Disney VoluntEARS Set World Record for Largest Canned Food Sculpture

The record-breaking Largest Canned Food Sculpture, constructed from 115,527 cans, was unveiled at EPCOT on Thursday. The sculpture will be disassembled and donated to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta. [Credit: Disney]

VIDEO: Watch time-lapse footage of Disney VoluntEARS constructing the Largest Canned Food Sculpture ever created.

ORLANDO — Mickey’s head shaped from cans of black olives, cans of sliced pineapple for Pluto’s eyes, containers of Atlantic salmon as a portion of Goofy’s face, cans of tuna for Donald’s hat, pupils made from pans of popcorn - in all, 44 tons of food were used to construct the Largest Canned Food Sculpture ever created.

Walt Disney World Resort unveiled the massive character sculpture on Thursday as part of its “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program (launched January 1, 2010). Consisting of a total of 115,527 cans of everything from albacore tuna and apricot halves to stewed tomatoes and mixed vegetables, the structure was officially certified as the largest ever by Guinness World Records. The previous record for a can sculpture was 54,527 cans, set June 2009 in New Zealand.

Entitled “Celebrate Volunteers,” the gigantic can sculpture required a dedicated team of Disney VoluntEARS and project leaders, who spent more than 500 hours working over a four-day period.

The food will be donated to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta and is expected to provide 70,000 meals to the needy. “Each can makes a difference in someone’s life who cannot afford this food,” said Dave Krepcho, CEO of Second Harvest of Central Florida. “Much of this food goes to children in need, working moms trying to provide, senior citizens coping on fixed incomes and people whose disabilities keep them from working.”
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Disney VoluntEARS Set World Record for Largest Canned Food Sculpture

In Seattle, Sculptor Sues Photog for "Side-Stepping" Copyright

Sculptor Jack Mackie's Dancers' Series: Steps (1982) can be found at eight locations along Broadway in Seattle. Each set covers approximately twelve square feet and shows steps for well-known dances like the tango, waltz, rumba and mambo. [Credit: Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs]

SEATTLE — The debate over a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by sculptor Jack Mackie against photographer Mike Hipple is heating up online. 

Mackie's Dance Steps on Broadway can be found at eight locations in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Hipple sold a picture of the public art steps to a stock photo agency for $60. Even though (at Hipple's request) the agency destroyed the photos after just a couple of days, Mackie says the sale of the photo infringed on his original copyright. He's decided to go forward with a $60,000 lawsuit against the photographer.

"Yes, anyone can make a photograph of my work. What they can not do is use my work for their profit without any contact with me...," Mackie told The Seattlest. "A critic can use a piece of a film being reviewed as fair use...If a movie maker used that same piece of film (without gaining a use agreement) in a movie they made (and claimed copyright to) is that fair use? No. It is copyright infringement," he explained.

Hipple says a "large majority" of Mackie's steps were "out of focus" in the photo. He believes his work is covered under the fair use provision of copyright law.

But according to Mackie, "This is not an inadvertent snapshot of a shoe on a sidewalk. This is a staged photograph. It's about three feet from the copyright notice. I find it unfortunate that he's brought this online - he can stop this whenever he wants."

More on this story, courtesy of KOMO News:

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In Seattle, Sculptor Sues Photog for "Side-Stepping" Copyright

Art of Steel: Jeff Koons to Create BMW Art Car

The concept of the BMW Art Car was introduced by Hervé Poulain, an auctioneer and ardent racing driver from France who was searching for a link between art and cars; he asked his friend renowned artist Alexander Calder to paint the first example in 1975.

VIDEO: Learn about the history of the BMW Art Car and watch as Pop artist Andy Warhol paints his 1979 model.

NEW YORK — Jeff Koons, the American artist known for his balloon sculptures of steel, has been chosen to create the 17th version of the BMW Art Car in the 35th anniversary year of the program. The announcement was made at the artist's New York City studio on Tuesday.

