Charities have been utilizing the thinking and skills of artists for many, many years. From donated works for art auctions – to – donated design and labor for special events. Artists share the values of the charity and the charity typically needs the energy and positive spirit of artists. The Make It Right for New Orleans is one such project of mutual assistance.
The difference with Brad Pitt’s latest effort – the Pink Project for Make it Right – is the creative synthesis typical of the film industry. Perhaps public art and urban design could take a lesson. If you listen to Brad Pitt’s CNN interview, he describes the process like the film industry with known creative head (Brad Pitt) and complements to many creative anonymous people that made the event happen. Until the Academy Awards, no one even knows the many individual talents.
Somehow through the late night discussions, ideas emerge that link content with filmic visual vision. Heavy borrowing of images occurs from all kinds of designers, artists, architects and film itself. The visuals of the final project must attract the still and moving images of the media.
The Pink Project starts with the color. Pink and orange are the most contrasting colors with the urban and natural world. Yellow has been culturally utilized to signal danger. Red’s history is too complicated. (See Aesthetic Grounds on Pink)
The project is a series of boxes and roofs scattered over the demolished residential landscape. The scattered symbolize the anarchy and destruction after the flood. Each time a $150,000 donation is received, a roof is placed on a box that is squared to the street. At the end, a second media opportunity should emerge of an orderly future neighborhood illustrated in pink. As on December 20, 2007, funds have been donated for 42 houses.
Below are some comparative images of the Pink Project with artists Christo and Thom Sokoloski projects this year, the Art Basel Miami Satellite Exhibition and architect Bernard Tschumi’s 1982 Parc de la Villette design and Tim Burton’s pastel suburb in the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands. (I wish I had artist Stephen Pearson’s early 1980’s cover of Arts & Architecture Magazine with orderly blue houses on the California lawn.)
If you have forgotten what happened to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, check out M Styborski Photos
More Aerial Photos at pinknola_07
Christo’s Orange Gates in Central Park, 2007
Pink Project past and future street
Tim Burton’s 1990 Edward Scissorhands Set
The Pink Project at Night. Photo by Cosmic Ray
Thom Sokoloski’s Encampment Essay, 2007 in NYC
Pink Project on First Day. Photo from NOGodess
Art Basel Miami Orange Gallery Boxes, 2007
Bernard Tschumi’s 1982 Parc de la Villette
Brad Pitt explains the temporary art project to Larry King on CNN
Original 2006 Global Green Sustainable Design for New Orleans is moving forward with the first house to be completed in the next couple of months. Habitat for Humanity has been very successful at going ahead and building.
One Make it Right House Design and Global Green Holy Cross Project House Design
Completed Habitat for Humanity Houses
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