An opening note: Many visual arts events are posted on Facebook; I love seeing those, but if you would like to submit your project or event to the Jackson Hole Art Blog, emailing me directly works MUCH better. I’ll definitely see your announcement, and it won’t get lost in the Facebook shuffle. I’ll remember it. Don’t be shy, email me at: [email protected]. Include all relevant details. I’m a one-person gig, and can’t get every event listed—but I want everyone to have the best chance possible. And don’t forget to send those nice, big images too. Superb.
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If you receive the Community Foundation’s emails via their Listserve, you may have noticed an individual misusing that venue to comment on J.H. Public Art projects. Whatever that person’s goal, he was going at it inappropriately, and that pretty much nulls and voids his input.
There is quite a bit going on in the world of public art here in Jackson. The 5-way project is on, and there are other new projects: the South Cache Street Custom Pavers and Street Painting Project, and another bike-related job.
South Cache first: The project’s total budget is $18,000, to be divided between pavers and painters; $15K for the former, $3,000 for the latter. There are more than a couple of definitions of “paver.” One is a paving vehicle, another is actual concrete used alongside highways and streets. Pavers can also be decorative brick drive and street surfaces. That’s what we’re talkin’ about!
J.H. Public Art writes that “selected artists will fabricate custom pavers designed to integrate into the overall paving pattern. The artist will replicate the theme and key imagery used in the pavers into two, one-color street paintings designed to highlight new crosswalks along the corridor. The budget supports design and fabrication of custom pavers and the street painting.”
Artists will work with Public Works, and Public Works will install what the artist creates. There are several ways it can work, but to make sure you’ve got the drill right, contact J.H. Public Art, or visit their website, where specs are provided.
The “Town Bike Network Education Icons Project” is essentially sign design. Budget: $4,500.
Design an “iconic” sign design series for Jackson’s signposts marking the town’s bike network. Graphics, says J.H. Public Art, “will be designed to print on 12 x 18” standard street signs using 2-4 color process. Final artwork should be submitted as vector files. The artist will design a series of 5-7 bold images that are easy to read from a distance or [while the viewer is] in motion. Graphics should identify safe practices, particular bike routes, unique features of the routes and promote educational messages sponsored by the Pathways department. School children, visitors and residents of all ages use the bike network and imagery should be easy to understand, family-friendly and promote community values.”
In other words, these signs need to be understood immediately by anyone; sign language must be universal.
Applications are due by February 3, 2014. The web sign-in spot is www.callforentry.org. Learn more here: http://www.jhpublicart.org/opportunities-2/
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“Nick’s exquisite photographs arouse deep emotions. They inspire a sense of awe at the beauty of creation and the sacredness of life. It is almost impossible to look through his work without sensing the personalities of the beings whom he has photographed.” ~ Jane Goodall
Just when you think wildlife photography can’t get any more powerful, along comes an exhibition like “Elegy: The African Photography of Nick Brandt, 2001-2008.” Opening at the National Museum of Wildlife Art January 18th, it remains on display through August 10, 2014.
Photo District News (PDN) describes Brandt as an artist-turned-conservationist; Brandt’s book “Across the Ravaged Land” is an elegy, says the photographer, to the ” extraordinary natural world of East Africa, and [its] wild creatures.” One elephant Brandt photographed, “Igor,” exhibited great trust of Brandt. Writes PDN, the trust “may have contributed to Igor’s death at the hands of ivory poachers. They hacked out Igor’s tusks, just a couple of years after Brandt’s encounter with him.”
Brandt allows the viewer to see sky, landscape and contextual environment, says the museum. The result is, Brandt’s photographs are not only about Africa’s wildlife, but about place and atmosphere. www.wildlifeart.org
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Jackson’s Center for the Arts has a Call for Artists out–the Center is delving deeper into the visual arts exhibition sector, and local entrepreneurial efforts on behalf of, and by, artists, is on the rise. Here’s the link for the call: www.jhcenterforthearts.org/calendar/event/call-to-artists-theater-gallery
Additionally, Oakland-based architect Walter Hood returns to Jackson this week; he’s leading/hosting three nights of public comments and input on what the Center should make of its south lawn space. Hood, who designed the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s phenomenal hillside sculpture garden, originally came to Jackson to talk to the Center about doing a project there. That opportunity didn’t pan out, but the museum project did. Second time at bat, it looks like it’s a sure thing for Hood and the Center. For more info, visit www.jhcenterforthearts.org
Tammy Christel 