"I look forward to participate in a tradition set forth by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella, and Warhol," said Koons, whose design will be revealed later this year. The most recent Art Car was done by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson in 2007.

BMW board member, Frank-Peter Arndt said, "Our company and Jeff Koons are drawn to permanent innovation and cutting-edge technology. Since 1975, artists from throughout the world have turned BMW automobiles into art signifying a particular period through the Art Car program."

Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW North America added, "The entire BMW Group is looking forward to this celebration of contemporary art by Jeff Koons, one of the greatest artists of our time."

Many of the BMW Art Cars have been exhibited in renowned museums throughout the world including the Louvre, the Guggenheim and the Shanghai Art Museum. 

[Source: PR Newswire]

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Art of Steel: Jeff Koons to Create BMW Art Car

Cheesy Portrait: Conan O'Brien Immortalized in Cheetos [VIDEO]

COLORADO — Whether you're Team Coco or Team Leno, you've got to appreciate the very cheesy art of Colorado Springs artist Jason Baalman. He's known for his food art using media like ketchup and chocolate syrup. But most recently, Frito-Lay commissioned him to create a portrait of Conan O'Brien completely out of Cheetos.

“I think it’s cheating if you get out a paintbrush,” said Baalman, whose videos capturing his creative processes have gone viral.

The finished masterpiece was supposed to be revealed on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. At least, that was the plan before the whole NBC late-night fiasco.

The Conan portrait took three weeks to create, measures 5"x4" and was constructed from 2,000 individual Cheetos (50 bags) of three different flavors. And if you'd like to hang this finger-lickin' good art in your home, JustJared.com is running an exclusive giveaway until Thursday, February 4.

“Art — especially modern art — is hard to understand; it takes a lot of background." Baalman explained. "This is something that everyone can understand.”
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Cheesy Portrait: Conan O'Brien Immortalized in Cheetos [VIDEO]

Banksy's "Exit Through the Giftshop" Premieres at Sundance

PARK CITY, UTAH — Although it wasn't part of the official lineup, it was called the hottest ticket in town when it premiered at this year's Sundance film festival. Exit Through the Gift Shop, a film by the elusive British street artist Banksy, made its debut in front a full house on Sunday night.

Exit Through the Gift Shop bills itself as “the world’s first street art disaster movie"; its title is based on the Disneyland/Disney World engineered design of having guests exit attractions via the gift shop, making them more apt to purchase souvenirs.

Banksy's graffiti artwork began popping up all around the walls and sidewalks of Park City last week. But one question still remains - did Banksy attend his own premiere? Since his identity is unknown, nobody knows for sure. But the artist did issue the following statement which Sundance Director of Programming John Cooper read to the audience:

"Ladies and gentlemen, and publicists:

Trying to make a movie which truly conveys the raw thrill and expressive power of art is very difficult. So we haven't bothered. Instead, this is simply an everyday tale of life, longing, and mindless vandalism. Everything you are about to see is true, especially the bit where we all lie.

Thanks for coming, please don't give away the ending on Twitter. And please, don't try copying any of this stuff at home, wait until you get to work."

Watch the trailer for Exit Through the Gift Shop:

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Banksy's "Exit Through the Giftshop" Premieres at Sundance

It's the Year of the Tiger and the Thrill of the Size

A Tawainese man has carved what he says is the tiniest tiger sculpture in the world; it was created to celebrate the Chinese year of the tiger, which begins Feb. 14, 2010. [Credit: Reuters]

TAIPEI — According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the year of the Tiger will begin on Feb. 14, 2010 - and sculptor Chen Forng-shean is already celebrating. The 54-year-old artist from Taiwan spent four hours a day for three months carving a tiny tiger sculpture that's smaller than a grain of rice. The tiger is so small, in fact, that it's tiny enough to pass through the eye of a needle; it measures just one millimeter (.04 inches) in height and just over one millimeter in length.

