Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Brick by Brick

Way back in February I had begun a collaboration with Julie Prichard and Lynne Hoppe. Called Graffiti Wall, we each created hand painted papers which we mailed to each other in two rounds. Then we got to do something that at first didn't come easy but quickly became fun and freeing: tear all the papers into pieces! After that, we each began our own project interpreting the theme Graffiti Wall. You can read about and see pictures from the start of the project in this post.

I chose to create a literal brick wall, on a 3 foot by 3 foot canvas. The canvas was covered with torn vintage book pages, slathered with a light coating of gesso, and inked with multiple colors. This would form the mortar between the bricks. Each brick, over 90 in total, was then collaged from the torn art papers.

As often happens however, life got in the way. Long after Julie and Lynne completed their projects (click the links to be taken to their final postings), mine remained a work in progress. And it still is. But...I am making headway. Here is my Wall as it stands today...


And some details of the brick work...






The face of the wall is complete. I will next "brick" the sides and, following that, will add my own graffiti to the surface of the wall. Stay tuned...

48 comments:

Jill Z said...

Wow wow wow!! Just amazing! Vibrant, full of life, color, patterns, gesso textured, and such a feel of "greatness in your face" beauty!! I can't believe how much detail went into this wall. Just love all of the words, letters, picture of the face, and different types of designs put together,layered- brick by brick! What a creative and inventive collaboration with traded papers. It's also great that you, Julie and Lynne completed with such different and distinct projects. Your brick wall was definitely worth waiting for!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm in awe of this collaboration and had to stop by Julie's and Lynne's blogs to see what they had done. Fom the looks of it, yours is certainly an ambitious project. Got to admit, it is totally different from the others, but that is what a great collaboration entails.

lynne h said...

seth, this is just the coolest, coolest thing...

and, just so ya know... ; ) i'm not done with mine either... as i watch the flags weather outside, i feel like it wasn't the greatest idea because the canvas with the papers glued to it warps *a lot*, which then bunches up the copper. so i'm watching and evaluating, and waiting for inspiration as to what to do with the remaining pieces that i have...

the finished version of your wall is going to be absolutely incredible, this i know...

Shayla said...

Wonderful, Seth!

Bea said...

It's absolutely stunning and so are the other two. What fun you guys had. I love the colors, could study the close up pictures for hours. Can't wait to see what ends up on the surface. :)Bea

Jasmine said...

This is amazing. I'm in awe! I'd love to do a project like that.

Sarah said...

That is lovely! It makes me think of beautiful patchwork quilts. I love the way you have put it together.

Julie Prichard said...

Sweet Jesus.....and I say that in the most pious way... IT IS MAGNIFICENT!!! Seth...seriously...you have a gallery worthy masterpiece here. It is GLORIOUS! And adding more?? AWESOME!

Call Lynne....Graffiti Wall 2010 must live!!

MrCachet said...

Is that a canceled postage stamp I spy? Bottom photo, although I can pick it out in several other photos. It gives me some idea of the scale... This looks great, Seth. Interesting that you can put something together, ship it to two friends, and then RIP IT UP and put it back together again. They're all great!

Lisa said...

This is just fabulous! An awe-inspiring labor of love indeed! I have a friend who is an accomplished painter who creates huge portraits out of paper scraps which he first paints then pieces together...it's a truly complex and time intensive process as I'm sure you would agree ;)

Lisa Hoffman said...

Well look at this!
Time to go BIG my Man.
This is Crazy-Cool!
Toss off the Tiny
Sequester the Small

Go BIG.
....do it.

Lynn Cohen said...

This is awesome. I'd love to do it with fabrics...maybe a mixture of fabric and papers...can't wait to see the finished graffatti on top. It's nice just the way it is too.

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful, simple as that. Sometimes, life getting in the way can be a good thing, I think!

lyle baxter said...

seth, what can I say - everyone else has said it! fantastic! I still want to build that wall !never did get out the round tuit! but looks like a long wet winter is underway so maybe all us apter followers can build the great wall of (china) where ever page by page??? lyle

Unknown said...

" The bleeding hearts and artists
Make their stand---

And when they've given you their all
some stagger and fall, after all it's not easy
Banging your hear against some mad bugger's wall.

Oh my! Pink Floyd's got nothing on you!

( I am so taken with your "blue's" that so define identify your work!"

