from Korea; all shaped into the form and dimensions of these buildings, rooms or staircases. Right down to the very last detail the hanging light fixture is even made out of cloth. Do Ho Suh is very much inspired by his native Korea. He works with a number of different often brightly colored materials including military dog tags, silk, paint, film, plastic and more. His inspiration stems from concepts of home and personal space. He plays with size and scale to express the differences between his life in Seoul  and in America. I chose this artist for his incredibly unique artistic expression which stems from his cultural perspective. I think art should always be pushing boundaries and this artist creates stunning pieces that are thought provoking and unique and demonstrate the limitless potential of art. I want my students to be inspired by his unique artistic expression as well as diversity of forms which is art takes on. He is using sculpture in very unique ways which for me give the medium a whole new meaning. I hope my students are inspired to play around with ideas and try new methods and approaches to express their own creativity.

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Do Ho Suh Home within Home within Home within Home 2014

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Do Ho Suh Home within Home within Home within Home 2014

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About the Artist
Martin Puryear has a fascination with how art is made. He is a sculptor often creating large scale works for display in parks, and other outdoor spaces but is also known for his smaller sculptures which tend to evoke a duplicity and a contradiction. His "Ladder for Booker T. Washington" is a large interior installation which has become a commentary on the life of Booker T. and his unrealized vision for an equal American society. Martin is very interested in the old ways in which materials were constructed. He learned to make furniture in his youth and that has had a tremendous influence on his work. He will often go to great lengths to make the finished product look as if it was constructed using another method from the actual one. His appreciation for old ways of making and for the history of art is part of why I chose him as one of my top ten. Another reason was for his fascination with how things are made. The fact that that is as if not more important than the finished product is an important consideration in art I want my students to ponder. I hope they will be inspired by the thought behind Martin's use of wood, metal and stone and that it will propel them to an exploration of the potential for their media of choice and ideas.

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Martin Puryear Ladder for Booker T. Washington 1996

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Martin Puryear Ladder for Booker T. Washington 1996

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https://www.mayalinstudio.com

About the Artist
Nick Cave is especially known for his"Sound Suits" which he also wears for individual and community performances. He uses a wide variety of materials including many found objects which he collects as well as hair, sticks etc. These "Sound Suits" were initially a reaction to the beating of Rodney King. He designed the suits to function as a protection and as a source of racial ambiguity. They are all unique and brightly colored and adorned with beading or other decoration to dazzle as well as produce unique sounds. I chose this artist to be in my top ten because of his unique approach to art with sound, performance, and costume. I love the ambiguity and universality of his "Sound Suits". They are both visually attractive and curious. They  seem to celebrate a universal sense of culture. I want my students to be drawn in by the bright colors and the interesting sounds and then to contemplate the rather quiet message behind them. This artist might prompt a discussion about the costumes and personas we sometimes hide behind.

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About the Artist
Tim Hawkinson's primary artistic focus come from his interest in the identity, time and music. One of his most recognized installations, "Uberorgan is an enormous work designed to function like a bagpipe on an enormous scale. Tim has a fascination with basic switches and simple electrical devices is incorporated to create sounds at unusual times. His familiarity with traditional hymns comes to bear on his art in surprising ways. For example Uberorgan and a piece titled "Pentecost" incorporates hymns played so that they become unrecognizable to the listener. Other methods of sound or music making involve dripping water and tightly wound plastic wrap. I chose this artist for his unorthodox incorporation of music into his art. I am inspired by the simple programming which not only produces these unique sounds but also is visually appealing. I want my students to be inspired to consider how they might incorporate music into their artistic process or approach. For me music and art have always gone together and I hope my students are inspired by the potential to visualize music or to make a working piece of art which is not static and may at times be unpredictable.