Chen, who has been sculpting as a hobby for more than thirty years, carved the object from resin and claims it is the world's tiniest tiger sculpture. It took him ten attempts before he achieved the finished product, which is fully visible only through a magnifying glass.

"If the hands shake a little bit, the work would jump away and disappear," Chen explained to Reuters. "For this tiger, the toughest part is because it is three-dimensional. It can be looked at from any angle and still seem very lively. Coloring is also very hard," he added.

The tiger sculpture is estimated to be worth $94,000, but Chen says it's not for sale.

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It's the Year of the Tiger and the Thrill of the Size

Whitney Museum Announces 2010 Biennial Artists

NEW YORK — Every two years, the Whitney Museum of American Art hosts an exhibition featuring artists who reflect the latest trends in contemporary American art. On Friday, the Whitney released the names of the 55 artists who will be participating in the 2010 Whitney Biennial, which will run from February 25 through May 30, 2010. The artist list has been cut from past years (81 in 2008 and 100 in 2006), with each exhibitor limited to showing one work or series.

Video: Watch as curators Francesco Bonami and Gary Carrion-Murayari announce the artist list for 2010, the Whitney Biennial. Or read the full list below:

David Adamo Richard Aldrich Michael Asher Tauba Auerbach Nina Berman Huma Bhabha Josh Brand The Bruce High Quality Foundation James Casebere Edgar Cleijne and Ellen Gallagher Dawn Clements George Condo Sarah Crowner Verne Dawson Julia Fish Roland Flexner Suzan Frecon Theaster Gates Maureen Gallace

Kate Gilmore Hannah Greely Jesse Aron Green Robert Grosvenor Sharon Hayes Thomas Houseago Alex Hubbard Jessica Jackson Hutchins Jeffrey Inaba Martin Kersels Jim Lutes Babette Mangolte Curtis Mann Ari Marcopoulos Daniel McDonald Josephine Meckseper Rashaad Newsome Kelly Nipper Lorraine O’Grady

R.H. Quaytman Charles Ray Emily Roysdon Aki Sasamoto Aurel Schmidt Scott Short Stephanie Sinclair Ania Soliman Storm Tharp Tam Tran Kerry Tribe Piotr Uklański Lesley Vance Marianne Vitale Erika Vogt Pae White Robert Williams

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Whitney Museum Announces 2010 Biennial Artists

Tim Burton's Surreal Debut at the MoMA

NEW YORK, NY — Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice... Beetlejuice! A major retrospective opening to the public on Sunday will give fans of blockbuster movies like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas a unique opportunity to step into the surreal world of Tim Burton. The Museum of Modern Art has compiled over 700 examples of sketchbooks, concept art, drawings, paintings, photographs, and a selection of amateur films for a new exhibit simply entitled, Tim Burton.

On Tuesday night, actress Helena Bonham Carter (Burton's wife), actor Johnny Depp (aka The Mad Hatter in Burton's upcoming film Alice in Wonderland), composer Danny Elfman and actor Danny DeVito were among the many stars at the MoMA for a gala-preview of the new exhibit. Guests walked through a giant monster's mouth with sharp teeth and a long red carpet tongue to enter the main galleries where the master of macabre's artwork is on display.
 

Although widely-recognized as a successful Hollywood director, many don't realize Tim Burton's talent as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer. "I wasn't a very verbal teenager and I communicated a lot to other people and myself with little drawings. It was always a form of communication and exploration for me,'' Burton said about his artwork.

In the following behind-the-scenes video, montages of artwork from the exhibit are displayed as Burton discusses his artistic career:

And here is a 30-second, really cute promo released by the MoMA to promote the Tim Burton exhibit:

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Tim Burton (November 22, 2009 - April 26, 2010)

Museum of Modern Art, New York | Website
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Tim Burton's Surreal Debut at the MoMA

Oxford's Ashmolean Museum Reopens After 10 Months and $100 Million

OXFORD, ENGLAND — After 10-months and an almost $100 million renovation, Oxford's Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology reopened to the public on Saturday. The world's first university museum, the Ashmolean has added 39 new galleries, including four temporary exhibition galleries, a new education center and state-of-the art conservation studios.

