Cleveland Artists' Lonely Art Club Show
e11even2 gallery
Opening reception July 17th, 2015
Closing reception August 21st, 2015
UPDATE 2023: This mural now on permanent public display outside E11even 2 Gallery
located at 78th St. Studios, 1305 W. 80th Street, Cleveland, OH 44102
located at 78th St. Studios, 1305 W. 80th Street, Cleveland, OH 44102
Rich Cihlar, Christina Sadowski and Billy Nainiger are the clever minds behind this imaginative destination, and I'm tickled to be on their radar. Dana Depew did the neon.
Wherrrrre's Leslie? I'm the the poster below, created by Billy, with all the other artists in the show! Who'd have imagined in the 60's that anything like this could happen?
e11even2 Gallery recently celebrated its first anniversary and was first runner-up gallery on Cleveland's Hot List - and for very good reason. Congrats!
The thesis for this invitational show was twofold: 1) The gallery has "gridded out a very cool group image of the Beatles dressed in their Sgt. Pepper duds." Each artist will receive a 16" inch square canvas and a color print of one small section of what will be (when completed) a 6.5' foot x 9' foot collaborative work. What fun! 2) In addition, the songs from the Sgt. Pepper album were randomly assigned, and the music chosen for each artist was intended to inspire a second piece.
I painted the lower left hand corner section of the giant Beatles canvas. Nick's showing off Ringo's knee here, just before delivery. Here's the album shot the mural is taken from...
(Lennon admitted that he lifted the lyrics directly from this original poster below.)
|
Here's Billy with the fabulous completed mural!
The working title -lifted directly from the lyrics of a Beatles tune- for this subject was Henry the Horse, Waltzing. As the work progressed this seemed a little wordy, so I opted instead to use Of Course, instead, also lifted from the lyrics. The name coincidentally, is also a reminder of the theme song from the talking horse sitcom, Mr. Ed. "A horse is a horse, of course, of course."
Watch it happen in pics, below. 1) The tools 2) A fist full of clay thrown onto a stainless steel threaded rod 3) Changed the proportions by adjusting the inside rod. Final height 20". 4) A hoof
5-8) Lower body and knotted tail just about right. 9) Here's the rough tux front. Now for arms and a head. 10-16) A couple of weeks later, 360 degrees with all the details in place. 17) A whole lot of sanding later, the surface is as smooth as glass. I've applied a sealer. 18) Adding color is next. And the finished job below. The tune chosen for me is "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" whose lyrics are below. The single line that inspired the sculpture is in bold letters below.
"Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" For the benefit of Mr. Kite There will be a show tonight on trampoline The Hendersons will all be there Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene! Over men and horses hoops and garters Lastly through a hogshead of real fire! In this way Mr. Kite will challenge the world! The celebrated Mr. Kite Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishopsgate The Hendersons will dance and sing As Mr. Kite flys through the ring, don't be late! Messrs. K and H assure the public Their production will be second to none And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz! The band begins at ten to six When Mr. Kite performs his tricks without a sound And Mr. H will demonstrate Ten summersets he'll undertake on solid ground Having been some days in preparation A splendid time is guaranteed for all And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill! |