This post comes to you from Green Public Art
On May 6, 2011, H20: The Art of Conservation, at the Water Conservation Garden, San Diego, CA, will open to the public. Green Public Art reviewed over 1100 artists portfolios before inviting 14 San Diego artists to participate in the exhibition which offers San Diego homeowners an artistic alternative to incorporate water conservation into their own garden spaces. Green Public Art awarded each artist a mini-grant to develop their site-specific sculptures. In the weeks leading up to the exhibition opening the artist’s concepts will be revealed on this site. Questions? Contact Rebecca Ansert, Curator, Green Public Art at rebecca@greenpublicart.com.
CONCEPT: Topichairy is a 5’x 4’x3’ whimsical chair that was created with 32 square yards of synthetic turf and filled with 30 cubic feet of polystyrene beans. The sides are secured with heavy duty zippers that are locked in place. The concept behind the sculpture was to be playful with the idea of seating and topiary. I wanted to create a giant green shrub that doubled as a chair. It is environmentally friendly and inviting, and allows visitors to interact with it. I find humor in the possibility of a sign that directs visitors to ‘walk on the grass or sit on the topiary’. The Topichairy is very durable and safe and requires no maintenance other than the occasional sweeping.
ABOUT: Fritzie Urquhart strives to create art that communicates humor, irony and truth with materials that are unconventional and unexpected. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree and Masters of Arts degree from San Diego State University. She has exhibited her sculpture installations at California State University, San Marcos, the San Diego Embarcadero, Scripps Memorial Hospitals in La Jolla and Encinitas and the Carlsbad Sculpture Garden. Currently Urquhart works out of her studio in Carlsbad, creating sculptures and paintings.
Rebecca Ansert, founder of Green Public Art, is an art consultant who specializes in artist solicitation, artist selection, and public art project management for both private and public agencies. She is a graduate of the master’s degree program in Public Art Studies at the University of Southern California and has a unique interest in how art can demonstrate green processes or utilize green design theories and techniques in LEED certified buildings.
Green Public Art is a Los Angeles-based consultancy that was founded in 2009 in an effort to advance the conversation of public art’s role in green building. The consultancy specializes in public art project development and management, artist solicitation and selection, creative community involvement and knowledge of LEED building requirements. Green Public Art also works with emerging and mid-career studio artists to demystify the public art process. The consultancy acts as a resource for artists to receive one-on-one consultation before, during, and after applying for a public art project.
