Introduction

Gallery Name: Building Blocks in Art

Location: Internet

Ran By: Jamie Taylor

Type of Work Shown: Artist who used pieces of things that didn't seem like much, to create amazing art.

Exhibition Introduction

Building Blocks in Art

Pete Fecteau

Sonia King

Nathan Sawaya

Robert Mills

Frank Owen Gehry

Patrick St. Germain

Nicholas Foo

Sol LeWitt

Sean Kenney

Kumi Yamashita

This show is about how pieces that seem to be nothing can come together to create something amazing. For example, a single Rubik’s Cube doesn’t look like much, but when thousands of them are put together in a certain pattern, they can make a mural that is incredible. An item such as a Lego which was intended to be a Child's toy can be turned into a master piece. How about an ordinary stone? When added to other stones it can create a beautiful mural.

Pete Fecteau- Dream Big

Pete Fecteau

Dream Big

Rubik’s Cubes

19′ x 8’6″ x 2.25″ weight is about 1000lbs

September 2010

Pete was bornin Arizona on April 9th 1983. He attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire and was taking graphic design classes. He then transferred to Kendall College of art and Design where he got a Bachelors degree in fine art for digital media design.

On Pete’s website he has a fan with the screen name of Stoffershory say this about Dream Big “That is amazing Pete. Lot’s of determination and planning I’m guessing. I can’t even do ONE Rubik’s Cube, let alone over 4,000 (and I’ve still got my original cube from the 70s)!”

The cubes that were rented to create Dream Big cost $9000. It took 4,242 cubes to complete the mural. After Dream big was entered into a competition and placed in the top 50out of 1,700 pieces entered, it was put up for sale. After multiple attempts and failures to sell the mural, it was dissembled ant the cubes were retuned to where they were rented from.

I chose this piece of work because I felt that it fit in with my theme very well. The mural was amazing, especially being made of Rubik’s Cubes. It is amazing that Pete was able to manipulate that many cubes to make such an amazing picture. 

Sonia King- Spinoff

Sonia King

Spinoff

chrysocolla, malachite, amazonite, pearls, ceramic, glass, turquoise, smalti, paua shell, beach glass, pebbles, abalone, crystals, gold, and labradorite

18”x24”

2007

Sonia first came in contact with mosaics as a child when her mother would create pieces of mosaic art. She received a Bacholors in Fine Art at California College of The Arts, and a Masters from Southern Methodist University. She has also been fetured on HGTV’s Modern Masters, as well as several books.

Sonia says that” Spinoff creates a world that doesn't exist.   A world that evokes islands drifting in the Pacific, galaxies moving through space or perhaps microscopic life forms breaking free.   A world to lose oneself in, a world for dreams infinite and surreal, a world to step into and perceive with heightened senses.   A world created by the juxtaposition of precious stones, gold and pearls interspersed between recycled scraps of ceramic, beach glass, paua shell and more that continually offers differing views with multiple points of interest.”

Sonia states that the art that she creates gives tangible shape and form to the unknown, and creates maps to where she will never find again.

I chose this piece because I liked the colors used. It relates to my theme because it shows that you can have a bunch of random pieces that may mean nothing, but when they are put together they can create something beautiful.

Nathan Sawaya- New York Public Library Lions

Nathan Sawaya

New York Public Library Lions

Lego Bricks

37" x 63" x 25"

June 2011

Nathan Sawaya is an artist based out of New York. He was born in Colville, Washington.  His creations are all created out of Lego blocks. He has been able to show his work all over the United States, and most recently has been able to show his work in other countries as well.

The two lions were constructed for the 100th anniversary of the New York Public library in June of 2011. The lions were made to be exactly half the size of the lions that were placed in front of the building 100 years earlier. It took about 60,00 bricks to construct both lions. 

Nathan had this to say about building the sculptures of the two lions; “The marble lions are named Patience and Fortitude. And, as you can guess, while building these sculptures I needed a lot of patience and forties.”

I chose to use Nathan’s work because he has amazing talent. What was originally designed to entertain 

children, Nathan has been able to create exceptional pieces of art. 

robert Mills- Washington Monument

Robert Mills

Washington Monument

Marble, Granite, and bluestone gneiss

555’ 5 1/8” X 55’ 1 ½”

Began 1848 and completed 1884

Robert mills was born August 12th 1781 and died March 3rd 1855. He is most well known as the architect who constructed the Washington Monument. After graduating at the College of Charleston he moved to Washington DC. At the age of 19 he started to work on the construction of the White House with his friend and mentor John Hoban. During that time he met Thomas Jefferson, who would go on to mentor Robert. Robert had also constructed many other buildings around the DC area, including several churches, a prison, Department of Treasury, and Washington Hall.

Tiffany Y. from Honolulu, Hawaii said this abut the Washington Monument; “I tell you, as we walked down the National Mall and seeing the Washington Monument was so impressive because of it's height with the flags surrounding it. I haven't seen it during the evening and looking forward to next week when I do!”

The Washington Monument was created to commemorate George Washington, who was our first president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. The monument remains the tallest stone structure in the world. Construction began in 1848 and didn’t get competed until 1884. It took so long to complete because of the lack of funds and the interruption of the Civil War. The monument was damaged in an earthquake in 2011, and isn’t due to open until 2014.

I chose the Washington Monument, because it is a simple structure, yet it holds great historical significance. The monument is known by most people, despite its simplicity, it is an American icon.

Frank Owen Gehry- 8 Sruce St.

Frank Owen Gehry

8 Spruce St.

Mainly concrete, iron, stainless steel, brick and glass

870’ tall, 76 story sky scraper

Completed February 2011

Frank was born Frank Owen Goldberg. He was born in Toronto, Ontario on February 28th 1929. He started out as a child building cities out of scraps of wood. In 1947 he moved to California and started to attend Los Angeles City College, and eventually graduated from University of California’s School of Architecture.

Architectural critic Nicolai Ouroussoff called it "the finest skyscraper to rise in New York since Eero Saarinen’s CBS building went up 46 years ago". 

The building is located in lower Manhattan, New York. It serves as a school, Space for a hospital, retail, and luxury rentals. It is the 12th tallest residential building in the world, and the second tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

I chose to include this sky scraper because I think that it is phenomenal that buildings can be built in this magnitude. The building has a sense of beauty to it.