I am also reminded of Robert Frost's poem:
"Never build a wall until you know what you are walling in and what you are walling out."

Your post is such a highlight of this very long winter's day!

Dawn said...

Oh man, that is so absolutely gorgeous. I could look at it ALL day. Just beautiful.

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I do so love the Robert Frost poem...the repetition of size, shape and layers of textures add to the spirituality of this progressive work. I have been distracted beyond my words and I found a place of comfort in the wall...is this ironic to say out loud to the universe? Good night friend and dream in Peace, Mary Helen

Jo Reimer said...

This is lovely, Jason, full of color and life. It reminds me of the crazy quilts that my Mother's contemporaries made during and after the Great Depression when the only fabric they could afford were the worn and torn bits of worn out clothing.

Leslie Avon Miller said...

Your concept is intriguing; the finished piece will be so strong.

Marie-Aimée said...

wow !!! amazing

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

Another amazing idea and collaborative project. Awesome results all round too! I especially like the bottom photo showing the segement that says 'ritual' and I am sure this wall will be a real source of inspiration for you!

Curio said...

Love the whole concept and the work in progress...It is at this point that I would be scared to do anything else but what you are proposing to do sounds perfect!

Marit said...

WOWZAH!!! It is amazing already... I don't know if I would dare putting more (graffitti?) on it... this is marvelous! And yes, tearing apart nice paper needs strength, but the pieces are all very gorgeous one by one. Great job!

Scott NYC said...

It is so beautiful! Look forward to seeing it when you are finished Seth. Thanks for sharing it with the world.

Unknown said...

i LOVE this!

Mary S. Hunt said...

this huge project offers a ton of visual
the brick by brick is a great way to put it together
this will be a wonderful focal structure does it have a final destination yet?

Lawendula said...

Wonderful to look at and great inspiration! :)

ArtPropelled said...

Oh wow! I'm totally dazzled by this magnificent wall of yours! So exciting.... Can't wait for the next step though I love it as is.

Ange said...

I'm off to see Julie & Lynne's walls. This is amazing and a great idea! The colours are so vibrant ...you could eat them ;-)

Chris said...

THIS is so great. I love the mosaicicity of it (clinical term). The way you combine and arrange colors has always been GENIUS, baby!! This is a great wall, and I look forward to watching it grown and develop. And not in a naughty way.

smooch!

Kris said...

That is VERY cool. Paramount wallpaper! Really, I could see this reproduced as wallpaper and selling. I'd buy it :)

Artsnark said...

fabulous!

erik organic said...

This is just so amazing! I bet it takes a lot of patience and creativity to make this one. You did a great collaboration of the designs that you used! This is the coolest thing!

Fran Meneley said...

This is just beautiful Seth - it looks almost like it could be a quilt. I love the way the "mortar" sets off all the color and texture. It's never too late to finish to resurrect to complete - all the sweeter to give things time to come into their own. Very nice. Fran

viv said...

mm love balance. like contained messy-ness.. so colourful..

Caterina Giglio said...

absolutely amazing! wonderful work!

Crazy RAvens Studio said...

This is a fabulous site, full of ideas and inspiration.It has now become one of my 2010 resolutions to take part in some collaborations!

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

That is quite a project!!!
So interesting, can't wait to see your special graffiti touches
The words scattered throughout add neat interest (I even saw "hand" in there) along with the fab colors and textures going one!
I'm off to check out Julie and Lynne's projects.

Marilyn said...

Incredible what little pieces of paper can do! It's so alive with color!

ooglebloops said...

I've got to "hand" it to you- it is soooooo"SETH"!!! Love the book in the other post also!!!

.Trudi Sissons said...

Very funky Seth!

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

very cool! I like how colorful it is too.

laurel said...

Awesome! What a great project and so much visual interest. Love it.

Large Wall Mirrors Gal said...

I am very found of these kind of creation, it is really great amazing and wonderful,colors are very attractive.

Wood Dining Table Gal said...

This is a very colorful and creative work.Like to try this in my leisure time.

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

how GREAT is this!!! not a question! the GREAT WALL OF______! thanks for sharing such INSPIRATION! xoxo

lindamay said...

what a great idea. reminds me of piecing a quilt. sort of monet-ish.
thanks for sharing.

Hitchcock Butterfield Mirrors said...

So adorable! Unique creation. Love it!