Rick Mather Architects was responsible for the redesign and realizing the museum's new display strategy called "Crossing Cultures Crossing Time"; it is based on the idea that the civilizations which shaped our modern societies developed as part of an interrelated world culture, rather than in isolation.

The Ashmolean collection includes rare Islamic, Indian, Chinese and Japanese objects, archaeological specimens and fine art. The museum has one of the best collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, majolica pottery and English silver. Other objects of note include T.E. Lawrence's Arab dress, an entire Japanese tea house, a lantern used by Guy Fawkes and and a hawking glove used by Henry VIII.

Nicholas Barber, Chairman of the Ashmolean, commented, “Renowned for our collections, the Ashmolean has always held a strong position on the cultural map. But now, with a magnificent new building and inspiring displays, the Museum has been transformed into one of the world’s great cultural jewels.”

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[Photo: A newly renovated exhibit gallery inside the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology]

Oxford's Ashmolean Museum Reopens After 10 Months and $100 Million

Artists Hope Ice House Makes a Chilling Statement in Detroit

DETROIT -- This winter, two artists plan to make a chilling statement about the high foreclosure rate continuing to debilitate the city of Detroit. One of the 80,000 abandoned houses in downtown Detroit will be sprayed with water in subzero temperatures and gradually covered in layers of ice. In the spring, any salvageable materials will be reused, the house will be demolished and the lot donated to local farmers. The process will be documented and shared via blog, photographs and film, with additional plans to produce fine art prints and a limited edition art book.

Dubbed Ice House Detroit, the architectural installation was conceived by photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune. According to their website, Ice House Detroit "aims to uphold concepts of neighborhood integrity, material reuse, public art, social empowerment, and urban farming." The pair are currently trying to raise the $11,000 necessary to complete the project. Their deadline for funding is December 16.

Watch the following video or visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/icehousedetroit/ice-house-detroit to learn more:

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Artists Hope Ice House Makes a Chilling Statement in Detroit

Michelangelo's Travelogue Includes a Tour of Seattle

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- Twelve exceptional drawings by Renaissance master Michelangelo have journeyed to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) on loan from the Casa Buonarroti in Florence, home of the largest repository of the artist's drawings in the world. The exhibit Michelangelo Public and Private focuses on the Old Master's preliminary work for the Sistine Ceiling and the Last Judgment, and features original drawings, portraits of the artist, personal documents and decorative items.

Museum visitors will gain insight into Michelangelo's working process - a notion that would not exactly thrill  the artist. It is said that Michelangelo burned most of his drawings and preparatory works, “so that no one should see the labors he endured and the ways he tested his genius, and lest he should appear less than perfect," according to Renaissance biographer Giorgio Vasari.       

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Michelangelo Public and Private: Drawings for the Sistine Chapel and Other Treasures from the Casa Buonarroti (October 15, 2009–January 31, 2010)
Seattle Art Museum | Website

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Companion Features to the Exhibit

Hidden around town are one dozen 18-inch-tall statues that SAM calls "Little Davids," replicas of Michelangelo's David sculpture (1504) housed in the Accademia. Those lucky enough to spot a "Little David" in his traveling crate are encouraged to take photos of themselves with the statue (ala the "Roaming Gnome") and upload them to Little David's Travelogue.

The SAM also released the following video featuring Curatorial Advisor on the exhibition and Deans Professor of the Humanities at Syracuse University, Dr. Gary Radke, providing a fascinating lecture on  Michelangelo Public and Private. 

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Michelangelo's Travelogue Includes a Tour of Seattle