The Big Red Thing Project

In 1969, the citizens of Grand Rapids dedicated a gigantic red stabile by Alexander Calder as the heart of an ambitious urban renewal effort. Designed to announce a new, spirited civic center, the sculpture embodies notions of the public sphere that are under much critical pressure today. Contemporary art historians often suggest that public sculptures of this type are passé, but how have citizen experiences with and responses to La Grande Vitesse developed over time? How do ordinary citizens define, use, and produce this arguably still quite prototypical public art work?

A new research project argues that vernacular photography has much to tell us about the relationship between citizens and public art. To test this claim, Civic Studio will mount a drive to collect photographs of Calder's sculpture created by local residents over its nearly 40-year lifespan. Photos will be collected by hand, via email, and through a website upload utility. The goal is to collect several hundred photographs created by Grand Rapidians from all walks of life. The collected photos will be displayed at Civic Studio, online, and at a poster session in February at the College Art Association's annual conference. The researcher is currently seeking additional venues to display the photographs.

The researcher, Jennifer Geigel Mikulay, is a Ph.D. candidate in visual culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is writing her dissertation about public art in Grand Rapids, and she teaches visual culture at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

GVSU students participating in a course called Civic Studio seek photographs of Alexander Calder’s Grand Rapids stabile. According to associate professor of art Paul Wittenbraker, “Civic Studio aims to document a full range of experiences with the Calder, from 1969 to the present.” The public is invited to contribute photographs that may be old or new, everyday or special occasion, print or digital, black/white or color. The project, entitled “Big Red Thing” after a common nickname for Calder’s sculpture, is part of a research project coordinated by University of Wisconsin graduate student Jenny Mikulay. Civic Studio will collect photographs between October 15 and November 15, 2006.

Civic Studio, a course that investigates the role of artists in their community, is led by Wittenbraker. Students Zyra Castillo, Jennifer Dunbar, Dean Foster, Giles Hefferan, and Sara Wassenaar are coordinating the photo drive in collaboration with Mikulay.

The online gallery for this project can be found here.

The Public Art Review

Public Art Review (PAR), a program of FORECAST Public Artworks, is the ONLY JOURNAL IN THE WORLD devoted exclusively to the field of contemporary public art. Each issue provides coverage of growing trends, reflection on critical issues and surveys many of the latest public art projects happening in the United States and around the globe. Published semi-annually since 1989, our readership includes artists, architects, curators, city planners, students, educators, design professionals, program administrators, community leaders, and writers, in all 50 U.S. states and 20 countries worldwide.

The Public Art Review has chosen to feature The Big Red Thing Project in it's upcoming issue, "Multifaceted Lens - Public Art + Photography" Issue 36, Spring/Summer 2007:

This issue explores the many dimensions and relationships between photography and public art. From the earliest days of photography in the 19th century—when artworks outside museums were considered subject matter by some of leading photographers of the day—to 21st-century high-tech projections and digital murals, this issue focuses on the images, and the medium’s unique ability to adapt. Guest editor George Slade, artistic director at the Minnesota Center for Photography, brings his expert eye to the topic, curating each image, and bringing fresh voices into the discussion.

Also included is Shop Talk, a special section offering information and resources for those involved in the field, and those who are simply investigating. We also profile Rob Wilkinson and his Art on File program, featuring the largest collection of public art images anywhere. Our featured state, Nevada, is likewise captured in a beautiful collection of photographs. Plus the always present book reviews, recent projects and lots of news.

This photograph has been chosen as the featured image for this article.