Look up in the air, Grand Rapids! It’s a rainbow over the city in the dead of winter -- but, it is so much more.
High above the sidewalks of downtown Grand Rapids’ Trade Center Building at 50 Louis NW is a colorful work of art by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. The piece is clearly visible, day or night, from popular venues like the VanAndel Arena, San Chez or Hopcat, among others.
While I was aware that Rondinone’s
Big Mind Sky was slated to be in town this winter, I had pretty much forgotten about it. Then, one day as I rounded the corner of the building, there it was, vibrant colors all across the spectrum.
It might be easy to write off this neon-fueled work upon first glance with the same arrogant proclamation others have made about artists like Cindy Sherman and Jackson Pollack with their now laughable (to me), “I could paint that." (You can’t, and you won’t. Because ultimately, you wouldn’t understand -- so do all of us a favor, please shut up.)
Rondinone has spent over the past 20 years wandering through a landscape of mediums from painting, drawing, photography, video, installation and sculpture to create art-induced experiences that, at one point, live on the simple and obvious plane, but really ask that we unlock the profound and powerful within the most banal aspects of our everyday life. In short, Rondinone reminds us with his scaled works that excitement and wonder are not constant states, but rather emotions that we experience in short bursts over time, thus keeping them fresh.
Alongside contemporaries Takashi Murakami and Matt Saunders, Rondinone’s works give us permission to smile, to laugh and most of all, to ponder as we seek deeper meanings often contained in the simplest of forms. In Big Mind Sky, we have a classic piece of activist art that operates on many levels.
The obvious one is the use of the rainbow colors, a theme adopted by the LGBT culture as a sign of diversity and inclusion. But it is really so much more than just a colorful message of diversity held high above our city -- a place where protections have long been enshrined from City Hall since 1994.
It’s placement atop a building in Grand Rapids is also a wonderful reminder, with its wide range of colors, that we are a place that welcomes innovation, openly encouraging it whether it is from the pages of our publication or simply the streets where we dine on this inspiration. But it's choice of words, "Big Mind Sky," is also like a mantra to remind us to continue to think bigger -- that the sky is truly the limit, so look up and outward toward our future.
This colorful work that seems to glow against an urban background by day, really shines against the dark sky at night. This is why so many, when they see it, point and smile as they pass by the work. It is like an art mood elevator for the entire city, healing those winter blues.
I am quite sure this work of art takes on many different meanings wherever it is installed, but while it is here, it is uniquely ours.
“When we drafted their permit, which we admit took longer because it is a structure-based work of art and not a mural, we let the gallery know it is welcome to stay in our city as long as they want to keep it here,” says City of Grand Rapids’ Fiscal Services Manager/Purchasing Agent, Jose Reyna. “We really enjoy seeing it up there.”
But alas, this work is with us for only a short period.
When Open Concept Gallery in conjunction with Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council brought Big Mind Sky to Grand Rapids, it was to be on display from October through mid-April. However, because of the permitting process (that in many's minds took way too long), it finally was installed February 2012. It should be noted that this work has been exhibited on many other continents, so these months of delays here in Grand Rapids is truly unfortunate for all of us who enjoy public art in our city. I hope it does not happen again to the next public art project looking to exhibit here.
Due to the added costs this delay produced for the gallery, they are hosting an online fundraiser where people can help bridge the gap for their budget shortfall. They even produced a video overview of the project on
YouTube. I am sure if an art patron of Grand Rapids wanted to make a direct contribution to this 501c3 organization, they would be happy to meet with you.
“We really see this work presented outside the gallery wall environment as a gift of art to the city of Grand Rapids to enjoy during a time of the year when the weather is grayer and a bit duller,” says Open Concept Gallery’s Executive Director, Dr. Zora Carrier. “Big Mind Sky is also sadly our last big project in our building as we will be moving soon.”
As with most real estate in Grand Rapids, Open Concept Gallery’s building owner and landlord Peter Colovos of Chicago is selling the building. As a new prospective owner wraps up their paperwork, Dr. Carrier and her team will be preparing to vacate the space they have inhabited for six years. They also provided some of the more challenging works of art during ArtPrize that, sadly, most missed.
Recently, Colovos’ commented on Dr. Carrier’s role in Grand Rapids telling her, “You've brought joy, interest and a fresh perspective on art (and life) to everyone involved. It's probably fitting that Big Mind Sky is your final installation at the building. With that installation, you are going out with a bang and a message for the rest of the art community. Think big, and whether they realize it or not, the closing of this chapter for Zora Carrier is just the beginning. I will personally look forward to bigger and more wonderful things to come.”
I could not have said it better. Over the years, Open Concept Gallery has challenged us as artists, but also as a community, to think bigger as a region and help us understand that art is more than something you go matchy-matchy with your sofa.
Another great example of the caliber of shows they would be bring here was their presentation of the Man Hanging Out sculpture by Czech Republic artist David Cerny that nearly stopped traffic as Sigmund Freud, with only his hand on an extended pole suspended over the sidewalk below, represented the balance of life and its fragility. The permit they secured guaranteed we got to see this piece for the entire time it was committed to be here, even though the police at one point tried to rescue the man... er, art.
The sale of their building could go quickly or slowly, but I am afraid it is the sign of the times that things change rather fast these days.
And should the building's sale be quick, then I fear that Big Mind Sky’s exhibit time may be cut on the tail end as it was on the front. This would be a shame on many levels since it would mean other businesses that do not own their spaces may be thinking twice about bringing work of this scale and importance to our city.
As an artist, I am reminded that nature is often a great teacher. Certainly, I cannot expect to see a rainbow linger forever and thus risk becoming common or taken for granted.
Big Mind Sky is a chance for all of us to reclaim that wonderful message of innovation in every area of our lives. Let its bright colors remind our community to showcase our diversity with each other and to the world.
The Future Needs All of Us.
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
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