Monday, October 19, 2009

Claes is simply genius.



Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg
Stainless steel and aluminum painted with polyurethane enamel
29 ft. 6 in. x 51 ft. 6 in. x 13 ft. 6 in. (9 x 15.7 x 4.1 m)
Commissioned in February 1985, installed in May 1988 
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

First of all, where have I been? Oh around, but I just started a new job that leaves me tired and without words to explain art.

Claes Oldenburg is really friggin' cool. He creates these insane giant sculptures of things that normally wouldn't be huge giant sculptures. Take Spoonbridge and Cherry for example. To some, this might just be plain stupid, who would put such a strange thing in a scultpure garden and call it art!? But to the rest of us, when we see this image we are filled with joyous emotions. First of all, it reminds us of ice cream, which brings about careless and simplier times. Second of all, it's just plain cool. Claes does things that we think would be a good idea, but would have no idea how to do it or where to put it. You can't say much about Oldenburg's work, other than there are just no reasons NOT to love it. He is a man with a child's heart who just wants to make things BIG and there is no harm in that. I challenge you to think of something ridiculous as a sculpture, then google Claes Oldenburg and tell me he didn't top your idea.

Claes is simply genius. 

3 comments:

  1. Cool, like it. Anything that can miniturize you is fun to ponder.

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  2. I am doing a art lesson to a class of 5th graders on Claes Oldenburg's "Two Cheese Burgers, with Everything" and came across your blog post. Love it and I know these 5th graders are going to think he is "really friggin' cool". If you do an image google search on him it is just amazing all his extremely large works of art of everyday objects. I love the humor he used in his art and his blend of reality & fantasy.
    Great blog post on a wonder Pop Artist who is still alive at 80 years old.
    Thanks,

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  3. Kelly, I am glad you enjoy my blog and what a great art lesson! He is such a funny little man, I love him and am sure your 5th graders are going to eat him up (pun intended)! Hahaha, thanks again!

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